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SUI, the native coin of Layer-1 (L1) blockchain Sui Network, has been on a tear lately. It currently trades at $1.92, noting a 115% price growth over the past month.
However, this triple-digit price uptick has been accompanied by a growing short interest, suggesting that many traders remain skeptical about its long-term prospects.
Sui’s Futures Traders Are Unimpressed
SUI has witnessed a spike in demand for short positions since the beginning of October, as evidenced by its negative funding rate sitting at -0.0012% as of this writing.
Funding rates are periodic fees to ensure an asset’s contract price stays close to its spot price. A negative rate indicates that traders are paying to keep short positions open, signaling a bearish outlook. When funding rates are negative during a price rally, short sellers are dominant and willing to pay to maintain their short positions despite the rising price.
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This bearish outlook is further compounded by SUI’s rising open interest, which currently stands at $810 million — the highest level since December 2023.
Rising open interest generally indicates that new positions are being opened, signaling growing interest or participation in the market. However, when negative funding rates accompany this, a significant number of the new positions being opened are short. It suggests that market sentiment remains bearish, as more participants are willing to bet against the price increase.
SUI Price Prediction: Short Sellers May Be on the Losing Side
Despite the strong demand for short positions, SUI’s price has continued to climb. If its funding rate stays negative while the value rises, a short squeeze could occur.
In such a scenario, short sellers may be forced to close their positions by buying back the asset, which could further drive up the price. Should this happen, SUI could potentially reclaim its all-time high of $2.18, a level it last reached on March 27.
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However, if the demand for SUI drops and it witnesses a correction, its price may decline toward $1.81. If selling pressure gains momentum, this drawdown could extend to $1.52.