Bitcoin price tumbles as macro selloff collides with $14B options expiry

Bitcoin slides after a macro downturn coincides with a large options expiry, fueling volatility in BTC and ETH.

2026-03-27

Bitcoin price just collapsed because the macro selloff collided with a $14 billion options expiry this morning. Roughly $14.1B in Bitcoin options and $2.2B in Ethereum options expired on Friday, Mar. 27. History suggests more volatility around expiry.

Yesterday, BTC registered an intraday low of $68,127, while ETH reached $2,036. Bitcoin has fallen as low as $66,200 this morning, with Ethereum falling below $2,000. Reuters tied the broad risk-off to oil surging above $105, higher Treasury yields, a firming dollar, and markets pricing out Fed rate cuts for 2025 amid intensifying Middle East tensions.