Max Pain Price

Definition ∞ Max Pain Price refers to the strike price at which the greatest number of outstanding options contracts for an asset will expire worthless. This concept is primarily used in traditional options markets to gauge where the underlying asset’s price might settle at expiration. In the context of digital asset derivatives, it indicates a potential price point that would cause maximum financial loss for options holders. It is a theoretical level derived from open interest data.
Context ∞ Traders and analysts in the cryptocurrency derivatives market often reference the max pain price in news and market commentary to speculate on potential short-term price movements of digital assets. While not a definitive prediction, it offers a perspective on where market forces might push the price to inflict the most discomfort on options holders. Understanding this metric helps assess market sentiment in options trading.