Daily Market Update: Bitcoin Price Rises Above $81,000 as US Stock Futures Hold Flat

TLDR

• Bitcoin crossed $81,000 in Asian trading Tuesday, its highest level since late January
• Options desks had quietly built cheap upside call structures, now positioned to benefit from a gradual price grind higher
• Dogecoin leads the weekly crypto gains at 12.4%, with futures open interest at year-highs
• US equity futures traded near flat after Monday’s sell-off tied to escalating Middle East tensions
• Earnings from Shopify, Pfizer, and AMD are due Tuesday, with jobs data on Friday

Bitcoin pushed above $81,000 during Asian trading hours on Tuesday, reaching its highest price since late January. The move came after a brief dip Monday tied to a disputed Iranian missile claim.

The price rose from around $79,000 at the close of US trading on Monday. That puts Bitcoin up 5.3% on the week.

Other major cryptocurrencies were mixed. Ether held near $2,379, down slightly on the day but up 4% on the week. XRP fell 0.9% to $1.40. Solana dropped 0.9% to $84.84. Dogecoin slipped 1% to around $0.11 but remains the week’s top performer among major coins, up 12.4% over seven days.

Dogecoin futures open interest is sitting at year-highs, which traders watch as a sign of continued market activity around the coin.

Options Markets Show Quiet Shift Toward Upside

Behind the scenes, options desks had been building what traders call call ratio strategies. These involve buying options that pay off if Bitcoin rises moderately, while selling other options that only pay off if it rises sharply.

The structure costs almost nothing to set up. It benefits if Bitcoin grinds higher without a sudden large spike.

Nomura’s market-making arm, Laser Digital, noted in a report shared Tuesday that a decisive move above $80,000 was expected to flip Bitcoin’s risk reversal gauge from negative to positive. A negative reading means traders are paying more to protect against a drop than to bet on a rally. A flip to positive would signal the market has turned cautiously optimistic.

The broader macro environment remains uncertain. US destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, escorting American-flagged vessels amid what US Central Command called coordinated threats. A VTTI oil terminal in Fujairah was struck in an aerial attack.

President Trump said the conflict could last another two to three weeks, suggesting the previously announced ceasefire is under strain.

Brent crude was near $113 a barrel after surging 5.8% on Monday. West Texas Intermediate hovered near $104.

Stock Futures Hold Steady Despite Geopolitical Pressure

US equity futures linked to the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and Dow Jones Industrial Average all traded near flat on Monday evening after a broad sell-off during the regular session.

Investor sentiment was pressured by reports that Iran launched drones and missiles toward the UAE. US officials also said American forces engaged Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

All major central banks held interest rates last week, which Laser Digital said keeps US financial conditions stable for now.

Strategy reports earnings on Tuesday. The US nonfarm payrolls report is due Friday. Shopify, Pfizer, and Advanced Micro Devices are also set to report Tuesday.

Investors are also watching US trade balance data and the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey figures due this week.

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