Bitcoin worth is again above $120,000, and the market has clear knowledge to learn as a substitute of simply vibes.
Spot pushed by way of the essential $120,000 degree on Oct. 2 with an in depth close to $120,606 after a +5.5% climb from Sept. 29, and it’s holding the extent at the moment even with a small give-back. The spike in spot worth isn’t an remoted act.
Bitcoin ETFs printed two straight days of heavy web creations, roughly $676 million on Oct. 1 and $627 million on Oct. 2, proper after a messy stretch of outflows round Sept. 25–26.
On the identical time, futures and choices rebounded shortly into October: BTC futures open curiosity rose from $77.22 billion on Sept. 29 to $88.52 billion by Oct. 3, whereas choices OI climbed from $41.58 billion to $52.06 billion. Quantity adopted by way of, with futures turnover leaping from $48.59 billion on Sept. 29 to $111.22 billion on Oct. 2, and alternate exercise selecting up mid-week.
That blend of spot demand by way of creations, recent derivatives publicity, and heavy turnover units the stage for additional upside in This autumn.
The late-September ETF shakeout issues as a result of it reset positioning after which flipped shortly to creations. While you get back-to-back days above $600 million in web inflows, the first market absorbs cash and forces licensed contributors to supply BTC.
That tightening reveals up in worth sooner than it reveals up in headlines. It additionally modifications intraday liquidity: spreads typically compress when creations are lively and arbitrage turns right into a two-way road once more.
If the circulation stays web constructive by way of subsequent week, the spot facet gained’t want heroics from perpetuals to maintain $120,000; it simply wants the creation machine to maintain grinding.

The rise in futures OI throughout the identical window is not only shorts overlaying, as OI doesn’t add +$11.3 billion in 4 periods with out new positions. Pair that with the spike in quantity (back-to-back $100+ billion days on Oct. 2–3 throughout listed venues) and you’ve got the basic “add threat into power” tape.
Choices inform the identical story: +$10.5 billion in OI since Sept. 29 pushes sellers into bigger hedging bands, which may dampen intraday swings round key strikes and, relying on the distribution, pin worth close to high-gamma areas. If $120,000-$122,000 accumulates open curiosity into subsequent week, count on stickier worth motion when the market approaches these ranges till a brand new block of calls or places clears the trail.
Funding is the third leg, and the final week reveals a transparent flip in premiums. Perp funding ran adverse on Sept. 27–28 (-0.12% and -0.07% every day), then turned constructive and accelerated into October: +0.20% on Sept. 29, +0.63% on Sept. 30, +0.38% on Oct. 1, peaking at +0.79% on Oct. 2 and holding a excessive +0.67% on Oct. 3.
The 7-day common sits round +0.35% per day, however the final three prints common a a lot hotter +0.61%.

Mixed with the +$11.3 billion rise in futures OI, it means longs are paying up, and leverage is layering on. That’s constructive so long as ETF creations maintain pulling cash and the spot-futures foundation widens in an orderly means.
If creations fade whereas funding stays this elevated, the carry turns right into a tax on longs, and so they develop into weak to quick imply reversion or a clean-out. If creations keep constructive, the market can digest these funding ranges with out forcing a squeeze.
So what really issues for worth from right here?
First, the ETFs. The late-September outflows confirmed distribution, whereas the reversal on Oct. 1 confirmed recent demand was again. If every day totals maintain within the $200-$400 million vary, $120,000 ought to commerce like a ground extra usually than a ceiling.
Second, the spot–futures foundation. The leap in futures OI with spot power is constructive so long as the premise doesn’t get crowded. A foundation that widens step by step is gas for orderly up-moves; a foundation that spikes whereas ETF circulation cools is a warning that carry is over-owned.
Third, choices positioning into mid-October. The market simply rebuilt $10+ billion of OI in just a few days; if that focus settles round a slender strike band, count on extra “magnet” worth motion and low realized volatility till a catalyst breaks the pin.
In the event you maintain these three dials in view, there’s a clear market construction learn for This autumn. Creations let you know whether or not actual cash are leaving the open market. Futures OI and foundation let you know how a lot leverage is layered on high and the way secure it’s. Choices OI and vendor gamma let you know the place intraday ranges tighten or break.
Proper now, the learn is constructive: worth reclaimed $120,000 with back-to-back ETF creations, futures threat was added slightly than unwound, and choices depth is thickening. If funding stays orderly and web creations don’t roll over, dips into the low-$120,000s ought to entice patrons.
If creations stall whereas funding climbs and foundation gaps widen, count on choppier tape and sooner imply reversion. This autumn begins with the board tilted to the upside, however the scoreboard to look at is creations, foundation, and the choices bands that now wrap round $120,000.
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