Bitcoin Shorts Crowd In as Funding Hits 2024 Lows

The 14-day simple moving average of Bitcoin funding rates has dropped to -0.002, its lowest reading since September 2024 and below the trough seen in May 2025.

At the same time, Bitcoin continues a gradual downtrend, trading near $66,400.

According to data shared by CryptoQuant, the current funding structure reflects sustained bearish pressure in the derivatives market.

What a -0.002 Funding Rate Signals

Funding rates measure the cost paid between long and short traders in perpetual futures markets. When the 14-day SMA turns deeply negative, it indicates that short traders are consistently paying longs to maintain bearish exposure.

At -0.002, the signal points to:

• Persistent short dominance
• Elevated conviction among bearish traders
• Willingness to absorb funding costs to stay positioned

A sustained negative reading over a 14-day average reduces the likelihood that the imbalance is temporary noise. Instead, it suggests structural overcrowding on one side of the trade.

Capitulation or Accumulation Setup?

Historically, extended periods of deeply negative funding have coincided with late-stage downtrends. When the majority of leveraged participants cluster short, the market becomes mechanically vulnerable to upside reactions.

In both November 2024 and May 2025, similar negative funding conditions preceded local price stabilization. These episodes did not automatically reverse macro structure, but they often marked exhaustion in aggressive selling.

With Bitcoin now trading around $66.4K, the derivatives environment appears skewed toward further downside expectations. However, such one-sided positioning can create asymmetric risk.

Short Squeeze Mechanics

A short squeeze typically unfolds when price rebounds modestly and forces leveraged shorts to close positions. Because these traders must buy to exit, their covering accelerates upward momentum.

At current funding levels:

• The market is heavily positioned short
• Risk-to-reward for new short entries becomes less favorable
• Even limited positive catalysts could trigger liquidation cascades

This does not negate the prevailing downtrend, but it increases sensitivity to upside volatility.

Structural Takeaway

The Funding Rate SMA-14 at -0.002 reflects strong bearish conviction in derivatives markets while Bitcoin trades near $66,400. Historically, similar readings have aligned with local inflection zones rather than fresh trend acceleration.

Price direction remains uncertain, but the imbalance suggests that downside may require new catalysts rather than momentum alone. Until funding normalizes or price decisively breaks structure, the probability of a reactive move higher cannot be dismissed.

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