Institutional investors are increasingly using crypto options trading to hedge their bear market bets.

Crypto options trading is creating momentum even as crypto prices have plunged. Options strategies occupy a prominent place among institutional investors and even minors. They are trying to withstand the usual crypto volatility and a downturn that could last for months or even longer, despite recent promising macroeconomic signs.

Traders used the crypto options market to bet on ether (ETH) and hedge positions ahead of the highly anticipated blockchain merger Ethereum. The Panamanian derivatives platform Deribit also told CoinDesk that demand was increasing before the merger.