Trader sentiment in Shiba Inu derivatives market has done a complete 180 over the past week. Net positions — which sat at around -200 million just days ago, reflecting a market tilted toward short bets — have swung to more than +400 million in net longs as of May 11. That kind of shift in a short window is not common.
From Short To Long: A Full Reversal
The turnaround began around May 6, when net positions started climbing out of negative territory. By May 9, the indicator had crossed into positive ground, and it kept climbing.
According to market watcher CW, buying pressure has grown sharply and is now dominating the market. “The upward momentum of $SHIB is increasing explosively,” he said.
The upward momentum of $SHIB is increasing explosively.
Upward pressure is very strong. pic.twitter.com/krXs9zhcM7
— CW (@CW8900) May 10, 2026
That momentum shows up clearly on the price chart. SHIB has been rising steadily from the $0.00000615 range, forming a pattern of higher lows and higher highs since May 10 — a sign that buyers have held control without the market getting sloppy or erratic. The price reached above $0.00000660 by May 11, a gain of roughly 6.50% over the past week.
Open Interest Climbs Past 6 Billion
The derivatives market is also pulling in fresh participants. Open Interest — which tracks the total value of outstanding contracts — rose from just above 5 billion on May 5 to over 6 billion at the time of reporting. That increase suggests traders are opening new positions rather than simply closing old ones.
When prices rise alongside growing Open Interest, it typically points to sustained demand rather than a technical bounce driven by short sellers getting squeezed out. Reports indicate that this combination is what analysts often look for when assessing whether a rally has legs.
Leverage Cuts Both Ways
Still, the same buildup that has driven prices higher carries risk. With Open Interest elevated and long positions stacked up, a slowdown in price movement could set off a chain of forced liquidations. If SHIB struggles to push higher while leverage stays elevated, a quick drop becomes more likely — even if the broader direction has not changed.
For the upside to continue, reports say SHIB needs to hold above the $0.00000665 to $0.00000670 range. That zone now acts as a key level. If buyers defend it, the next leg higher remains on the table. If they don’t, the market may correct sharply before finding its footing again.
Featured image from Anne Arundel County Government, chart from TradingView