Cryptocurrency derivatives trading volume will reach $86 trillion in 2025

In 2025, the cryptocurrency derivatives market continued to demonstrate active development, as confirmed by data from CoinGlass. Trading volume in relevant instruments nearly reached an impressive $86 trillion, with average daily trading volume reaching approximately $265 billion. These figures highlight that derivatives are used not only for speculative trading but also for risk diversification.

Derivatives Market Leaders

Binance was the undisputed leader in trading volume, accounting for approximately 29% of all trades. It was followed by platforms such as OKX, Bybit, and Bitget. Together, these four exchanges account for approximately 62% of the entire derivatives market, indicating a high concentration of trading activity among a few key players.

The Role of Institutional Investors

In 2025, the role of institutional investors also increased, actively investing in spot ETFs and futures contracts. This provided significant support for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where open interest in futures has grown. The increased interest from institutional investors confirms their confidence in the long-term prospects of the cryptocurrency market.

Changing Market Structure

The structure of the cryptocurrency derivatives market has also changed. Speculative strategies have given way to longer-term approaches, and investors have begun hedging their risks more frequently. This trend indicates that the cryptocurrency market is gradually maturing and becoming more mature.

Open Interest and Liquidations

In the first quarter of 2025, open interest declined to $87 billion, but by the beginning of October, it had sharply increased to nearly $236 billion. Investors recently decided to partially lock in their positions worth approximately $70 billion, and open interest now stands at $145 billion, a 17% increase compared to January 2025.

Experts also noted a significant wave of market liquidations that occurred in the fourth quarter. Since October, positions worth $150 billion have been forcibly closed, with the majority of these liquidations occurring on long positions. This was largely due to the US government's announcement of 100% tariffs on goods from China, which caused market uncertainty.

In Conclusion

Thus, 2025 has become a landmark year for the cryptocurrency derivatives market, demonstrating a significant increase in trading volumes and a shift in investment patterns. Increasing interest from institutional investors and a shift toward longer-term strategies indicate the maturity and resilience of the cryptocurrency market.