Panama-based Deribit, the worldâs largest crypto options exchange by trading volume and open interest, has launched a bitcoin volatility index called DVOL to help traders assess the marketâs mood.
âDVOL uses the implied volatility smile of the relevant expiries to output one number that gives a gauge of the 30-day annualized implied volatility,â the exchange said Wednesday in an announcement.
Implied volatility refers to investorsâ expectations for price turbulence over a specific time period.
In traditional markets, implied volatility usually picks up during bear markets and subsides during bull runs. A volatility index on the Standard & Poorâs 500 Index of large U.S. stocks is popularly known as the âfear gauge.â
Deribit refers to its bitcoin volatility index as an âaction gauge.â
âMarket participants need to be able to better understand as well as manage volatility,â Deribit CEO John Jansen said. âAs the bitcoin options market has matured, the time is now to launch DVOL, enabling further market growth and hopefully soon welcoming a new suite of volatility traders on Deribit.â
The exchange plans to roll out futures tied to the bitcoin volatility index soon. That would allow traders to effectively bet on their views regarding near-term market volatility.
Also read: Ether-Bitcoin Implied Volatility Spread Points to a Macro-Driven MarketÂ