Bitcoin Traders Eye Record Highs Post-Trump Inauguration as $100K Bets Soar

Traders are making bold bets on Bitcoin (BTC) reaching unprecedented highs shortly after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.

Over the weekend, a trader on the crypto exchange Deribit spent more than $6 million on Bitcoin call options with a strike price of $100,000, set to expire on March 28, according to data from Amberdata.
“This significant position reflects strong confidence that Bitcoin will break new all-time highs within months of Trump’s inauguration,” Amberdata shared on X.

The $120,000 strike price has also seen substantial interest, becoming the most heavily traded call option on Deribit with a notional open interest exceeding $1.52 billion.

Call options provide traders the right to buy Bitcoin at a set price before expiration, typically signaling a bullish market outlook and expectations of significant price surges.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading above $99,500, rebounding 8% from its December 30 low of $91,384, according to CoinDesk and TradingView data.

“The period surrounding Trump’s inauguration could serve as a flashpoint for Bitcoin price activity, with policy shifts and regulatory announcements acting as potential catalysts,” said Greg Magadini, Director of Derivatives at Amberdata.

In a recent report, CF Benchmarks highlighted the potential impact of pro-crypto regulatory reforms under a Trump-led administration.

“A pro-crypto stance from a revamped SEC could alleviate enforcement pressures, reduce compliance burdens, and boost institutional adoption,” CF Benchmarks stated in its annual outlook.

However, the firm also warned that delays in implementing these regulatory changes could dampen immediate market enthusiasm and increase short-term volatility.

Bitcoin previously surged from $70,000 to over $108,000 in the weeks following Trump’s election victory in November. Yet, gains slowed in December amid profit-taking and the Federal Reserve’s cautious monetary stance.