This page is for information purposes only. Certain services and features may not be available in your jurisdiction.

OKX Nitro Spreads Market Analysis: Bitcoin Delivered 98% of 1H 2023 Returns on Eight Trading Days, More BTC Volatility Expected

Dubai, the UAE, 11 Aug, 2023 -- OKX, a leading crypto exchange and Web3 technology company, today announced the first report in its series of institutional market analysis entitled 'How OKX's Nitro Spreads tool can help institutional investors navigate volatile markets,' finding that bitcoin delivered 98% of its returns for the period on eight total trading days (out of 180) from 1 January to 30 June, 2023 (1H 2023) and underscoring the challenge of timing stable returns.

In addition, and according to implied volatility data for Bitcoin at-the-money options, participants are also expecting bitcoin spot-price volatility to increase in the future. Based on market research and trading data analysis*, OKX also found that factors contributing to price differentials between spot, futures and perpetual swaps - and key drivers for basis trading returns - include market preference on instruments, market sentiment, supply and demand imbalances, market liquidity and interest rate differentials.

OKX Global Chief Commercial Officer Lennix Lai said: "We're seeing a growing number of institutional traders pursue market-neutral strategies. OKX offers traders a range of tools to realize their strategies and succeed in different market conditions; one such tool is Nitro Spreads, which enables the efficient execution of complex basis trades with just one click."

The Nitro Spreads market analysis is focused on studying the challenges of long delta trading in the current crypto market and outlining how savvy institutional traders can pursue market-neutral strategies in a sideways market. OKX's institutional research conducted the analysis after reviewing Bitcoin spot price** and derivatives* trading data from 1H 2023.

DISCLAIMER This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, or hold digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances.

Disclaimer
This content is provided for informational purposes only and may cover products that are not available in your region. It is not intended to provide (i) investment advice or an investment recommendation; (ii) an offer or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold crypto/digital assets, or (iii) financial, accounting, legal, or tax advice. Crypto/digital asset holdings, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk and can fluctuate greatly. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding crypto/digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. Information (including market data and statistical information, if any) appearing in this post is for general information purposes only. While all reasonable care has been taken in preparing this data and graphs, no responsibility or liability is accepted for any errors of fact or omission expressed herein.

© 2025 OKX. This article may be reproduced or distributed in its entirety, or excerpts of 100 words or less of this article may be used, provided such use is non-commercial. Any reproduction or distribution of the entire article must also prominently state: “This article is © 2025 OKX and is used with permission.” Permitted excerpts must cite to the name of the article and include attribution, for example “Article Name, [author name if applicable], © 2025 OKX.” Some content may be generated or assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. No derivative works or other uses of this article are permitted.

Related articles

View more
Star
OKX

To another year of building

A letter from OKX Founder and CEO Star Xu As the CEO of OKX, and a builder at heart, I'm proud to reflect on an extraordinary year of growth and progress. Despite challenges, 2024 was a year of focus, innovation, and resilience. We expanded and enhanced our products, made significant strides in bringing to market a transparent and regulatory compliant onshore business, and added weight to our already deep global executive bench. Most notably, 2024 marked a turning point for the industry, serving as crypto's "comeback year" after a period of heightened uncertainty.
Nov 22, 2025
149
how to buy crypto guide
OKX
Ethereum

Ethereum Layer 2 Scaling Solutions

Ethereum layer 2 solutions have revolutionized how we scale and use Ethereum, directly tackling the congestion and high gas fees that once frustrated users and developers. As the network's popularity
Nov 21, 2025
how to buy crypto guide
OKX
Bitcoin

What is a Bitcoin Crash?

The term "Bitcoin crash" often evokes images of dramatic headlines and rapidly falling prices. As a volatile asset, Bitcoin has experienced several significant downturns throughout its history, where
Nov 16, 2025
how to buy crypto guide
OKX
Bitcoin

What Is Bitcoin Core?

While millions of people use Bitcoin, few interact directly with the software that makes it all possible: Bitcoin Core. It isn't a company, an organization, or a separate currency. Instead, Bitcoin Co
Nov 16, 2025
how to buy crypto guide
OKX
Bitcoin

How to Buy Bitcoin With a Credit Card

Buying Bitcoin with a credit card offers a quick and seemingly straightforward path into the world of cryptocurrency. For many, it’s the most familiar payment method available. However, while the proc
Nov 16, 2025
unified perp UOB thumbnail
New features
Trading
OKX

One Market, Better Prices: A Simpler Way to Trade Perpetuals

Trading perpetual contracts used to mean navigating separate order books for USD, USDC, and USDG margined contracts. That fragmentation made liquidity shallow and pricing inconsistent. Wider spreads, higher slippage, and poor execution were common, especially for larger trades.
Nov 11, 2025
Beginners
4
View more