logo

CME Bitcoin futures activity has dropped to a 14-month low, possibly due to the failure of basis trading triggering institutional capital withdrawal

By: rootdata|2026/04/10 00:42:01
0
Share
copy

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Bitcoin futures market continues to weaken. Data shows that the average daily open interest (OI) in March 2026 has fallen below $8 billion, further dropping to about $7.2 billion in early April, marking a new low since February 2024, and it has declined for the fifth consecutive month. Meanwhile, the monthly trading volume in March fell to $163 billion, nearly halving from the peak of January 2025.

Market analysis indicates that this round of decline is primarily due to large-scale liquidations of "basis trades." Previously, institutions profited from price differences by buying spot ETFs and shorting CME futures, which was the core driving force behind the growth of CME positions. However, as Bitcoin prices have retreated from a high of $120,000 to below $70,000, the annualized basis yield has significantly compressed. Currently, the basis yield of about 5% is close to the risk-free interest rate level of about 4.5%. When factoring in funding costs and counterparty risks, the arbitrage space has essentially disappeared, prompting leveraged funds to withdraw.

-- Price

--

You may also like

Naval personally takes the stage: The historic collision between ordinary people and venture capital

Naval personally stepped in as the chairman of the USVC Investment Committee. This SEC-registered fund launched by AngelList attempts to bring top private tech assets like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI to the general public with a $500 entry threshold. It is not just a new fund, but a structural experi...

a16z Crypto: 9 Charts to Understand the Evolution Trends of Stablecoins

Stablecoins are evolving from trading tools into universal payment infrastructure, and this process is quieter and more thorough than most people expected.

Refutation of Yang Haipo's "The End of Cryptocurrency"

This may be the true test of cryptocurrency. It's not about whether the price has reached a new high, nor about who will achieve financial freedom in the next bull market, but rather whether, after all the grand narratives have been washed away by cycles, it can still leave behind some simpler, more...

Can a hairdryer earn $34,000? Interpreting the reflexivity paradox of prediction markets

Prediction markets are essentially betting on reality, and when participants can access or even influence this path earlier, the market no longer just reflects reality but begins to shape it in return.

6MV Founder: In 2026, the "landmark turning point" for crypto investment has arrived

"I will deploy funds in 2026, so I will tell you this is the best year in history."

Abraxas Capital Mints $2.89 Billion USDT: Liquidity Boost or Just More Stablecoin Arbitrage?

Abraxas Capital just received $2.89 billion in freshly minted USDT from Tether. Is this a bullish liquidity injection for crypto markets, or is it business as usual for a stablecoin arbitrage giant? We analyze the data and the likely impact on Bitcoin, altcoins, and DeFi.

Contents

Popular coins

Latest Crypto News

Read more