NEO price rises, open interest soars, but funding rate drop signals caution

NEO price momentum pushed the token past $8.30 earlier today before a slight pullback.

Following the pullback, the token price now hovers in the upper $7 range, with alternating red and green candles.

The 24-hour range stretches from $7.29 to $8.49. with a seven-day range of between $5.85 and $8.35.

Open interest climbs to yearly highs

NEO’s derivatives activity has also risen markedly alongside spot momentum.

According to Coinglass data, the NEO futures open interest sits at about $54.51 million, and combined derivatives open interest recently touched roughly $59.4 million across platforms.

That level ranks among the highest OI readings for the token this year and signals more capital is committed to directional bets.

Notably, rising OI typically shows participants are not merely trading spot, but are using leverage to express conviction.

Funding rate drop raises a red flag

Despite rising OI, the OI-weighted funding rate has fallen sharply to -0.0541%.

A negative, OI-weighted funding rate means perpetual swap shorts are, on net, being paid to hold positions.

This dynamic often reflects heavy short-side hedging, and it introduces fragility beneath the bullish headline numbers.

If buying pressure reappears quickly, that negative funding backdrop can accelerate a short squeeze, amplifying moves to the upside.

NEO derivatives tell a mixed story

Derivatives trading volume has exploded in the past 24 hours, jumping nearly 497% to about $657.45 million.

However, the long/short balance shows nuance. The 24-hour long/short metric sits near parity at 0.994, while account-level ratios on major venues lean bullish — Binance accounts read 1.5773 and OKX accounts 1.29.

Top traders display a pronounced long bias, with account and position ratios of 1.8233 and 1.5434, respectively.

In short, retail and top traders differ in posture, which often presages volatile, choppy price action.

Key technical levels to watch

Short-term price structure highlights a clear support zone around $7.45–$7.50. Bulls need that area to hold to preserve momentum.

According to market analysis, an immediate resistance sits at $8.20, with higher barriers near $8.47 and $8.61.

Conversely, a decisive failure below the $7.45 mark would open the door to deeper consolidation.

Fundamentals and broader narrative

NEO’s narrative remains constructive on the fundamentals front.

The project, often dubbed the “Ethereum of China,” recently announced enhancements to smart contract capability aimed at improving scalability and developer experience.

These upgrades strengthen the token’s long-term story and may help explain why some larger traders are willing to increase exposure now.

However, traders should balance the bullish price action against the clear derivatives warning signs.

Rising open interest with a negative funding rate creates a two-sided trade: it can fuel a short squeeze higher, but it also reflects caution and potential over-leverage.

Short-term players will likely watch $7.45–$8.00 closely for clear signals.

For longer-term observers, the combination of protocol upgrades and renewed market interest gives reason to stay attentive.

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