Bitcoin sees CME futures backwardation as basis turns

What to Know:

• Backwardation hints at cycle bottom, yet derivatives positioning remains bearish.
• Bears dominate futures despite spot bounce, signaling risk aversion persists.

Bitcoin (BTC) flashed a bullish cycle bottom signal as the futures curve slipped into backwardation and price bounced, yet derivatives positioning suggests bears still exert control. The setup reflects forced de-risking and hedging pressure rather than a clean trend reversal.

Backwardation, when futures trade below spot, producing a negative basis, often appears at capitulation points but is not definitive. As reported by CoinDesk, this structure has coincided with prior market lows in crypto cycles, while also reflecting intense risk aversion among professional traders.

What Bitcoin backwardation and negative futures basis mean now

In practical terms, a negative futures basis implies traders are paying a discount for forward exposure, consistent with demand for short hedges or balance-sheet deleveraging. Based on data from SignalPlus, the CME Group Bitcoin futures curve recently sat around −2.35% annualized backwardation, the deepest since the FTX collapse, underscoring institutional caution.

Negative basis conditions can compress funding and penalize outright longs, keeping speculative leverage subdued. As reported by Cointelegraph, the futures–spot basis flipping negative indicates that near-term expectations remain defensive even after spot-led bounces.

Analysts emphasize that confirmation matters more than a single signal. “The bottom is likely near,” said Arthur Hayes, BitMEX co-founder, adding that patience is warranted while broader liquidity conditions normalize.

Confirmation signals: Fear & Greed Index, funding, basis, liquidity

Confirmation would include the curve moving out of backwardation toward contango, funding stabilizing around neutral, and the Fear & Greed Index remaining restrained rather than euphoric. Sustained spot strength alongside deeper order-book liquidity would further validate that futures bears are losing control.

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin trades near 68,693. Market metrics indicate Bearish sentiment, 10.41% volatility, an RSI of 31.58, price below the 50-day SMA at 80,464 and 200-day at 98,721, and 12 of 30 green days.

Caution remains warranted. As noted by Santiment, broad declarations that a bottom is in can precede renewed downside if structural and liquidity confirmations fail to appear.