Crypto Assets Drop 6‑8% After $14bn Options Expiry
Get the Finance newsletter
Daily finance — markets, central banks, M&A, the prints that move money. Free.
- Bitcoin fell 5% in 24 hours after a $14.16 billion options expiry on March 27, wiping out over $450 million and liquidating more than 122,000 traders.
- Ethereum spot ETFs posted $92.5 million in net outflows on March 26, part of a broader wave of ETF withdrawals across crypto.
- Solana spot ETFs posted net outflows on March 26, marking the first day in 2026 with simultaneous outflows across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
- Iran threatened to block the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, pushing oil prices above $103 per barrel and spurring a risk‑off move that hit crypto assets.
- Stablecoin supply hit a record $316 billion, indicating capital is parked and could flow back into crypto if conditions improve.
- CLARITY Act moved toward a Senate vote, with the Banking Committee targeting a markup in late April, potentially clearing a legal framework for institutional crypto allocations.
- Solana fell 72% from its recent high and saw on‑chain activity decline, with network transactions down 3.2% and active addresses down 11% over the past month.
Why it matters: Investors lost over $80 billion in market value as risk‑off sentiment from oil price spikes and a massive options expiry forced mass liquidations, while record stablecoin holdings and pending CLARITY Act legislation could shape the next rebound for institutional investors seeking legal clarity.
Ask SkimNews
