There are three potential outcomes that can arise from using Bybit Discount Buy — Knockout, Profitable Purchase or Less Profitable/Break-Even Purchase.

As the cryptocurrency market begins to show signs of a bullish trend, investors are increasingly on the lookout for innovative strategies to maximize their returns. In this dynamic landscape, Bybit's Discount Buy emerges as a noteworthy tool, especially for those who are optimistic about the long-term potential of digital assets. This article delves into the intricacies of Bybit Discount Buy, a novel offering that enables investors to purchase 

 (ETH) at prices potentially lower than the prevailing market rates at the time of settlement. 

Designed for markets with low volatility and tailored to the needs of long-term investors, this non-principal-protected product presents a unique opportunity in the realm of cryptocurrency investments. In this article, we’ll explain how Bybit Discount Buy works, how to use it strategically, and its potential outcomes and benefits.

Bybit Discount Buy is a product designed to let you potentially purchase BTC or ETH at a lower price than the market value on a future settlement date. 

On the settlement date, you’ll either buy the coin at the “purchase price” or receive your principal plus interest in USDT, depending upon the market price on the settlement date, also known as the Settlement Price. Discount Buy is a non-principal-protected product, meaning you may lose your initial investment if the market moves unfavorably.

Bybit Discount Buy operates based on three crucial parameters: Purchase Price, Knockout Price and Knockout APR. The Purchase Price is the price you'll pay for the coin on the settlement date, while the Knockout Price is the threshold triggering a payoff instead of the coin purchase. Finally, the Knockout APR signifies the 

 (APR) added to your principal in the payoff scenario.

Bybit Discount Buy becomes profitable when the Settlement Price (the coin's market price on a future settlement date) falls between the Knockout Price and the Purchase Price. This scenario enables you to purchase the coin at a below-market rate, potentially leading to profits upon resale. However, if the Settlement Price surpasses the Knockout Price, you'll receive a payoff in USDT, including your principal along with the Knockout APR. However, if the Settlement Price equals or falls below the Purchase Price, you'll buy the coin at the Purchase Price, potentially incurring a loss.

This product is suitable for investors anticipating a decline in market volatility, thereby benefiting those expecting the coin's price to remain within a specific range. It's also beneficial for investors aiming to accumulate more crypto during 

 or low volatility periods. Nevertheless, using Bybit Discount Buy demands adept risk management skills, a high tolerance for risk and a solid grasp of market trends.

How Discount Buy Differs From Traditional Crypto Trading

Unlike traditional crypto trading, in which you buy and sell coins at the market price, Bybit Discount Buy allows you to potentially lock in a lower price for your future purchases or earn a yield. This potential advantage allows you to either buy more coins with the same capital investment, save money on your purchase or collect interest. 

However, there’s also a risk that the market price will drop below the purchase price, in which case you’ll buy the coin at a higher price than the market rate. Therefore, Bybit Discount Buy is more suitable for long-term investors who believe in the future growth of their desired token, and aren’t affected by short-term price fluctuations.

Strategic Timing for Using Bybit Discount Buy

Discount Buy works well for investors who want to target a lower entry price than current market values for a coin. This product particularly thrives in stable market conditions. Understanding how to strategically use it involves considering the following factors.

Market sentiment, which reflects investors' feelings about the crypto market, significantly impacts Bybit Discount Buy's performance. Typically, during times of bearish or stable market sentiment, there's a greater chance of the Settlement Price falling within the Knockout Price and the Purchase Price, which can be advantageous. You can gauge 

 through sources such as news, social media, volatility indices and trading volume.

Price trends reflect the direction and strength of price movements. You can use tools such as trend lines, chart patterns and moving averages to assess them. Bybit Discount Buy is beneficial during a market consolidation phase when prices are expected to remain within a narrow range. 

This scenario allows either purchasing coins at a discount for later sale at the market rate or waiting for an upward breakout. However, using this feature during strong uptrends or downtrends may lead to missed opportunities or potential knockout situations, due to price movements breaking out of the expected range.

Determining whether to use Bybit Discount Buy involves comparing potential losses to potential gains in the contract, and assessing the 

, which depends upon plan parameters such as the Purchase Price, Knockout Price and Knockout APR. Generally, lower Purchase Prices elevate the risk/reward ratio, as they offer more significant discounts but increase the chances of being knocked out. 

