Traders eyeing long positions could have their rally soon as funding rates flip negative

Source Fxstreet
  • Bitcoin funding rate chart has been flipping negative of late, signaling a shift in market sentiment.
  • Shorts are paying longs, which often precipitates the creation of bullish momentum.
  • A potential market correction or squeeze could be on the horizon.

Bitcoin (BTC) price remains on a load-shedding exercise, a sentiment that has spilled over to the broader market. Nevertheless, the bleed seen across the cryptocurrency market could end soon amid possible shifting market sentiment.

Also Read: Bitcoin price defends $60K as whales hold onto their BTC despite market dip

Funding rates flipping negative could be the silver lining for longs

After a prolonged downtrend in the market, fortunes could be starting to change as funding rates flip negative.

BTC funding rate

During a bearish market like the one currently at play, the funding rate shifting negative leads to short traders paying long traders. On the other hand, when the market sentiment is bullish, the funding rate becomes positive and long traders pay short traders.

Funding rates can reflect market sentiment and liquidity. A positive funding rate, where long position holders pay shorts suggests that traders are willing to pay a premium to bet on rising prices, which indicates bullish sentiment. A negative funding rate could mean bearish sentiment with shorts paying longs, suggesting that traders expect prices to fall.

If the bearish sentiment prevails, Bitcoin price could continue to fall, which would justify the negative funding rate. An overly negative funding rate for a prolonged duration, however, could cause a change in sentiment, causing a possible twist in the BTC price action to turn bullish.

The shorts could get squeezed, compelled to buy Bitcoin at a higher price in efforts to cover their losses as the BTC price rises unexpectedly. This unexpected surge in buying pressure can lead to even more price increases. The result would be a snowball effect where more short sellers rush to cover their positions. This can result in rapid and significant price spikes in the cryptocurrency market.

Open Interest, funding rate FAQs

Higher Open Interest is associated with higher liquidity and new capital inflow to the market. This is considered the equivalent of increase in efficiency and the ongoing trend continues. When Open Interest decreases, it is considered a sign of liquidation in the market, investors are leaving and the overall demand for an asset is on a decline, fueling a bearish sentiment among investors.

Funding fees bridge the difference between spot prices and prices of futures contracts of an asset by increasing liquidation risks faced by traders. A consistently high and positive funding rate implies there is a bullish sentiment among market participants and there is an expectation of a price hike. A consistently negative funding rate for an asset implies a bearish sentiment, indicating that traders expect the cryptocurrency’s price to fall and a bearish trend reversal is likely to occur.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Today’s Market Recap: U.S. Stocks Rebound as Nasdaq Gains 1.11%, Memory Chip Stocks Rally, SanDisk Jumps 5.5%U.S. stocks rebounded on Monday, October 19, following a sharp sell-off in AI infrastructure stocks last week, lifting the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500.At the clo
Author  TradingKey
Yesterday 01: 25
U.S. stocks rebounded on Monday, October 19, following a sharp sell-off in AI infrastructure stocks last week, lifting the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500.At the clo
placeholder
Dollar presses 102 as the 10-year yield sits at 5.14% — and October hike odds are only 17%The dollar index closed at 101.99 (+0.20%) on Monday after briefly topping 102.07, while the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 5.14% and the 2-year hit 4.774% — yet futures price only about a 17% chance of a hike at the October 27-28 FOMC, versus roughly 90% for December. The driver is a global bond selloff, not a Fed repricing: France's 10-year OAT jumped to 4.84% ~ 4.94% and the OAT-Bund spread widened to 140 ~ 146bp. Here are the levels, the cross-asset read-through and what to watch.
Author  Irene Q.
Yesterday 05: 50
The dollar index closed at 101.99 (+0.20%) on Monday after briefly topping 102.07, while the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 5.14% and the 2-year hit 4.774% — yet futures price only about a 17% chance of a hike at the October 27-28 FOMC, versus roughly 90% for December. The driver is a global bond selloff, not a Fed repricing: France's 10-year OAT jumped to 4.84% ~ 4.94% and the OAT-Bund spread widened to 140 ~ 146bp. Here are the levels, the cross-asset read-through and what to watch.
placeholder
Netflix earnings land tonight: the $70 line that decides whether the AI rebound has legsNetflix reports Q3 after the US close on October 20 with the stock at $69.85 (-0.96%), just below the $70 round number and far from its 52-week high of $124.86. Consensus looks for revenue near $12.87bn (+12%), EPS around $0.82 and a 33.2% operating margin, while options imply an 8.4% one-day move. With the Nasdaq up 1.11% and the SOX up 1.61% after an eight-day slide, the result is the first real test of the AI-led rebound. Here are the numbers, the $65 / $70 / $75 levels and the three checks that matter.
Author  Irene Q.
Yesterday 06: 25
Netflix reports Q3 after the US close on October 20 with the stock at $69.85 (-0.96%), just below the $70 round number and far from its 52-week high of $124.86. Consensus looks for revenue near $12.87bn (+12%), EPS around $0.82 and a 33.2% operating margin, while options imply an 8.4% one-day move. With the Nasdaq up 1.11% and the SOX up 1.61% after an eight-day slide, the result is the first real test of the AI-led rebound. Here are the numbers, the $65 / $70 / $75 levels and the three checks that matter.
placeholder
Tesla Q3 Earnings Preview: Can Auto Margins Stabilize? Wall Street’s Highest Price Target at $550Tesla (TSLA) will report its third-quarter 2026 financial results after the U.S. stock market close on October 21, Eastern Time, and host an earnings conference call at 17:30 that day. Th
Author  TradingKey
21 hours ago
Tesla (TSLA) will report its third-quarter 2026 financial results after the U.S. stock market close on October 21, Eastern Time, and host an earnings conference call at 17:30 that day. Th
placeholder
Gold Price Analysis Today | Forex Gold Analysis | XAU/USD Analysis - October 21, 2026Get the latest gold price analysis, forex gold insights, and XAU/USD analysis for October 21, 2026. Read on for the details.
Author  Mitrade
4 hours ago
Get the latest gold price analysis, forex gold insights, and XAU/USD analysis for October 21, 2026. Read on for the details.
Related Instrument
goTop
quote