Volatility
Volatility skew
Returns cross-moneyness volatility skew options-volatility-landscape per expiration tenor. One row per (coin, expiration_bucket, timestamp) for 4 tenors: DTE_7, DTE_30, DTE_60, DTE_LONG. Contains the trader-standard skew metrics (25-delta risk reversal, butterfly, put/call skew), deep OTM tail metrics, smile shape options-volatility-landscape, normalized metrics for cross-asset comparison, skew momentum with 1h/24h/6h lookbacks, and regime classifications. These are the numbers every vol desk checks before putting on a trade. Source: ORIA cohort_iv_skew pipeline (v3.3, operational since January 2026).
/v1/vol/skewproalphaQuery Parameters
coinstringrequiredUnderlying asset. Required.
BTCETHSOLexpiration_bucketstringoptionalFilter: DTE_7, DTE_30, DTE_60, DTE_LONG. Default: all tenors.
DTE_7DTE_30fromstringoptionalStart UTC (ISO 8601). Default: latest snapshot.
2026-03-08T00:00:00ZtostringoptionalEnd UTC (ISO 8601). Default: now.
2026-03-09T00:00:00ZlimitintegeroptionalMax rows returned. Default 500, max 5000.
100Response Schema
Fields marked pro require a Pro subscription. Fields marked alpha require Alpha.
| Field | Type | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
timestamp | datetime | pro | Snapshot time in UTC. Aligned to 10-minute boundary. |
coin | string | pro | Underlying asset (BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, AVAX, TRX). |
expiration_bucket | string | pro | Tenor bucket: DTE_7 (weekly), DTE_30 (monthly), DTE_60 (quarterly), DTE_LONG (> 60 days). |
atm_iv_pct | float | pro | ATM implied volatility (pct) for this tenor. Liquidity-weighted from the ATM cohort. The anchor for all skew calculations. |
atm_option_count | integer | alpha | Number of options in the ATM cohort. Low count = less reliable skew. |
atm_liquidity_weight | float | alpha | Total liquidity weight at ATM. Higher = more reliable anchor. |
near_below_iv_pct | float | pro | NEAR_BELOW cohort IV (~25-delta puts). The put wing anchor. |
below_iv_pct | float | pro | BELOW cohort IV (~15-delta puts). |
far_below_iv_pct | float | pro | FAR_BELOW cohort IV (~10-delta puts). Deep OTM crash protection. |
near_above_iv_pct | float | pro | NEAR_ABOVE cohort IV (~25-delta calls). The call wing anchor. |
above_iv_pct | float | pro | ABOVE cohort IV (~15-delta calls). |
far_above_iv_pct | float | pro | FAR_ABOVE cohort IV (~10-delta calls). Deep OTM upside. |
put_skew_25d_pct | float | pro | How much are puts costing over ATM? The industry fear gauge. See detail ↓ |
call_skew_25d_pct | float | pro | How much are calls costing over ATM? Upside demand. See detail ↓ |
risk_reversal_25d_pct | float | pro | Directional sentiment from the options market. THE skew number. See detail ↓ |
butterfly_25d_pct | float | pro | How much are the wings worth vs ATM? Tail premium. See detail ↓ |
deep_put_skew_pct | float | pro | Crash protection premium: how expensive are far OTM puts? See detail ↓ |
deep_call_skew_pct | float | pro | Moonshot premium: how expensive are far OTM calls? See detail ↓ |
deep_risk_reversal_pct | float | pro | Tail asymmetry: are deep puts or deep calls more expensive? See detail ↓ |
deep_butterfly_pct | float | pro | Deep tail premium over ATM See detail ↓ |
put_wing_steepness | float | pro | How steeply does the put wing rise into the tail? See detail ↓ |
call_wing_steepness | float | pro | How steeply does the call wing rise? See detail ↓ |
smile_asymmetry_pct | float | pro | Is the smile tilted left (fear) or right (euphoria)? See detail ↓ |
smile_convexity_pct | float | pro | How curved is the overall smile? See detail ↓ |
put_skew_normalized | float | pro | Put skew adjusted for vol level: cross-asset comparable See detail ↓ |
call_skew_normalized | float | pro | Call skew normalized by ATM IV See detail ↓ |
