Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events, the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume, and futures, options and perpetual contracts.

December's end-of-year options expiration brought an unexpected drop as realized volatility fell to the lowest levels of the month. Perpetual swap open interest remained stable, indicating these markets weren't heavily used for hedging against expired options, likely contributing to the muted volatility. 

While most expired open interest in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) hasn't been reinvested, the balance of calls and puts remains consistent. Notably, ETH options are pricing in higher implied volatility as compared to BTC, particularly for shorter expirations, leading to a flat term structure for ETH, while BTC is offering cheaper options exposure.

In the perpetual markets, low volatility and minimal spot movements have led funding rates for nearly all tokens to mirror broader market sentiment throughout the holiday season. On the options side, BTC's term structure is noticeably lower and steeper than ETH's, with realized volatility now dipping below implied volatility levels, highlighting an intriguing shift in market dynamics.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

Open Interest Solid Amid Year-End Options Expiration

Although open interest for both BTC and ETH perpetual swaps hasn’t returned to early December 2024 highs, it remained robust throughout the significant end-of-year options expiration event. This suggests that these markets weren’t heavily utilized to 

 of the expiring options contracts, likely contributing to the lack of volatility observed during this period. Instead, trading volumes have dipped noticeably during the winter holiday season, coinciding with a collapse in realized volatility back to December 2024’s lowest levels.

BTC Option Curve Remains Steep During Call-Put Parity

The expiration of December's end-of-year options didn’t trigger the anticipated surge in volatility; instead, realized volatility has plummeted to the lower end of its recent range. The implied volatility term structure remains steep compared to both its recent behavior and ETH's, with longer-dated implied volatility around 57%, and 1-week at-the-money options trading about five points lower. Much of the expired open interest hasn’t yet been rolled into new positions, maintaining a neutral balance between puts and calls. Consequently, BTC's options market positioning is relatively neutral, lacking the leverage it had at the start of December 2024.

Huge ETH Option Expiring Doesn’t Cause Volatility

A late December spike in realized volatility didn’t carry into the new year, with ETH’s spot price currently exhibiting volatility below that of short-tenor implied volatility. Interestingly, the implied volatility term structure has undergone a steepening and re-flattening over the past week, contrasting with BTC’s slightly steeper profile. This suggests that ETH’s options market is anticipating higher short-term volatility in spot price movements. 

Despite the significant expiration of options open interest at the end of December 2024, which didn’t lead to a rollover into later expirations, call options continue to dominate the market and have increased at the start of 2025.

Advanced

block-scholes-x-bybit-report.jpeg

Bybit X Block Scholes Crypto Derivatives Analytics Report (Jan 2, 2025): BTC Options Continue to See Call-Put Parity, With Lower Short-Term Volatility Expected

Dive into FLock, a decentralized platform that revolutionizes the way AI models are developed, trained and deployed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to transform countless industries, but its development often raises questions about privacy, control and inclusivity. 

 is a unique decentralized platform that democratizes AI training, fine-tuning and inferencing. With its blockchain-powered infrastructure, FLock ensures transparency, security and community-driven decision-making, paving the way for AI models that align with established societal values. 

In this article, we’ll explore how FLock decentralizes AI training, its key features and its potential impact on developers, communities and users.

 platform that revolutionizes the way AI models are developed, trained and deployed. By leveraging blockchain technology and a novel approach called 

, FLock addresses critical issues in AI development, such as centralized control, lack of transparency and privacy concerns.

At its core, FLock’s mission is to democratize AI by enabling communities to participate directly in the creation and refinement of AI models. Through federated learning, FLock trains AI models across multiple decentralized devices or servers. This method ensures that data remains local, eliminating the need for raw data exchange while still enabling robust model training. By decentralizing the training process, FLock not only protects individual privacy, but also fosters a more inclusive ecosystem in which diverse contributors can collaborate.

What sets FLock apart is its integration of 

. This ensures that all contributions — whether data, compute power or feedback — are transparently recorded and fairly rewarded. Blockchain tech’s immutable ledger enhances trust among participants and safeguards the process against manipulation. Additionally, the platform’s on-chain incentive mechanisms encourage participation from a wide range of contributors, ensuring that rewards are distributed equitably.

Ultimately, FLock empowers communities to develop bespoke AI models tailored to their specific needs. By decentralizing the process and prioritizing transparency and collaboration, FLock breaks the monopoly of large corporations, creating an AI ecosystem that aligns with public ethics and societal values.

, an Oxford alumnus with a robust background in AI and blockchain technology. Sun, who serves as FLock's CEO, has an impressive career trajectory, having worked as the Director of AI for the Royal Bank of Canada and as an AI Research Fellow at Imperial College London. His vision for FLock stems from a deep understanding of both the technical and ethical challenges of AI development.

The founding team also includes other Oxford alumni, boasting over a decade of combined experience in AI research and the cryptocurrency industry. This team brings a collective blend of academic excellence and practical expertise that positions FLock to lead the decentralized AI movement.

FLock has successfully raised $11 million in funding across two rounds, reflecting strong investor confidence in its vision. In May 2024, FLock secured a $6 million seed round co-led by Lightspeed Faction and Tagus Capital, with additional backing from Digital Currency Group (DCG), Volt Capital, OKX Ventures and Inception Capital.