Conversely, higher Knockout Prices lower the risk/reward ratio, as they provide a higher APR but reduce the chances of buying coins at a discount. Higher Knockout APRs increase the risk/reward ratio by offering more interest, but also heighten the chances of being knocked out.

When you use Bybit Discount Buy there are three specific potential outcomes, each presenting distinct conditions and strategies for users.

If the Settlement Price surpasses or equals the Knockout Price, users get back their principal plus the APR in USDT. 

Upon receiving USDT as a payoff, users have a couple of options: Reinvest it in buying more coins at a lower price, or put it into another Discount Buy plan with a higher APR or a lower Knockout Price.

Bybit offers several avenues for reinvestment, including 

 enables users to earn interest on their idle tokens by staking them in flexible or fixed-term plans. Choose from various tokens and durations and enjoy APR and other benefits. 

If the Settlement Price falls between the Purchase Price and the Knockout Price, you'll buy the desired coin at the Purchase Price and make a profit. This tactic locks in a lower price for the coin than the market rate at the settlement date.

 is a short-term trading tool tailored for low-volatility markets, allowing you to predict price movements within a specific time frame. Depending upon your forecast, you can deposit and potentially receive returns in USDT or crypto assets. With 21 coin pairs and three deposit periods available, Bybit Dual Asset 

 seeking enhanced returns, irrespective of market direction. It's ideal for those aiming to accumulate different crypto assets, capitalize on swings or make quick trades during both uptrends and downtrends.

 rewards you for providing liquidity to the Bybit Spot market. You can choose a trading pair, deposit funds to the liquidity pool, and earn income from trading fees and 

Buy Scenario 2: Less Profitable or Break-Even Purchase

When the Settlement Price falls below or equals the Purchase Price on Bybit, acquiring the target coin takes place at a rate that either doesn't yield profits or breaks even.

To minimize losses with Bybit Discount Buy:

 is a non-principal-protected product that offers a unique way to earn income from the crypto market. Unlike traditional trading, in which you buy and sell coins at the market price, 

 allows you to choose a base coin and a target coin, and receive a payoff based on whether the settlement price is higher or lower than the current price.

However, there’s also a risk that you may lose your entire investment if the settlement price falls within the preset range, which is determined by the product’s parameters. Therefore, Bybit Double-Win is more suitable for experienced investors who would like to capitalize on significant headline events that have shaken the industry or strategically manage risks associated with market volatility within a set time frame. Bybit Double-Win supports BTC, ETH and LINK as base coins and USDT as the target coin.

 are a type of derivative product that allows you to trade the price movements of various assets without owning them. You can choose to go long or short on a trading pair and 

 your position to amplify your profits or losses. For example, if you 

, you’ll incur 10 times the profit or loss as BTC’s price changes.

Evaluating Bybit Discount Buy for Your Trading Style

Bybit Discount Buy allows you to buy coins at lower prices than the market rates at settlement, based on the coins’ volatility. It’s ideal for traders who believe in the long-term growth of their desired coin and aren’t fazed by short-term price fluctuations. 

However, not all trading styles match this product. Here’s what to consider:

Bybit Discount Buy offers a strategic way to potentially acquire BTC and ETH at discounted rates. Not without its risks, It's best suited for investors looking to ramp up crypto holdings in bear markets at lower volatility levels. These investors feel more confident about long-term growth. Assessing market sentiment, understanding price trends and evaluating risk/reward ratios are critical. 

Each outcome — Knockout, Profitable Purchase or Less Profitable/Break-Even Purchase — provides a distinct feature that results in either a lower predetermined purchase price, offers a yield, breaks even or results in losses. Bybit also provides diverse avenues for reinvestment and portfolio expansion that complement Discount Buy. Make sure you align your opportunities with your trading style while considering volatility, liquidity needs and your time horizon. 

 and strategic use of this product can maximize its advantages for committed, risk-aware investors.

