Stark contrast of spot-to-futures ratio between Bitcoin and Ethereum Definition
Daily spot market total volume for ETH divided by ETH futures trading volume.
Quick Take
- For a healthy ratio and sustainable price action, it is important to have a high spot-to-futures ratio.
- Throughout 2020 and 2021, Bitcoin hovered around 0.2 – 0.3 spot to futures, which is low, while we were in the bull run supported by the derivatives market.
- However, at the end of 2022, Bitcoin’s ratio hit an all-time high at 0.66 โ indicating more spot price action than futures; this has come off in recent weeks but still slightly supports higher spot action.
- Meanwhile, Ethereum has had a low, consistent ratio which shows it is being supported by the futures market considerably.
- Ethereum is currently at 0.16 โ almost at an all-time low โ which is not healthy or sustainable for price action.
Analyst 
James Van Straten
James fervently appreciates data, technology, and trend-spotting. As a tech and liberty maximalist, he hails Bitcoin as the 21st century's paramount invention.
In this insight
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps).
Bitcoin
$64,577.57
Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.