risk_reversal_normalized | float | pro | Risk reversal normalized: the purest cross-asset sentiment comparison See detail ↓ |
butterfly_normalized | float | pro | Butterfly normalized by ATM IV See detail ↓ |
deep_put_skew_normalized | float | pro | Deep put skew normalized See detail ↓ |
deep_butterfly_normalized | float | pro | Deep butterfly normalized See detail ↓ |
risk_reversal_change_1h_pct | float | pro | Risk reversal change vs 1 hour ago. Fast-moving directional signal. |
risk_reversal_change_24h_pct | float | pro | Risk reversal change vs 24 hours ago. Daily shift. |
put_skew_change_1h_pct | float | pro | Put skew change vs 1 hour ago. |
put_skew_change_24h_pct | float | pro | Put skew change vs 24 hours ago. |
put_skew_change_6h | float | alpha | 6-hour put skew change. Medium-term velocity. Feeds into the velocity regime classification. |
skew_momentum_direction | string | pro | STEEPENING (put skew increasing), FLATTENING (decreasing), STABLE. |
skew_regime | string | pro | Risk reversal regime: EXTREME_PUT, HIGH_PUT, MODERATE_PUT, NEUTRAL, MODERATE_CALL, HIGH_CALL, EXTREME_CALL. |
tail_premium_regime | string | pro | Tail premium classification: EXTREME_TAIL, HIGH_TAIL, MODERATE_TAIL, LOW_TAIL. |
smile_type | string | pro | Smile shape: STEEP_PUT (left-skewed), SYMMETRIC, STEEP_CALL (right-skewed). |
total_option_count | integer | pro | Total options across all moneyness buckets for this tenor. |
data_quality_tier | string | pro | COMPLETE (all buckets have data), PARTIAL, MINIMAL. Only trust skew from COMPLETE tiers. |
moneyness_coverage_count | integer | alpha | How many of 7 moneyness buckets have data (0-7). Below 5 = skew is unreliable. |
avg_liquidity_score | float | alpha | Average liquidity score across cohorts contributing to this tenor. |
has_atm_data | boolean | alpha | TRUE if ATM cohort has data. Without this, all skew is NULL. |
has_near_below_data | boolean | alpha | TRUE if NEAR_BELOW (25d put) cohort has data. |
has_near_above_data | boolean | alpha | TRUE if NEAR_ABOVE (25d call) cohort has data. |
has_far_below_data | boolean | alpha | TRUE if FAR_BELOW (deep OTM put) cohort has data. |
has_far_above_data | boolean | alpha | TRUE if FAR_ABOVE (deep OTM call) cohort has data. |
tail_body_ratio | float | alpha | Is the crash protection buying concentrated or broad? See detail ↓ |
tail_body_regime | string | alpha | TAIL_EVENT (ratio > 3.0, concentrated far-OTM buying), BROAD_PANIC (ratio < 1.0, spread across strikes), NORMAL. |
skew_velocity_regime | string | alpha | Per-tenor velocity: RAPID_STEEPENING (> 3 std in 1h), FAST_STEEPENING (> 2 std in 1h), GRADUAL_STEEPENING (> 2 std in 6h), STABLE, and mirror flattening regimes. Feeds contagion detection on coin_surface. |
Derived Fields
put_skew_25d_pctfloatprocollapseHow much are puts costing over ATM? The industry fear gauge.
25-delta equivalent put skew: NEAR_BELOW IV minus ATM IV. Positive means puts trade at a premium to ATM (crash protection is expensive). This is the number Imran Lakha checks first every morning.
25-delta put skew
Typically 2-15 pct points for BTC. Spikes to 30+ during crashes.call_skew_25d_pctfloatprocollapseHow much are calls costing over ATM? Upside demand.
NEAR_ABOVE IV minus ATM IV. Usually negative or small (calls trade at discount to ATM). Positive call skew is unusual and signals euphoria or short squeeze expectations.
25-delta call skew
Typically -3 to +3 pct points. Positive is unusual.risk_reversal_25d_pctfloatprocollapseDirectional sentiment from the options market. THE skew number.
Call skew minus put skew. Negative means puts are more expensive than calls (bearish sentiment, crash protection demand dominates). Positive means calls are more expensive (bullish). This is the single most important directional signal from the options market.