Intermediate

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Bybit Discount Buy: Your BTC and ETH Bull Market Advantage

Bybit Discount Buy is a non-principal protected product that allows you to acquire BTC and ETH at prices lower than the market rate at the settlement date.

 lies not just in its potential for high returns, but also in the continuous innovation that shapes its landscape. A key aspect of this dynamic market is the pursuit of strategies that enable traders to maximize their investments, particularly in stable market conditions. In such scenarios, the ability to purchase digital assets at lower prices becomes a significant advantage. This is where Bybit's Discount Buy feature comes into play, offering a unique solution for investors looking to capitalize on market stability. In this article, we’ll explore Discount Buy’s functionality, benefits and suitability for different investor profiles.

 is a non-principal protected product from Bybit designed for low-volatility markets, allowing clients to acquire 

 and ETH at prices lower than the market rate at the settlement date. This feature is particularly beneficial when BTC/ETH 

Discount Buy operates on a unique mechanism whereby users can purchase a specific asset at a predetermined price on the settlement date, which is below the market rate at the time of order placement. This is particularly advantageous when the Settlement Price falls between the Knockout Price and Purchase Price.

Bybit’s Discount Buy is structured to function optimally in specific market scenarios as follows:

There are several advantages to using Discount Buy. Following are three of its key benefits.

Discount Buy offers the unique advantage of acquiring cryptocurrencies at 

 than the current market rate. This is particularly beneficial in 

 or periods of low volatility, where the chances of the Settlement Price falling within the favorable range (between the Knockout and Purchase Prices) are higher.

The product's structured nature, akin to a 

, provides a cap on the price level in the holder’s favor. However, unlike traditional knockout options, a Discount Buy plan won’t expire worthless, as users have the option to buy the desired coin at a price lower than the market price at the time of order placement.

In the Knockout Scenario, where the Settlement Price exceeds the Knockout Price, users not only get their principal back but also earn an additional APR, enhancing the overall profitability of their investment.

While Discount Buy offers several benefits, it also comes with 

. Below are three key risks associated with this investment product.

Despite the Purchase Price potentially being below the market price at the time of order placement, it might still be higher than the Settlement Price. In such scenarios, the settlement continues at the Purchase Price, which could result in a loss for the trader. This highlights the inherent risk that market volatility and price fluctuations may affect the investment outcome.

The non-principal guaranteed nature of Discount Buy means that invested capital is at risk. If the Settlement Price reaches or exceeds the Knockout Price, the trader receives the initial investment plus the Knockout coupon payment. However, if the market moves unfavorably, the principal amount could be at risk. This makes it crucial for investors to assess their risk tolerance before participating.

Suitability for Specific Investor Profiles

Bybit’s Discount Buy is designed for users who are looking to 

 in bear markets, or when market volatility is low. It requires a nuanced understanding of market trends and the ability to predict the movement of the Settlement Price within the specified range. This makes it more suitable for experienced traders, or for those with a higher risk tolerance.

Now that you're familiar with the essentials of Bybit’s Discount Buy, let's delve into a comprehensive guide on how to begin using it. Before proceeding with Discount Buy, ensure you have an active Bybit account. If you haven't set one up yet, 

: Log in to your Bybit account and hover your cursor over the 

tab on the navigation bar at the top of the page. Then, hover over 

 button of the corresponding plan that you’d like to select.

: Input your investment amount and ensure that you acknowledge all the parameters you’ve chosen. Once acknowledged, click on 

: Please ensure that you’re aware of the following: 

, you’ve successfully subscribed to the plan.

If you’d like to view the details of your Discount Buy orders, simply click on 

 in the successful order notification pop-up window.

Alternatively, you can follow the steps below if the pop-up window has disappeared.

 button on the top right corner of the homepage and click on 

Discount Buy is particularly suitable for:

Whether or not to use Discount Buy depends upon individual trading strategies and market understanding. It's an attractive option for those looking to capitalize on lower prices during stable market conditions. However, it requires a good grasp of market trends and 

. Traders should evaluate their investment goals and risk tolerance before deciding to use this feature.

Bybit’s Discount Buy presents an intriguing opportunity for cryptocurrency traders, offering assets at below-market prices under certain conditions. While it has benefits such as cost savings, it also carries risks associated with market volatility. As with any trading tool, it's essential to use Discount Buy judiciously, in accordance with one's particular trading strategy and risk appetite.

Beginner

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Bybit Discount Buy: Unlocking Lower Prices in a Stable Market

PayPal has collaborated with MoonPay to provide its 426 million U.S. customers access to more than 100 different cryptocurrencies, adding to its original offerings of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and its stablecoin, PYUSD.

The SPX index was up 0.91%, as the market welcomed the dovish remarks from the Federal Reserve. The broader cryptocurrency market was down, with Bitcoin and Ether up by 4.14% and 1.68%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today’s outperformer is AR, which jumped 25.1% after HackMD integrates Arweave for permanent blockchain document storage.

