IV Crush
When the air goes out of option premiums the moment a big event is over.
Definition
IV crush is the sudden, sharp drop in implied volatility (IV) immediately after a scheduled, market-moving event passes. Because IV is a key driver of an option's extrinsic value, this collapse deflates premiums quickly through high vega sensitivity, often regardless of which way the underlying moved.
Why it matters
Option buyers can be right on direction yet still lose money when IV crush wipes out the premium they paid. It is the single biggest trap for traders who buy options ahead of results, the Union Budget, or an RBI policy decision. Sellers, by contrast, often position to profit from the expected drop in IV after the event.
Example
Suppose a stock trades at 1,000 with results due tomorrow. An at-the-money call costs 40, of which much is inflated by IV running at 60%. After results, IV falls to 30%. Even if the stock rises to 1,010, the call may be worth only 18 because the volatility premium has been crushed.
See it live
TradePulse's live option chain shows IV per strike, so you can spot inflated premiums before an event and the crush after.