ETH options traders are adopting a more cautious strategy to hedge against a potential plunge in March

This week saw a significant increase in volatility in the Ethereum (ETH) market, with implied volatility (IV) climbing rapidly, catching cryptocurrency options traders off guard. Changes in market structure have prompted traders to adjust their positions in response to potential downside risks.
Cryptocurrency derivatives trader Gordon Grant has highlighted that the implied volatility of one-week options has exceeded 80%, and the market expects daily price volatility of nearly 4% in March. Traders are more likely to buy puts as a hedge rather than betting on a price rebound, reflecting the market's fear of further declines. Short-term volatility rises, demand for puts increases, and the market enters a phase of "negative spot-volatility correlation" (i.e. volatility increases when prices fall). Due to the surge in volatility, options traders (especially market makers) quickly adjusted their positions, using more defensive measures such as put spreads rather than buying puts outright.