IREN Bull Call Spread Bonanza - $24M AI Infrastructure Bet!
Institutional whale drops $24.4M on IREN options (+485.9% YTD). Someone just dropped $24.4M on IREN call spreads betting this Bitcoin miner turned AI cloud giant explodes higher. This sophisticated multi-leg strategy targets the $7 Full breakdown reveals strike prices, gamma levels, and more...
π October 10, 2025 | π₯ Unusual Activity Detected
π― The Quick Take
Someone just dropped $24.4M on IREN call spreads betting this Bitcoin miner turned AI cloud giant explodes higher through 2026! This sophisticated multi-leg strategy targets the $75-$85 range as the company scales to $500M+ in AI cloud revenue. Translation: Smart money is positioning for IREN's transformation from crypto miner to AI infrastructure powerhouse! π°
π Company Overview
IREN Limited is a vertically integrated data center business powering Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure with renewable energy:
- Market Cap: $17.37 Billion
- Industry: Finance Services (Bitcoin Mining & AI Cloud)
- Primary Business: Bitcoin mining, GPU cloud services for AI workloads
- Employees: 257
- Key Advantage: 100% renewable energy operations with $0.038/kWh power costs
Founded in 2018 and based in Sydney, Australia, IREN has executed a masterful pivot from pure Bitcoin mining to a dual-revenue model combining profitable crypto mining with high-margin AI infrastructure services. With over 370% YTD gains, the stock is trading at the intersection of two mega-trends: cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. π
π° The Option Flow Breakdown
π The Tape (October 10, 2025 @ 10:07:14)
| Time | Symbol | Side | Buy/Sell | Type | Expiration | Premium | Strike | Volume | OI | Size | Spot | Option Price | IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:07:14 | IREN | MID | BUY | CALL | 2026-12-18 | $8M | $85 | 3.2K | 542 | 2,533 | $69.07 | $31.40 | 93.2% |
| 10:07:14 | IREN | ASK | BUY | CALL | 2026-09-18 | $7.9M | $75 | 3.2K | 5.2K | 2,533 | $69.07 | $31.20 | 91.8% |
| 10:07:14 | IREN | MID | SELL | CALL | 2026-12-18 | $4.5M | $85 | 4.7K | 542 | 1,499 | $69.07 | $30.02 | 93.2% |
| 10:07:14 | IREN | MID | SELL | CALL | 2026-09-18 | $4.4M | $75 | 4.7K | 5.2K | 1,499 | $69.07 | $29.67 | 91.8% |
Net Debit Paid: $7.0M total across both spreads ($3.5M per spread strategy)
π€ What This Actually Means
This is a sophisticated bull call spread package with calendar components - definitely not retail trading! The institution:
- Bought 2,533 contracts of the $85 Dec 2026 calls for $8.0M
- Bought 2,533 contracts of the $75 Sep 2026 calls for $7.9M
- Sold back 1,499 contracts of each strike as partial coverage for $8.9M
The Play:
- Profits if IREN rallies into the $75-$85 zone through 2026
- Maximum risk of $7.0M in net premium paid
- Targets the AI infrastructure buildout timeline
- Uses 2026 expirations to capture the transformation story
Unusual Score: EXTREME (3,416x average trade size) - This happens once in a blue moon! We're talking serious institutional positioning here. π
π Technical Setup / Chart Analysis
YTD Performance Chart
Holy momentum, Batman! π¦ IREN is up an absolutely bonkers +485.9% YTD, rocketing from $10.46 to the current $61.29. This isn't just a rally - it's a vertical moonshot that accelerated hard in September-October as the AI cloud narrative took hold.
Key observations:
- Parabolic move: From $20 to $60+ in just 8 weeks
- High volatility: 93.2% IV signals massive swings expected
- Max drawdown: -60.2% shows this can dump hard too
- Volume explosion: Recent months show institutional accumulation
- Trend: Straight up with minor pullbacks - classic momentum stock
The chart screams "transformation story in progress" - exactly what these long-dated call spreads are targeting!
Gamma-Based Support & Resistance Analysis
Current Price: $61.54 (per gamma snapshot at 2:14 PM)
The gamma landscape reveals critical technical levels that frame this massive trade:
Resistance Levels (Call Gamma - Orange Bars):
- $63: First resistance with 3.2M net call gamma (+1.6% from current)
- $64: Secondary wall with 1.8M net call gamma (+3.2% from current)
- $65: Major resistance at 7.7M net call gamma (+4.8% from current) - BIG WALL HERE
- $70: Next target with 4.1M net call gamma (+12.9% from current)
Support Levels (Put Gamma - Blue Bars):
- $61: Immediate support with 1.1M net put gamma (-1.6% from current)
- $60: Strong floor at 14.5M total gamma (-3.2% from current) - CRITICAL SUPPORT
- $55: Deep support with 1.7M put gamma (-11.3% from current)
- $50-52: Major accumulation zone providing downside backstop
Net Gamma Bias: BULLISH (61.96M call gamma vs 44.19M put gamma)
This gamma setup perfectly explains the trade logic - the $75-$85 call spread targets are well above current resistance clusters, anticipating a breakout as catalysts materialize through 2026!