Later, in December 2024, FLock announced a $3 million successful funding round led by DCG and joined by prominent names like Animoca Brands, Fenbushi Capital, GnosisVC and GSR. These investments are being channelled into enhancing the platform’s testnet and federated learning client, accelerating FLock’s mission of enabling secure, collaborative AI development.

With this funding and over 1,500 nodes contributing from platforms like Numerai and Kaggle, FLock is rapidly scaling its impact on decentralized AI training.

FLock AI revolutionizes AI development through its decentralized training framework. This approach allows participants to contribute to AI model training without ever sharing their personal data. Instead, models are trained locally across devices using federated learning, which ensures that data remains with its owners while still enhancing the accuracy of the model overall. 

FLock’s reward system is designed to incentivize active participation. Contributors who provide data, computational power and/or feedback are compensated with FLOCK tokens, ensuring a fair distribution of rewards. 

FLock empowers its community through a robust governance framework. Decisions regarding AI model development, deployment and ethical considerations are driven by the community, ensuring alignment with established societal values. Through blockchain-based voting mechanisms, contributors can influence the direction of AI projects, fostering transparency and public accountability. 

FLock’s modular architecture allows contributors to participate in specific aspects of AI model development. Whether providing raw data or computational power or even refining algorithms, the platform enables a collaborative and scalable development process. 

At the core of FLock’s philosophy is its commitment to privacy and security. By leveraging blockchain technology, the platform ensures that no single entity controls the AI development process. Data remains local and protected by cryptographic measures, while the immutability of blockchain guarantees transparency in every transaction and model update. 

 begins with a blockchain and an AI layer.

The blockchain layer underpins FLock’s incentivization and security mechanisms.

The AI layer facilitates model training, refinement and deployment, leveraging both centralized and federated approaches.

Let’s have a look at the supply and demand for the FLOCK token.

FLock adopts a 1:2 ratio model between team/investors (33.3%) and community (66.7%), prioritizing community-driven growth and ecosystem expansion. The majority of tokens are allocated to incentivize user participation and long-term ecosystem success.

FLock aims to improve the future of AI development by decentralizing the training process and ensuring transparency, privacy and inclusivity. By leveraging blockchain and federated learning, FLock empowers communities to contribute to AI creation without compromising on privacy. Its innovative reward system and community-driven governance foster a fair and collaborative ecosystem. 

With significant backing and a growing network of contributors, FLock is positioning itself as a leader in decentralized AI, offering a more ethical and secure alternative to traditional AI development models. As it continues to scale, FLock is set to transform the way AI models are built and deployed.

 — and earn a share of a 10 million FLOCK prize pool. For more details, visit 

Intermediate

flock.png

FLock AI: Decentralized AI Training

In this tutorial, we’ll explore how you can complete a series of tasks in Network3 for Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade.

Task 1: Register for a Network3 Account and Connect Your Bybit Wallet 

: Navigate to the campaign page and click on the 

task. Click on the task, and Galxe will ask to redirect you to the Network3 register page.

: Register for a Network3 account using your email address. You may indicate a 

Task 2: Download the Network3 App and Run a Node for One Hour

 and choose your operating system to download the Network3 app.

 or powerbutton, depending upon which operating system you’re using. For ease of reference, we’ve used macOS and iOS as examples below.

: Keep running the node until the timer reaches 

Beginner

network3 tutorial.png

How to Complete Network3 Tasks for Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade

Bybit launched the Bybit Merch Creative Challenge for university students worldwide, offering a $50,000 USDT prize pool.

The S&P 500 dropped 0.22% on Thursday, its fifth straight decline, with investors eyeing Friday’s economic updates. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was up by 2.03%, with Bitcoin and Ether rising by 2.79% and 2.70%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is XRP, which surged 1.9% following a rise in price driven by increased open interest and positive market sentiment.

Ripple (XRP), launched in August 2012, is a blockchain technology company focused on improving international payments with its cryptocurrency, XRP. XRP price surged due to increased open interest, a major XRP transfer, and market sentiment linked to Trump's inauguration. Bullish momentum is supported by high short liquidations, with key resistance levels to watch for further price movement.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

 for university students worldwide, offering a $50,000 USDT prize pool. Participants can design exclusive Bybit merchandise, with submissions open until Jan. 15, 2025. Winners will be announced on Feb. 1, 2025, across four prize categories.

Yesterday, Bitcoin Spot ETFs recorded a total inflow of $84.8M, driven by $107.9M from non-GBTC funds, partially offset by a $23.1M outflow from GBTC.

, offering an airdrop for participants who complete tasks like swapping and bridging using the Mango wallet. Points earned through tasks determine airdrop rewards. Join via the Mango wallet and follow steps on the testnet dashboard.

2.png

Bybit Launches $50,000 Merch Design Challenge for University Students Worldwide

Bybit Learn

Altcoins

Karate Combat (KARATE) is one of the top meme coins empowering enthusiasts to engage with karate in a digitalized manner. Learn about its utility & value.

