Crypto Market Makers Profit from Basis Trades in Bitcoin Rebound, Not Directional Bets

The pivot to basis trades signals that the rebound's liquidity is being driven by arbitrage-seeking capital rather than conviction in price direction. This matters because it suggests the rally's sustainability hinges on futures-premium dynamics, not spot demand, making the market more sensitive to funding-rate shifts. For professional desks, it underscores a maturing playbook where volatility is monetized regardless of trend. The open question is whether this arbitrage activity will persist as the premium normalizes, or if it masks thinner genuine buying interest beneath the surface.