Evolution of Market Assumptions

Analysis

⎊ The evolution of market assumptions in cryptocurrency derivatives reflects a shift from early models predicated on efficient market hypothesis toward acknowledging behavioral finance and information asymmetry. Initial pricing models often borrowed directly from traditional options theory, assuming log-normal distributions of returns, but observed volatility skew and kurtosis in crypto markets necessitated adaptation. Consequently, practitioners increasingly incorporate implied volatility surfaces, jump-diffusion models, and variance gamma processes to better capture the non-normal return distributions characteristic of digital assets.