2304-T3375_Bybit_Learn_-_Coin_Banner-KARATE_1600x900.png

Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology have infiltrated virtually every sector of society, creating a worldwide buzz. Now, they’re making a high-flying leap into the martial art dojo! 

 — a fresh-faced contender in the crypto space. Understand its utility, tokenomics and how it squares off against other meme coin gladiators. You'll also get some hard-hitting tips to help you grapple with meme coin investing. Let's jump into the fray.

Karate Combat (KARATE) is not just a digital asset — it's a novel fusion of cryptocurrency and martial arts branded as a meme coin, empowering enthusiasts to engage with karate in an entirely new way. Founded in 2018, Karate Combat is a professional, full-contact karate league based in New York and broadcast across over 100 countries. What sets this league apart is its innovative use of technology in presenting its events.

The league's fights are captured using 360-degree cameras and delivered to fans in immersive virtual reality, providing a unique spectator experience. But the innovation doesn't stop there: Karate Combat also incorporates blockchain technology, adding a fresh dimension to fan engagement.

The league's native token, KARATE, is central to this innovation. It's more than a cryptocurrency — it symbolizes the community's fighting spirit. Serving as a decentralized medium of exchange, Karate Combat allows fans to support and invest in their passion for this ancient martial art. Its blockchain-driven ecosystem fosters interaction and decentralizes value within the karate community.

Karate Combat is on a mission to popularize karate on a global scale, and its unique blend of martial arts and cryptocurrency is the powerful roundhouse kick propelling this goal.

KARATE tokens serve as the primary governance and gamification tool for Karate Combat, offering an innovative way to deepen fans' engagement with the sport while shaping the league's trajectory. 

One of the intriguing applications of KARATE tokens is in the 

 platform as a web3 game where players back their favorite fighters. The beauty of this game is its zero-loss mechanism, which means players can earn more tokens without any risk of losing theirs. The potential winnings of a player increase as they acquire more KARATE tokens. Over time, active participants and successful fighters naturally reduce the number of less active players, creating a dynamic and engaging ecosystem.

What sets Karate Combat apart from other sports NFT projects and fan tokens is the league-wide governance powered by its token through the 

. This model allows Karate Combat to enhance the value of the KARATE token significantly by providing token-gated experiences (merch, live event ticketing and more). This approach amplifies the utility of the KARATE token and enriches the overall fan experience, showcasing an innovative intersection of blockchain technology and sports.

The KARATE token, issued by Karate Combat, manifests a unique token structure to foster long-term growth and stability. With a 

, 4.5 billion were in circulation at the token generation event, indicating a substantial quantity kept for future distribution. This future allocation intends to cater to a broad array of stakeholders, including not only founders and investors but eventually extending to fans and athletes, thereby promoting inclusive growth.

Fully 80% of the tokens are subject to rigorous lockup schedules to discourage short-term speculation. This involves a one-year hard lock, during which trading is disallowed, followed by a three-year unlocking schedule, gradually releasing these tokens into circulation. This approach not only encourages long-term holding, but also underpins the sustainability of the KARATE ecosystem.

Karate Combat’s distribution strategy, including airdrops, is naturally inflationary but also aims to bolster the community without compromising token value, breaking from the traditional scarcity-focused mindset that pervades the crypto world.

Further adding to the flexibility and adaptability of KARATE tokens, they are dual-issued on both the 

 network and Ethereum mainnet as HTS and 

 tokens, respectively. While bridging between these networks is possible, there will be no initial “mint & redeem” functionality to prevent pricing discrepancies. KarateDAO pledges to manage resources across both networks to actively ensure constant liquidity.

While Karate Combat (KARATE) is unique in its focus on martial arts, it shares the meme coin realm with popular tokens like Dogecoin (DOGE) and PepeCoin (PEPE). These coins started as internet memes, but have seen significant growth and adoption.

Dogecoin launched as a joke in 2013 and has gained a massive following and market cap, primarily driven by social media and celebrity endorsements. PEPE, while not as mainstream, also boasts a dedicated community.

In comparison, KARATE offers a more targeted appeal. It combines the virality of a meme coin with the enthusiasm of the karate community. Its unique value proposition and utility may attract a niche — but more passionate — user base. However, like all meme coins, it’s also subject to the volatile and unpredictable nature of the crypto market.

If you're considering having a go at meme coins, here are a few tips to help you get started.

Karate Combat (KARATE) is a unique experiment at the crossroads of martial arts and cryptocurrency. Its specific focus on the karate community gives it a distinct edge, offering a platform for enthusiasts to invest in and engage with their passion in a new way.

However, risks are involved with any cryptocurrency, especially meme coins. The volatile nature of the market can lead to significant price swings, which can be a double-edged sword for investors. While there's potential for high returns, the risk of losses is also substantial.

The key to navigating the meme coin market is staying informed and understanding the risks involved. If you're an investor with a passion for karate and a willingness to participate in a new form of community-driven project, Karate Combat could be an exciting opportunity. Remember, as always, in the worlds of crypto and karate alike — discipline is key.

Karate Combat (KARATE): A Crypto-Driven Martial Art

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards