Coinbase ended the session at $172.00, down 3.61%, after opening at $175.03 and trading between $171.81 and $179.05.
The options tape showed a mixed but restrained posture. The largest trade was a $240,000 bear call spread selling $180 calls, while the second-largest was a bull call spread at the same strikes, indicating cautious, capped upside rather than aggressive directional conviction.
>>>Start OPTIONS trading & earn up to SGD 200 in rewards!
Options Indicators
Coinbase currently has an implied volatility of 66.65%, while its IV percentile stands at 23.11%, indicating that although the absolute IV level is still high, it sits near the lower end of its own historical range. In other words, volatility is on the low side relative to recent history, and options appear cheaply priced rather than expensive. With the IV/HV ratio at 0.88, implied volatility is also running below historical volatility, which further supports the view that current option premiums are relatively restrained.
The Call/Put volume ratio is 2.44.
Large Trades
A bear call spread collecting $240,000 was the largest displayed trade, built by selling 1,500 Oct. 16, 2026 $180.00 calls and buying 1,500 Oct. 16, 2026 $187.50 calls. With COIN referenced at $172.00, both call strikes were out of the money, and the structure represents a net credit bearish spread with limited risk. The strategic intent is premium collection while expressing the view that Coinbase is unlikely to rise meaningfully above $180.00 by expiration, with the long $187.50 call capping upside risk if the stock rallies sharply.
A bull call spread opened for a net debit of $211,200 was the second displayed trade, using a purchase of 1,200 Oct. 16, 2026 $180.00 calls against a sale of 1,200 Oct. 16, 2026 $187.50 calls. Since Coinbase is currently at $172.00, both legs were also out of the money, making this a defined-risk bullish position that pays off if the stock advances into or through the spread. The buyer is effectively making a directional upside bet while reducing upfront premium by financing part of the long call with the short higher-strike call, which also caps the maximum gain above $187.50. Overall, the large-trade flow leans slightly bearish rather than decisively negative: the biggest single structure was a premium-collecting bear call spread above spot, while bullish activity was present but mainly through capped-upside call spreads rather than outright aggressive call buying. That mix suggests the market is not pricing in a runaway upside move and is instead positioning for restrained gains or resistance overhead, leaving the broader tone cautious to mildly bearish.
Strategy Reference
For a low assignment probability, a seller could consider the Oct. 16, 2026 $240.00 call, far above spot and the dominant spread strikes, while traders wanting a defined-risk bearish view without heavy margin could replicate the displayed $180.00/$187.50 call credit spread.
Comments