What Open interest shows
The total value of futures contracts still open.
Indicator guide · Crypto derivatives
Open interest: what it shows, settings and how to read it.
The total value of futures contracts still open.
How it is calculated
The total number of futures contracts that are open and not yet closed. It rises when new positions are opened and falls when they are closed or liquidated.
Usual settings
Nothing to set. Traders watch the change over the last day.
How traders read it
Price and open interest rising together shows new money entering; price rising while open interest falls shows shorts closing.
Where it fails
Read it together with price and funding, never alone.
What to combine it with
Price and funding rate: price up with open interest up means new money is backing the move; price up with open interest down means shorts are closing.
Try Open interest on a live chart
Sign in, open Genni Charts, press the "ƒx Indicators" button above the chart and choose Open interest. Click its name on the chart to change the settings. It is free for every member.
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the Open interest indicator?
The total value of futures contracts still open.
What are the best settings for Open interest?
The usual settings are: Nothing to set. Traders watch the change over the last day. No setting is best in every market, so test a change on past data before relying on it.
Is Open interest reliable on its own?
No single indicator is. Read it together with price and funding, never alone. Most traders use it together with: Price and funding rate: price up with open interest up means new money is backing the move; price up with open interest down means shorts are closing.
How do I add Open interest to a chart for free?
Sign in, open Genni Charts, press the "ƒx Indicators" button above the chart and choose Open interest. Click its name on the chart to change the settings. It is free for every member.
This page is education, not investment advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Read next: Trading indicators · Trading strategies · Candlestick patterns