Arweave (AR), launched in June 2018, is a decentralized platform for permanent data storage, leveraging its AR cryptocurrency to incentivize users and ensure data permanence. It offers easy web access and is developing moderation tools, with a key partnership with the Internet Archive highlighting its commitment to secure data preservation. 

 integrated with Arweave in March 2023, enabling users to permanently store documents on the blockchain. This feature ensures decentralized, immutable storage for important documents such as white papers. Users can export and import documents between HackMD and Arweave using the ArConnect wallet and browser extension, enhancing data security and permanence. This integration underscores HackMD's commitment to leveraging web3 technologies for secure and efficient document management.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

PayPal has collaborated with MoonPay to provide its 426 million U.S. customers access to more than 100 different 

, adding to its original offerings of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and its stablecoin, PYUSD. This move reflects PayPal's increasing engagement with the cryptocurrency sector, highlighted by the rapid rise in PYUSD's market value and its integration into PayPal’s cross-border payment service, Xoom. This development occurs as U.S. regulators intensify their oversight of cryptocurrencies.

U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs, including BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, experienced a record single-day outflow of over $563 million. This coincided with a significant drop in Bitcoin's value. Despite the outflows, industry analysts affirm that such fluctuations are normal and the ETFs are functioning smoothly. 

Mode's community has propelled the platform into a leading Layer 2 network, boasting over $500 million in TVL and significant ecosystem growth. In response to this success, Mode will end 

 on May 5th and launch Airdrop 2 with 500 million MODE tokens to further incentivize ecosystem participation. The native $MODE token, essential for governance and ecosystem growth, will launch on May 7th. The first airdrop saw 5.5% of MODE's total supply allocated, with significant vesting terms for top wallet holders to promote long-term holding. Airdrop 2 aims to continue this momentum by rewarding ongoing user and developer engagement.

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PayPal Expands Crypto Offerings to 426 Million U.S. Users through MoonPay Integration

Explore the top Bitcoin Runes meme tokens reshaping the crypto landscape post-halving, with Runes transactions dominating the Bitcoin network as of May 2, 2024.

 event, on Apr 19, 2024, was accompanied by another momentous occasion for the blockchain — the launch of Runes. Right at block number 840,000, the protocol's founder, Bitcoin developer Casey Rodarmor, etched the first Runes token, UNCOMMON•GOODS, officially kick-starting a new era for the 

 blockchain. Following the launch of Rodarmor's own token, a flurry of activity on the chain led to the launch of thousands of Runes tokens, mostly 

, within the first day of Runes’ operations. 

As of May 2, 2024, the number of Runes tokens on the network is already measured in tens of thousands, with dozens of new tokens being etched per hour. By some estimates, Bitcoin Runes transactions make up 68% of all the activity on its network, a feat not witnessed in a long time. What are Runes tokens, and which ones are worth paying attention to right now? We cover it all in this article.

 are fungible tokens created using the Runes protocol, launched right after the latest Bitcoin halving on Apr 19, 2024. It facilitates the efficient issuance and management of fungible cryptocurrencies using the Bitcoin blockchain's native 

Unlike Ethereum-based native assets, Runes tokens' creation and operations don't require any 

 functionality. All of the operations involving Runes are executed by attaching lightweight messages to Bitcoin UTXOs, which represent the outputs of ordinary asset transfers on Bitcoin’s network. These outputs are held as address balances and can be spent during future transactions. 

The launch of Bitcoin Runes led to the creation of thousands of cryptocurrencies based on its network within hours. Most of these tokens are meme coins, although some are envisioned to support future use cases in areas like 

Currently, the most popular crypto marketplaces for trading Runes are 

Runes tokens are taking the Bitcoin community by storm. While many thousands of them now exist, we'd like to cover some of the most notable ones in this review. You’ll notice that these tokens typically have odd, lengthy names. This is mainly due to the requirements of the Runes protocol, which is designed to prevent name squatting at this early stage. 

The length requirement will gradually shorten over time as more 

 are processed. Currently, Runes token tickers must be between 13 and 26 characters. After every 17,500 blocks, the minimum requirement will be reduced by one character.

What better token to start our review with than the very first Runes crypto, UNCOMMON•GOODS, launched by the protocol's founder, Casey Rodarmor? 

