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OKX Nitro Spreads Market Analysis: Bitcoin Delivered 98% of 1H 2023 Returns on Eight Trading Days, More BTC Volatility Expected

Dubai, the UAE, 11 Aug, 2023 -- OKX, a leading crypto exchange and Web3 technology company, today announced the first report in its series of institutional market analysis entitled 'How OKX's Nitro Spreads tool can help institutional investors navigate volatile markets,' finding that bitcoin delivered 98% of its returns for the period on eight total trading days (out of 180) from 1 January to 30 June, 2023 (1H 2023) and underscoring the challenge of timing stable returns.

In addition, and according to implied volatility data for Bitcoin at-the-money options, participants are also expecting bitcoin spot-price volatility to increase in the future. Based on market research and trading data analysis*, OKX also found that factors contributing to price differentials between spot, futures and perpetual swaps - and key drivers for basis trading returns - include market preference on instruments, market sentiment, supply and demand imbalances, market liquidity and interest rate differentials.

OKX Global Chief Commercial Officer Lennix Lai said: "We're seeing a growing number of institutional traders pursue market-neutral strategies. OKX offers traders a range of tools to realize their strategies and succeed in different market conditions; one such tool is Nitro Spreads, which enables the efficient execution of complex basis trades with just one click."

The Nitro Spreads market analysis is focused on studying the challenges of long delta trading in the current crypto market and outlining how savvy institutional traders can pursue market-neutral strategies in a sideways market. OKX's institutional research conducted the analysis after reviewing Bitcoin spot price** and derivatives* trading data from 1H 2023.

DISCLAIMER This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, or hold digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances.

Disclaimer
This content is provided for informational purposes only and may cover products that are not available in your region. It is not intended to provide (i) investment advice or an investment recommendation; (ii) an offer or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold crypto/digital assets, or (iii) financial, accounting, legal, or tax advice. Crypto/digital asset holdings, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk and can fluctuate greatly. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding crypto/digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. Information (including market data and statistical information, if any) appearing in this post is for general information purposes only. While all reasonable care has been taken in preparing this data and graphs, no responsibility or liability is accepted for any errors of fact or omission expressed herein.

© 2025 OKX. This article may be reproduced or distributed in its entirety, or excerpts of 100 words or less of this article may be used, provided such use is non-commercial. Any reproduction or distribution of the entire article must also prominently state: “This article is © 2025 OKX and is used with permission.” Permitted excerpts must cite to the name of the article and include attribution, for example “Article Name, [author name if applicable], © 2025 OKX.” Some content may be generated or assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. No derivative works or other uses of this article are permitted.

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