Episode 82: Bitcoin Makes New Highs Amidst US Government Shutdown

Crypto markets surge with gold as Bitcoin hits a new high near 126K, driven by a US government shutdown and tariff-funded stimulus talks fueling the debasement trade.

Hosts Imran Lakha (Options Insight) and David Brickell (FRNT), with guest Oleksandr Proskurin (Arkis), note low volatility, with funding rates and call skew stable, indicating institutional-driven spot buying, not speculative futures led frenzy. Record $6B weekly ETF inflows signal maturing markets, with Solana’s low 70-80 vol and potential ETF approval suggesting upside to $250+. Arkis’s DeFi prime brokerage bridges on-chain and centralized finance, offering portfolio margin and KYC-compliant lending. Macro tailwinds—global rate cuts, rising liquidity, and Japan’s bond market pressures—support Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against fiat debasement.

The following topics is covered:

00:00 – Introduction 00:46 – Macro Overview & The Debasement Trade 05:15 – Debasement Trends & Gold’s Performance 08:20 – Today’s Special Guest: Oleksandr Proskurin from Arkis 13:09 – Institutional Approach for DeFi 16:02 – Borrow Rate Discrepancies: DeFi vs. CeFi 18:48 – Incentives for Entering DeFi 21:35 – Concerns About TradFi Entering the DeFi Space 24:08 – Regulatory Shifts in Crypto & Signs of Maturity 31:20 – Evaluating Imran’s Trades & No Signs of Euphoria Yet? 35:33 – Institutional Adoption of Ethereum and Solana 38:56 – Key Fundamentals Driving the Bull Market 40:09 – Using Crypto Options to Hedge Downside Risk 43:37 – Closing Thoughts

Listen via Apple Podcast or Spotify.

Don’t miss this podcast, stay tuned for more!

Disclaimer: The content presented on Crypto Options Unplugged is not intended as investment advice. Always conduct your own research.