Hard-coded as Runes token #0, UNCOMMON•GOODS has no preset 

, which distinguishes it from many other Runes assets. The rules for the token specified by Rodarmor state that its minting will continue until Bitcoin block #1,050,000, which translates to a period of approximately four years from now.

. Given its symbolic status as the first Runes token and a creation of Casey Rodarmor himself, UNCOMMON•GOODS is likely to be among the most valuable Runes cryptos in the future. However, given its extended, four-year mint period, investors will have plenty of time to get their hands on it by waiting for transaction fees to drop before acquiring the token.

This is the Runes asset that's been making giant waves in the Bitcoin Ocean. The DOG•GO•TO•THE•MOON token's entire supply of 100 billion units has been distributed to the holders of Runestone 

. At the moment, the token confidently dominates the market cap and trading volume rankings in the Runes category, leaving the second-place SATOSHI

As of May 3, 2024, DOG•GO•TO•THE•MOON has amassed a market cap of $333 million within just two weeks on the market and is currently trading 

The token's meteoric rise has already prompted comparisons with 

 (DOGE) — the highest-capped meme coin in the industry. While DOGE's $21 billion 

 is vastly higher, many note that it took the king of meme coins several years to become popular, while the DOG token has stolen the spotlight within just a few days of its launch. This is leading some observers to believe that DOG could rise to challenge DOGE in the not-too-distant future.

One of the first Runes to be etched on Bitcoin, SATOSHI

NAKAMOTO is also an exceedingly popular token. As of May 3, 2024, its entire supply of 168,000 units has been minted, creating significant scarcity for the asset 

NAKAMOTO token is currently the second-highest-capped and second most actively traded Runes token on the market, behind the undisputed leader of trading activity, DOG•GO•TO•THE•MOON.

AWAY token is another popular Runes asset inspired by Casey Rodarmor's tweet about committing seppuku if the Runes ecosystem fails to hit $1 billion in market cap within a month of its launch. 

AWAY has a maximum supply of 21 million and was launched on Apr 24, 2024, with a pre-minted supply of 100,000. The remaining 20,900,000 SEPPUKU tokens have also already been minted, with token currently available on Magic Eden for about 18 

RUNE (Runes token #8) is one of the earliest Runes, minted precisely at Bitcoin's 840,000th block. It is currently 

 and has a supply of 21 billion units, with the entire supply having been 

 to holders of the popular RSIC Ordinals NFT collection. Any wallet that had held an RSIC NFT before block #840,000 received a distribution of these tokens. 

The GAME•OF•BITCOIN token has been issued by Ordz Games, a project dedicated to developing gaming solutions for the Bitcoin ecosystem. It currently 

 and boasts an easy-to-remember #111 on the Runes protocol. For anyone who'd like to get their hands on a gaming-related Runes token, the good news is that GAME•OF•BITCOIN's tokenomics doesn't specify any supply cap. Thus, subsequent token mints may be in the cards.

DECENTRALIZED is Runes token #2, which automatically makes it a big deal for any Runes enthusiast. Its entire supply of 21 billion was pre-minted and is currently held by its issuer, the NFT project CyberKongz. DECENTRALIZED currently trades at 5.05 sats ($0.003) on Magic Eden.

 the token's supply would be distributed as follows: 

Derived from a comedic short story penned by Casey Rodarmor in 2021 (and personally endorsed by him), the WANKO

RUNES token currently holds the third-highest market cap among Runes assets. The token's creator had set a mint schedule that allowed the issuance of new tokens between Bitcoin blocks 840,010 and 840,094. During this time, around 75 million tokens, or 7.5% of the 1 billion total supply, were minted. WANKO

Although the token has no active mints right now, there could be opportunities to mint new units in the future as the majority of the total supply remains unissued.

Z•Z•Z•Z•Z•FEHU•Z•Z•Z•Z•Z

The Z•Z•Z•Z•Z•FEHU•Z•Z•Z•Z•Z token claims the honor of being Rune #1, the first asset etched immediately after Rodarmor's UNCOMMON•GOODS. Its maximum supply is specified at 111.11 million units. Of these, 110,000,000 were pre-minted, leaving only a bit more than 1 million tokens to be minted during the first days since its launch. Even though all of this post-launch supply has been minted, you can always get the symbolically important Rune #1 via marketplaces such as Magic Eden. As of the time of writing (May 3, 2024), a unit of the token trades on Magic Eden at 35,147 satoshis, or approximately $0.19.

