Bitcoin 09/21/2026 New bullish momentum accompanied by a significant increase in open interest Bitcoin’s price has initiated a new bullish momentum, once again accompanied by a substantial expansion of open interest in derivatives markets (futures). Between September 20 and 21, Open Interest rose from $26.874B to $29.283B, representing an increase of approximately $2.409B (+8.96%) in just 24 hours. During the same period, Bitcoin climbed from $81,160 to $86,627, recording a price appreciation of 6.74%. This expansion in open interest indicates a significant rise in derivatives exposure, coinciding with the upward price movement. Additionally, the heatmap suggests that part of this momentum was fueled by the liquidation of short positions. The upward breakout absorbed liquidity zones located above the price, accelerating the move through a short squeeze and cascading liquidations. However, the increase in open interest alone does not confirm that the move is supported by sustained demand in the spot market. Carmelo Alemán – On-Chain Analyst – CryptoQuant Verified Source: CryptoQuant and TradingDifferent #BTC