Redundancy Illusion

Redundancy

The concept of redundancy illusion, particularly within cryptocurrency derivatives and options trading, arises from the perceived diversification benefits of holding multiple, seemingly distinct, instruments that are, in reality, highly correlated. This occurs when traders assume that overlapping exposures across different assets or strategies provide a robust hedge against adverse market movements, overlooking the underlying systemic risks. Consequently, a portfolio may appear diversified on the surface, yet remain vulnerable to a single, correlated shock, amplifying losses rather than mitigating them. Understanding the true correlation structure is paramount to avoid this cognitive bias.