Risk reversal (25-delta)
Typically -15 to +5 for BTC. Below -10 = HIGH_PUT. Below -20 = EXTREME_PUT.butterfly_25d_pctfloatprocollapseHow much are the wings worth vs ATM? Tail premium.
Average of put and call wing IV minus ATM IV. Measures total demand for both tails (crash protection + moonshot bets). High butterfly = the market expects a big move in either direction. Low butterfly = complacency.
Butterfly spread (25-delta)
Typically 1-8 pct points. Above 10 = extreme tail demand.deep_put_skew_pctfloatprocollapseCrash protection premium: how expensive are far OTM puts?
FAR_BELOW IV minus ATM IV. This is the deep tail, beyond 25-delta. Spikes during genuine fear events. When deep_put_skew rises faster than put_skew_25d, institutions are buying specific crash protection (tail_body_ratio > 3 = TAIL_EVENT).
Deep OTM put skew
Typically 5-25 pct points. Spikes to 40+ during panics.deep_call_skew_pctfloatprocollapseMoonshot premium: how expensive are far OTM calls?
FAR_ABOVE IV minus ATM IV. Moonshot premium. Spikes during euphoria or short squeeze fears.
Deep OTM call skew
deep_risk_reversal_pctfloatprocollapseTail asymmetry: are deep puts or deep calls more expensive?
Deep call skew minus deep put skew. The extreme tail version of the risk reversal. More volatile than 25d RR, spikes harder during events.
Deep risk reversal
deep_butterfly_pctfloatprocollapseDeep tail premium over ATM
Average of far OTM put and call IV minus ATM. The deep-wing version of the butterfly. High values = market pricing extreme tails on both sides.
Deep butterfly spread
put_wing_steepnessfloatprocollapseHow steeply does the put wing rise into the tail?
FAR_BELOW IV minus NEAR_BELOW IV. Measures how quickly IV accelerates as you go deeper OTM on the put side. Steeper = more crash premium concentrated in far OTM.
Put wing slope
call_wing_steepnessfloatprocollapseHow steeply does the call wing rise?
FAR_ABOVE IV minus NEAR_ABOVE IV. The call-side equivalent.
Call wing slope
smile_asymmetry_pctfloatprocollapseIs the smile tilted left (fear) or right (euphoria)?
FAR_BELOW IV minus FAR_ABOVE IV. Positive = steeper put wing. The overall tilt of the volatility smile.
Smile asymmetry
Typically 0 to +20 for BTC. Negative is rare.smile_convexity_pctfloatprocollapseHow curved is the overall smile?
Average of butterfly and deep butterfly. Total smile curvature. Higher = more pronounced smile.
Smile convexity
put_skew_normalizedfloatprocollapsePut skew adjusted for vol level: cross-asset comparable
Put skew divided by ATM IV. Removes the regime effect: BTC put_skew = 5 at IV = 50 is the same normalized value (0.10) as ETH put_skew = 10 at IV = 100. Compare across coins and across time regardless of absolute vol level. Values above 0.10 indicate elevated fear.
Normalized put skew
Typically 0.02-0.20. Above 0.10 = elevated fear.call_skew_normalizedfloatprocollapseCall skew normalized by ATM IV
Call skew divided by ATM IV. Same normalization logic as put skew.
Normalized call skew
risk_reversal_normalizedfloatprocollapseRisk reversal normalized: the purest cross-asset sentiment comparison
Risk reversal divided by ATM IV. The definitive cross-asset sentiment comparison. Which coin has the most relative fear, controlling for its own vol level?
Normalized risk reversal
butterfly_normalizedfloatprocollapseButterfly normalized by ATM IV
Wing premium relative to the vol level.
Normalized butterfly
deep_put_skew_normalizedfloatprocollapseDeep put skew normalized
Deep OTM put premium relative to vol level.
Normalized deep put skew
deep_butterfly_normalizedfloatprocollapseDeep butterfly normalized
Deep tail premium relative to vol level.
Normalized deep butterfly
tail_body_ratiofloatalphacollapseIs the crash protection buying concentrated or broad?
