Implied Volatility Crush
An implied volatility crush is a sudden and significant decrease in the implied volatility of options contracts, usually occurring immediately after a major expected event. Before an event, such as a major protocol upgrade or macroeconomic data release, options premiums are high because uncertainty is high.
Once the event passes and the uncertainty is resolved, the premium component associated with that uncertainty vanishes, causing the option price to drop sharply. Traders who bought options expecting a large move may suffer losses even if the price moves in their favor, because the decrease in volatility outweighs the price gain.
This phenomenon is a critical consideration for traders using strategies like straddles or strangles. It highlights the importance of volatility expectations in pricing derivative contracts and managing risk.