Bittime: Derivatives account for 84% of global crypto trading volume

Derivatives accounted for about 84% of global crypto trading volume in June 2026, according to data from CoinMarketCap observed by Indonesian platform Bittime. Of approximately $4.74 trillion traded across 11 major exchanges, around $4 trillion came from derivatives.

Lely Marthadinata, a senior trader and founder of the Theory of Whaless trader community, said the figures showed that derivatives had become a central part of global crypto activity. She described the development of futures trading in Indonesia as an important opportunity for the country’s digital-asset industry, although the local market remains at an early stage.

She said growth would need to be accompanied by improvements in liquidity, technology, transaction costs and product choice. These factors influence how traders choose platforms for futures trading.

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Globally, derivatives have become one of the centers of crypto trading. Therefore, the development of futures in Indonesia is an important opportunity for the national digital-asset industry, although the local market is still at an early stage.

Market positioning also showed different expectations for Ethereum and Bitcoin at the time of Bittime’s observation on the morning of Sept. 1, 2026. About 69.74% of traders in ETHUSDT perpetual contracts held long positions, compared with 30.26% holding short positions, producing a long-to-short ratio of 2.30. Bitcoin positions were evenly split, with 50% of accounts long and 50% short in BTCUSDT perpetual contracts, for a ratio of 1.00.

Bittime said the figures showed greater dominance of long positions in Ethereum than in Bitcoin, but warned that the ratio reflects trader positions at one moment and can change quickly. It therefore cannot establish the direction of future prices. Bittime Operations Director Ryan Lymn said futures allow traders to take long or short positions, but require an understanding of margins, leverage, volatility and liquidation risks. Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority recorded 3.41 trillion rupiah in crypto-derivatives transactions in July 2026.

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Futures give traders the flexibility to take long or short positions. However, that opportunity needs to be balanced with an understanding of the product’s mechanisms and risk management.