Deep put skew divided by 25-delta put skew. Above 3.0 = someone is specifically buying far OTM puts (tail event signature, often institutional). Below 1.0 = everyone is buying puts at all strikes (broad panic, often retail). The distinction matters: institutional tail buying is a better warning signal.
Tail-to-body ratio
Typically 1.0-3.0 (NORMAL). Above 3.0 = TAIL_EVENT. Below 1.0 = BROAD_PANIC.Suggested Calculations
Not included in the API response. Compute these client-side from the fields above. Formulas and context provided.
skew_direction_readstringclient-sideIs the market bullish or bearish? Read the skew.expandIs the market bullish or bearish? Read the skew.
Risk reversal is the single most important number from the options market for directional sentiment. Negative = bearish (put premium dominates, traders are paying for downside protection). Positive = bullish (call premium dominates, traders are paying for upside). Beyond -5 = EXTREME_PUT fear. The skew_regime field classifies this for you, but understanding the raw number matters.
risk_reversal_25d_pctskew_regimeskew_term_comparisonstringclient-sideIs the fear short-term or long-term? Compare across tenors.expandIs the fear short-term or long-term? Compare across tenors.
Compare risk_reversal_25d_pct across DTE_7, DTE_30, DTE_60, DTE_LONG. If DTE_7 is deeply negative but DTE_60 is neutral, the market fears a near-term event but not structural damage. If ALL tenors are negative, the fear is structural. Front-loaded fear (DTE_7 >> DTE_60) often resolves at expiry. Back-loaded fear requires a catalyst to resolve.
risk_reversal_25d_pctexpiration_bucketbutterfly_as_event_barometerfloatclient-sideHow much are traders paying for tail protection?expandHow much are traders paying for tail protection?
The butterfly measures wing demand vs body. Compare butterfly_25d_pct across tenors. High butterfly at DTE_7 = event hedging (specific date). High butterfly at DTE_LONG = structural tail fear. When butterfly spikes at one tenor but not others, there is likely a known event (FOMC, OPEX, CPI) near that expiry.
butterfly_25d_pctexpiration_bucketsmile_shape_analysisstringclient-sideWhat shape is the volatility smile and what does it mean?expandWhat shape is the volatility smile and what does it mean?
STEEP_PUT = left-skewed, crash fear. SYMMETRIC = balanced tail demand. STEEP_CALL = right-skewed, euphoria or short squeeze risk. The steepness numbers tell you how convex each wing is. Steep put wing + flat call wing = classic crash protection bid. Both wings steep = straddle-like demand for any large move.
put_wing_steepnesscall_wing_steepnesssmile_asymmetry_pctsmile_typenormalized_cross_coin_skewfloatclient-sideWhich coin has the most skew relative to its own vol level?expandWhich coin has the most skew relative to its own vol level?
Compare risk_reversal_normalized across coins. Raw put_skew = 5 in BTC (IV = 50) is the same implied fear as put_skew = 10 in ETH (IV = 100). Normalized skew removes the vol level and reveals pure relative sentiment. A coin with outsized normalized skew vs its peers is where the hedging demand is concentrated.
risk_reversal_normalizedput_skew_normalizedcoinvelocity_contagion_screenstringclient-sideIs skew steepening across all tenors simultaneously?expandIs skew steepening across all tenors simultaneously?
When skew_velocity_regime shows RAPID_STEEPENING or FAST_STEEPENING across 3+ tenors simultaneously, this is skew contagion: fear is spreading from front to back. This is the setup for a vol event. Single-tenor steepening is often noise or event-specific.
skew_velocity_regimeexpiration_bucketOr use the pre-computed endpointalpha
Pre-computed as skew_contagion_score on /v1/vol/surface (coming soon).
tail_body_regime_alertstringclient-sideIs the crash protection buying concentrated or broad?expandIs the crash protection buying concentrated or broad?
TAIL_EVENT (ratio > 3.0) means someone is specifically buying far OTM puts: targeted crash protection, often institutional. BROAD_PANIC (ratio < 1.0) means everyone is buying puts at all strikes: retail panic. Institutional tail buying is a better signal because they usually know something. Combine with tail_premium_regime: EXTREME_TAIL + TAIL_EVENT = highest conviction warning.
tail_body_ratiotail_body_regimetail_premium_regime