Key takeaways:
97% of ETH put options will expire worthless if ETH holds above $2,600.
A bullish ETH price outcome could be limited by macroeconomic factors and trading strategies that cap Ether gains.
On May 30, $2.4 billion in Ether (ETH) options will expire—an event that could support ETH’s attempt to break above the $2,700 mark for the first time in over three months. Despite the recent gains, Ether is down 21% in 2025, while the broader cryptocurrency market has seen a 5% increase.
Ether bulls are motivated to keep ETH above $2,600 ahead of the monthly expiry. However, weak network activity on Ethereum suggests that the upside potential may be limited.
Ether/USD (blue) vs. Total crypto capitalization (green). Source: TradingView / Cointelegraph
Analysts believe Ether’s underperformance stems from rising competition among blockchains focused on decentralized applications. Still, ETH holds a key advantage as the only altcoin with a spot