ECONOMICS has a supply cap of 21 million, all of which have been minted. Although the minting process for the token has concluded, it's widely available on select marketplaces, including Magic Eden. As of May 3, 2024,  MEME

Another Runes token from the first ten etched on Bitcoin, LOBO•THE•WOLF•PUP has a supply of 21 billion, all of which have already been minted by its creator, Buoyant Capital. The token issuer has already airdropped 77.5% of the LOBO supply to three groups: holders of Runestone Ordinals NFTs, Rune Doors Ordinals NFTs, and dual holders of NFTs from both collections. The remaining 22.5% of the supply is reserved by the issuer for project-related initiatives, such as exchange listings, marketing and community development. LOBO•THE•WOLF•PUP is currently priced at 

How Does Bitcoin Runes Differ from BRC-20 and Ordinals?

Bitcoin Runes tokens are often compared to tokens based on another fungible Bitcoin standard — 

. The key difference between the two standards lies in the efficiency of token issuance and operations. While Runes provides an efficient, lightweight method of token etching and minting that’s based on Bitcoin's native UTXO model, the BRC-20 standard creates a large amount of "junk" UTXOs on Bitcoin during token generation and transfer operations, congesting the network and leading to performance degradation.

Another frequently evoked comparison is between Runes and Bitcoin Ordinals. Both are inventions of Rodarmor, who first introduced the Ordinals technology back in January 2023. The key difference between the two is that Runes is a standard for fungible cryptocurrencies, while Ordinals is a protocol designed to facilitate the creation of distinct, non-fungible assets, otherwise known as Bitcoin-based NFTs.

Thanks to the way it leverages the world's largest blockchain, Runes holds significant long-term potential. There are, of course, some downsides to the technology. For instance, it requires two transactions to sell tokens. However, as the protocol matures and major centralized exchanges (

) begin to offer Runes tokens, we expect the adoption of these assets to skyrocket. 

Moreover, new use cases for Runes tokens will emerge, thanks to the first Runes-focused Bitcoin 

 protocols appearing on the horizon. Platforms like RuneChain, a new specialized Layer 2 dedicated to Runes tokens, will further drive the adoption of these innovative crypto assets.

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Top Bitcoin Runes Meme Tokens You Should Know

Bybit Learn

Options

What happens when options expire within the stated strike price? Can any action be taken to keep the option contract active? Learn more here.

The number one reason why some crypto traders tend to avoid trading 

 entirely is because they’re afraid of the complexities involved with options expiration. With the 

 in play, throwing expiration dates into the mix can certainly be daunting for anyone new to the world of derivatives learning how to extract the most profit when trading them. 

What happens to the crypto once the contract expires within the stated strike price? Can any action be taken to keep the option contract active? 

Find the answers to these queries and more with our ultimate guide to options expiration, as we explore what happens when options expire — and what you can do as an options trader if you’re faced with a low days-to-expiration options (DTE) contract.

 are contracts that grant the holder the right to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a predetermined expiration date. While options may provide traders with greater potential returns, they also carry significant downside risk. These factors are ultimately why options are seen as advanced financial 

 best suited to experienced traders who understand the risks involved.

Options are a derivative instrument, meaning that the price of an options contract is derived from the underlying asset. An option gives its holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy or sell a predetermined amount of the underlying asset at a specific price, known as the strike price, on or before the expiration date. 

 grants the holder the right to sell an asset for a specific price on or before the specified expiration date, while a 

 grants its holder the right to buy an asset at a certain price on or before the expiration date.

In exchange for this right, options contracts require payment of a premium. The premium is determined by several factors, including how much time is left until expiration and how far away from the strike price the asset is trading in relation to current market prices. 

 in options contracts look for prices of underlying assets to move above their strike prices before expiration, so they can realize a profit on their position. Conversely, traders with short positions in options contracts look for prices of underlying assets to move below their strike prices before expiration, so they can realize a profit on their position.

The ability to leverage gains with relatively small up-front costs makes options attractive instruments for many traders and investors. However, these same features can also lead to potential losses if the market turns against them. When trading with options it's important for traders to understand how these instruments work, so that they can make informed decisions about when and how much money they should risk with each trade — and protect themselves against any potential losses.

What Are Your Choices Before the Options Expiration Date?

