U.S. Crypto Traders Adopt Defensive Posture Ahead of Market Turbulence
September 2025 saw crypto futures traders globally navigating one of the most volatile periods of the year, with U.S. participants leading a risk-aversion pivot. Leverage.Trading's analysis of 106,302 trade setups reveals American traders conducted nearly double the liquidation and margin checks compared to international counterparts.
The defensive shift proved prescient. Markets soon faced the $1.5 billion "Red Monday" liquidation event—a stark reminder of crypto derivatives' precarious nature. Retail behavior increasingly mirrors institutional approaches as volatility reshapes trading psychology.
Futures open interest reached $115.97 billion in May, per Galaxy Research, before subsequent shakeouts punished overleveraged positions. The September data suggests a maturation in risk management, particularly among U.S.-based traders anticipating stormy conditions.