Bitcoin’s 8% correction flushed leverage but set stage for short term turbulence

Bitcoin (BTC) dropped nearly 8% from its May 22 all-time high, near $112,000, ending a 50% climb over 45 days that began on April 7, when BTC reached its yearly low at $74,441.20.

According to the June 2 “Bitfinex Alpha” report, a Court of Appeal decision reinstating disputed US import tariffs pushed 30-year Treasury yields above 5% for the first time since 2009 and triggered broad risk-off moves. 

Foreshadowing turbulence

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) highlighted this movement. Investors added $6.2 billion in Bitcoin exposure through these investment vehicles in the first four weeks of May while withdrawing $2.7 billion from gold ETFs, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. 

However, BlackRock’s IBIT registered its highest daily outflow in history, shedding nearly $431 million on May 30, according to Farside Investors’ data. The total outflows on the same day surpassed $616 million, the highest level since Feb. 26.

The report noted that realized gains accelerated last week, and the Relative Unrealised Profit indicator moved beyond its plus-two-standard-deviation band. 

Only 16% of Bitcoin’s trading history shows the gauge at such heights. Past occurrences coincided with brief spikes in volatility as holders crystallized gains. 

Elevated profitability increases sell pressure, forcing spot demand to absorb redistributed coins and maintain the uptrend.

Correction cooled overheating derivatives

At the same time, perpetual futures open interest swelled into Bitcoin’s all-time-high breakout, and now contracts as leveraged longs unwind. 

Options open interest peaked at $49.4 billion, about $6 billion above January’s high, before the May 29 expiry trimmed the figure to roughly $39 billion. 

The report linked the surge to expanding institutional activity, noting that large derivatives books can amplify price swings when macro liquidity tightens.

The report concluded that the pullback removed excess leverage, aligned supply with organic bids, and reset funding conditions across futures and options. This creates a healthier scenario for an upward movement.

However, on-chain metrics suggest turbulence in the short term, while Bitcoin trades just 6.5% below its all-time high.

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