Crypto analyst Pumpius (@pumpius) has warned about near-term market conditions while outlining why his focus has shifted toward XRP.
His post centered on a large Bitcoin options expiry scheduled for December 26 and the market behavior that often follows events of such magnitude.
Pumpius stated that $23.66 billion in Bitcoin options will expire on that date. He emphasized the scale of the event, noting that it represents more than 1% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization rolling off in a single session. He described this as a “pressure event,” not a routine expiry, and cautioned traders against ignoring derivatives data.
🚨 Bitcoin is walking into a volatility trap right after Christmas. SWITCH TO XRP NOW.
On December 26, $23.66B YES.. twenty three point six six billion dollars worth of BTC options expire.
That is over one percent of Bitcoin’s entire market cap rolling off on a single day.… pic.twitter.com/2tdUmqMs1Z— Pumpius (@pumpius) December 20, 2025
What the Chart Shows
The chart attached to Pumpius’ post shows Bitcoin options open interest by strike price ahead of the Dec. 26 expiry. Calls significantly outweigh puts, pushing the put-to-call ratio near 0.38. Total open interest remains elevated, confirming that positioning is heavily skewed to the upside.
The chart also identifies a max pain level around $96,000, where the largest share of options would expire worthless. Pumpius stressed that when positioning becomes this one-sided, price action often loses clarity. Instead of trending, the price reacts to hedging activity around major strikes.
He warned that large expiries tend to produce chop, pinning, violent wicks, and fake breakouts. Large players hedge around liquidity zones, not technical signals. Traders who rely on candles often increase leverage at the wrong time, which is how both sides get liquidated.
We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1
— TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025
Why He Is Looking at XRP
Pumpius explained why he is increasingly focused on XRP during this period. While XRP holds numerous advantages over Bitcoin, Pumpius has chosen it because it does not have the same bloated options market distorting price action. He contrasted Bitcoin’s heavy derivatives pressure with what he described as cleaner conditions in XRP.
He said XRP is seeing spot accumulation through ETFs. He also stated that supply is being absorbed rather than gamed through derivatives. In his view, institutional infrastructure continues to build beneath XRP while Bitcoin contends with option-driven gravity.
Pumpius described this shift as rotation, not abandonment. He said traders do not need to exit Bitcoin forever. However, trading BTC through a $23.66 billion options expiry exposes participants to unnecessary risk. His decision is mechanical, not emotional.
Positioning Over Noise
Pumpius closed by reinforcing his core principle. He follows positioning, not noise. When he rotates, he does it early. His post argues that understanding derivatives structure before it appears on price charts gives traders an edge. In this case, that structure is what led him to favor XRP over Bitcoin as 2025 ends.
Follow us on X, Facebook, Telegram, and Google News
