Ether (ETH) Implied Volatility Widens Its Lead Over Bitcoin (BTC), Signaling Relatively Greater Action in the Altcoin Market

The crypto rally has seen ether widen its lead over bitcoin in terms of volatility expectations, signaling relatively greater action not just in the second-largest cryptocurrency, but in the broader digital asset market as a whole.

Deribit's ether implied volatility index (ETH DVOL), which represents the 30-day expected price turbulence, shot up 11% to an annualized 7% this week while the bitcoin equivalent, BTC DVOL, held steady near multi-month lows around 45%, according to data source TradingView.

The divergence has widened the spread between the two to 27%, the most in at least two years. Clearly, traders are anticipating greater volatility in ETH and the broader altcoin market.

Some observers say ETH has turned deflationary as the Pectra upgrade implemented this week has boosted on-chain activity and led to over 38,000 ETH being burned, or destroyed, in the past 24 hours. Some market participants are buying higher-strike ETH calls on Deribit in anticipation of continued price gains.

We could be on the verge of an altcoin season, as the BTC dominance rate looks to end its five-month-long uptrend. (Check out Technical Analysis).

In key news, American fast-food chain Steak ‘n Shake said Thursday it will begin accepting BTC as a payment mode at all U.S. locations starting May 16, allowing its 100 million customers to shop with the world’s biggest digital-asset token.

T-Rex, the Web3 consumer entertainment platform, which is backed by Portal Ventures, North Island Ventures, Framework Ventures and Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, raised $17 million in pre-seed financing.

Finally, just in case you missed it, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has agreed to buy the world’s largest crypto options exchange, Deribit, for $2.9 billion in cash and shares in the crypto industry’s largest ever M&A deal. Deribit controls over 80% of the activity, meaning Coinbase will be able to offer a full suite of spot and derivative products, boosting liquidity on the platform. Stay alert!

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