#Bitcoin spending most of December in a tight range has been driven more by derivatives structure than by sentiment.
Large options positions near spot forced market makers to hedge constantly, buying dips and selling rallies. This behavior naturally suppressed volatility and kept price contained, even as broader market conditions improved.
That pressure is now easing as year-end options expire. With a significant amount of open interest rolling off, the hedging flows that pinned price begin to fade.
Implied volatility remains low, which often means the market is underestimating how quickly conditions can change once structural constraints are removed.
When price is held in place by positioning rather than conviction, the release tends to be sharp rather than gradual.