On or before the option's expiration date, traders have several choices to consider, depending upon their market outlook and risk tolerance. Here are the possibilities:

One big reason why options sometimes strike fear among traders is the additional dimension of time that’s factored into the calculation of options premiums. Unlike simply trading shares on the equity market, the options you’re trading can possibly be worth nothing by the time they expire. This is because of their days-to-expiration (DTE), which can cause option premiums to vary considerably the further they are from expiration. 

Curious about what happens to options contracts when they expire? In the following section, we’ll take a look at various examples of options at expiration.

If the options contract is expiring in the money (ITM), meaning that the underlying asset is trading above or below the strike price (for call and put options, respectively), then it will automatically be exercised. This means that if you hold a bought call option, you’ll receive the agreed-upon quantity of the underlying asset at the specified strike price.

Short positions in options contracts will automatically be exercised as well, which can result in a loss if your short position is ITM at expiration.

If the options contract is expiring out of the money (OTM), meaning that the underlying asset is trading at or away from the strike price (for call and put options, respectively), then it will 

. No action needs to be taken, as the options contract will simply expire.

Options traders should note that when options are expiring OTM, it’s possible to receive some value from them by selling them in the open market before expiration. This can result in reduced losses for traders with short positions, and potential gains for traders with long positions. However, they must act quickly so that they can take advantage of this opportunity.

Options expiration dates are typically fixed for the third Friday of each month; however, this can vary depending upon the exchange and the underlying asset. In some instances, if there’s a demand, the asset may offer weekly options that expire every Friday so traders can take advantage of the added flexibility when it comes to contracts with different expiration dates to pick from. 

All in all, it’s important for traders to know when their options contract is set to expire so they can take appropriate action ahead of time if needed.

What Can You Do as an Options Trader Faced With Low Days to Expiration?

When faced with a low DTE options contract, traders have several choices, as outlined above. Each of these alternatives can be beneficial in different scenarios, depending upon the trader's market outlook and risk tolerance. It’s important to remember that options trading carries inherent risks, so it’s essential that traders understand how these instruments work before embarking on any of these strategies.

How to Choose the Right Options Expiration Date

Before you determine the optimal options expiration date, it’s first important first to understand the Greeks and how Theta plays a part in options premium calculations. 

In short, Theta refers to the rate of decline in the value of an option due to the passage of time. It measures the inevitable loss in the premium’s value as time passes. 

Because crypto options contracts have a fixed expiration date, each passing day represents one day less for an exponential move in the ideal direction as the contract heads toward maturity. That’s why Theta is represented as a negative number for long positions and as a positive number for short positions.

Now that we’ve established an understanding of Theta decay for options contracts, we can better understand the optimal days-to-expiration that crypto options traders must consider when deciding to purchase or write options. While traders typically have their preferences when it comes to DTE, some experienced options writers live by the 

 — because 45 DTE grants options short sellers the right balance of accelerating 

 decline, thanks to Theta decay and a large enough extrinsic value premium to warrant the trade entry.

This 45 DTE rule aside, personal preference will ultimately decide how one chooses their options expiration date. This is because long options traders have to decide whether to give enough time for the underlying crypto to move in the anticipated direction, and if that time is worth the additional premium. Conversely, short option traders will have to determine if the extra premium earned from Theta decay is worth the risk of the underlying asset’s price suddenly becoming volatile.

In an ideal environment, options traders should strive to keep their options from expiring, regardless of whether an option is expiring ITM or OTM. This is because traders will be sacrificing the extrinsic aspect of the options contract, which falls over time (thanks to Theta decay). However, there are situations when attempting to salvage a crypto options trade may do more harm than simply letting it expire. In such situations, it may make sense to simply let the options contract expire. For instance:

Options are powerful financial instruments with the potential to generate significant gains for experienced traders who understand how they work and the risks involved. The expiration date of options contracts is an important factor to consider, as it determines when the contracts will expire and whether they’ll be worth anything at the end. 

From explaining the intricacies of options expiration to going in-depth with Theta decay, we hope our guide has been helpful in aiding options traders like yourself assess your ideal DTE. 

When analyzing the cost and benefit of trading options (while taking volatility and Theta decay into account), there can be a fine line between deciding whether it’s preferable to salvage an options trade or simply let it expire. Regarding options expiration dates, crypto options traders must weigh their choices in light of the capital they’re risking and the potential upside that can come from that risk.

Options Expiration: What Happens When Options Expire?

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