Data is helpful. It permits us to simplify complicated ideas into easy-to-visualize numbers, particularly once we can apply shapes and colours and remodel them into charts that inform a narrative.

Such as this one, evaluating the scale of the crypto derivatives market to that of the spot market:

The story is that crypto derivatives are booming, which factors to rising market sophistication and liquidity.

Yet even information with the very best intentions will be complicated and deceptive. Derivative volumes are nearly at all times expressed in phrases – within the chart above, we’re not evaluating like with like.

Notional quantity represents the market worth of the underlying asset to which the by-product contract offers publicity. It doesn’t point out how a lot was paid up entrance for the contract; it reveals how a lot of an asset the by-product theoretically represents.

This is without doubt one of the primary benefits of buying and selling crypto derivatives vs the underlying asset: you may get publicity to a a lot better quantity that what you place in.

Spot market volumes, nonetheless, present how a lot was truly paid for the underlying belongings. Leverage and credit score in spot purchases are supplied by a handful of venues, however it’s not but a longtime characteristic (few exchanges have the requisite stability sheets).

So, when evaluating spot volumes to notional by-product volumes, we’re evaluating theoretical publicity to precise publicity. You’re beginning to see the issue?

Future tense

But what’s the massive deal? Doesn’t theoretical publicity signify precise publicity?

No, it doesn’t.

First, most crypto futures out there right now are cash-settled. They contain a promise to pay a stipulated value on a specified date, however no precise crypto belongings are concerned within the transaction. The publicity is monetary, not “real,” and evaluating these devices to precise transactions in an asset is deceptive.

Second, even with bodily delivered contracts, most merchants don’t grasp on to their positions till maturity. It is comparatively simple for choices holders to both promote their contract or let it expire with out exercising, and even bodily futures holders are more likely to offset their positions earlier than expiry to lock in positive aspects or stem losses.

Third, notional volumes embrace numerous double counting. When a futures dealer decides to shut her place, she’s going to purchase or promote an offsetting contract. Her place now nets to zero, however the notional consists of the underlying publicity from her two contracts.

Fourth, evaluating derivatives volumes to identify volumes is evaluating the longer term to the current. Derivatives are bets on the longer term; the state of the spot market is an announcement about current worth. Comparing totally different time frames is meaningless. Of there may be way more future than current.

And fifth, notional quantity doesn’t give a dependable measure for total threat publicity. It is an accounting assemble that lumps collectively derivatives with a variety of maturities; short-term has arguably a lot much less threat than longer-term.

Furthermore, the statistic typically consists of numerous varieties of derivatives, with totally different publicity traits. A futures contract implies the duty to purchase bitcoin at a later date; the publicity is sooner or later. Options, however, give the holder the to purchase, however not the duty; the precise publicity is within the up-front cost.

Options open

So, what’s the answer?

Unfortunately, there isn’t an apparent one in sight.

The “notional” debate isn’t an issue particular to crypto markets. Former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo has typically spoken in regards to the risks of counting on notional volumes to kind coverage, and the CFTC has began various calculations.

The activity is mammoth, although. In fragmented markets, collating info gathered with uniform requirements is hard. This is compounded by the various margin guidelines throughout an asset, and even inside an change. Throw within the rising use of credit score on high of leverage (the place the change lends you the cash for the preliminary margin), and the precise publicity will get buried even deeper.

What’s extra, as credit score seeps into the spot markets, the scenario will get much more complicated. Some exchanges supply buyers the possibility to purchase bitcoin with a mortgage, a follow that’s more likely to develop – despite the enterprise threat – since it’s a sexy characteristic for customers. Whether this counts as precise publicity or leveraged publicity is dependent upon the principles of the change, in addition to in your philosophical interpretation of what debt truly is.

While this is able to be helpful to buying and selling volumes (who doesn’t need extra upside publicity for a similar outlay?), it’ll obfuscate even additional the precise state of the markets. Regulators will wrestle to know the place threat is likely to be accumulating, and the dearth of perception might result in poor coverage selections.

This is ironic, for an asset that guarantees enhanced transparency in comparison with conventional alternate options.

Foreseeable future

The scenario highlights the necessity for extra granular info sharing, and for reporting requirements.

More detailed and helpful information won’t solely allow regulators to get snug with the chance within the crypto markets; it’ll additionally assist market infrastructure companies with their technique and product selections. It might even present a extra helpful barometer of sentiment, which might inform funding methods and result in a extra environment friendly market.

But much more importantly, the confusion reminds us that we have to query the information we’re utilizing, and ask what it’s attempting to inform us.

Often the story is extra complicated than it appears, and – particularly in such a younger market as crypto – nearly at all times extra attention-grabbing.