πͺ Catalysts
Upcoming Events (The Big Ones! π₯)
Q1 FY2026 Earnings - December 2, 2025 (After Market Close)
- Wall Street expects EPS of $0.16 per consensus estimates
- Revenue forecast: $246.45M
- First earnings showcasing meaningful AI cloud revenue - this is THE catalyst!
- Investors watching for AI ARR progress toward $500M target
- Source: NASDAQ Earnings Calendar
AI Cloud Revenue Ramp - Q1 2026 Timeline
- Target of >$500M AI Cloud ARR by end of Q1 2026 per September 22, 2025 press release
- 23,000 GPUs total (7.1k NVIDIA B300s, 4.2k NVIDIA B200s, 1.1k AMD MI350Xs, plus existing fleet)
- $225M in secured AI Cloud ARR already contracted from 11,000 GPUs
- $674M GPU procurement announced September 22, 2025 for additional 12,400 units
- This revenue scaling is what justifies the premium valuation and drives these long-dated calls! π°
Major Data Center Energizations
- Sweetwater 1 (West Texas): Massive 1.4GW facility - April 2026 energization (accelerated 6 months early!)
- Sweetwater 2: 600MW facility - late 2027 completion
- Total Sweetwater capacity: 2GW data center hub on 1,300+ acres
- Source: GlobeNewswire March 17, 2025
GPU Deployment Schedule
- 12,400 NVIDIA B200/B300 and AMD MI350X GPUs purchased for $674M in September 2025
- Staged deliveries over coming months to Prince George campus
- Deployment timeline through Q1-Q2 2026 feeding AI cloud revenue growth
- Each GPU batch energization drives incremental ARR recognition
Recently Completed (Already Priced In β )
Record FY2025 Financial Results - Delivered August 2025
- Revenue of $501M (up 168% YoY)
- Net income of $86.9M versus $28.9M loss in FY24
- Bitcoin mining efficiency of 15 J/TH with 76% hardware profit margins
- AI cloud services achieving 98% hardware profit margins - this is the key differentiator!
- Source: IREN Investor Relations
50 EH/s Bitcoin Mining Milestone - Achieved Mid-2025
- Reached 50 EH/s capacity mid-2025
- Company paused further Bitcoin mining expansion to focus on higher-margin AI infrastructure
- Provides steady cash flow baseline supporting AI buildout
- Source: NASDAQ Article
$875M Convertible Notes Offering - Completed October 2025
- Raised capital for AI infrastructure expansion
- Capped call transactions reduce dilution risk
- War chest ready for GPU procurement and data center development
- Source: Investing.com
π― Price Targets & Probabilities
Using gamma levels, catalyst timeline, and technical structure:
π Bull Case (35% chance)
Target: $85-$95 by Q2 2026
Why it works:
- AI cloud ARR hits or exceeds $500M target by Q1 2026 earnings
- Sweetwater 1 energization in April 2026 showcases massive scale
- Bitcoin holds above $100K providing strong mining cash flows
- Multiple expansion as market re-rates IREN as AI infrastructure play
- Breaks through $70 gamma resistance on strong volume
What gets us there:
- December 2 earnings blowout with $250M+ revenue and strong AI ARR disclosure
- Major AI cloud customer wins announced (think OpenAI, Meta, Google scale)
- Analyst upgrades from skeptics like JPMorgan as AI story proves out
- Tech sector momentum lifting all AI-adjacent names
Call spread profit zone: Maximum gains above $85 - this is what the trade is betting on! π
π Base Case (45% chance)
Target: $65-$75 range through 2026
Why it's likely:
- AI cloud revenue scales but hits typical data center ramp delays
- $350-400M ARR by Q1 2026 (solid but below $500M target)
- Bitcoin consolidates in $80-120K range providing stable baseline
- Stock trades in channel between $65 resistance and $60 support
- Valuation compression from current P/E of 157x to more reasonable levels
What we see:
- Mixed earnings results with revenue growth but margin pressure
- Gradual GPU deployment matching guidance without acceleration
- Market digesting the 485% YTD run with healthy consolidation
- Competition from established cloud providers (AWS, Azure, CoreWeave) limiting pricing power
Call spread outcome: Modest gains if reaches $75-85 range - breakeven to small profit scenario
π° Bear Case (20% chance)
Target: $45-$55 pullback
What goes wrong:
- AI cloud contracts delayed or customers reduce deployments
- GPU supply chain issues push out revenue recognition
- Bitcoin crashes below $60K destroying mining economics
- Broader tech selloff / recession fears hit growth stocks
- Execution missteps in data center buildout
- Breaks below $60 critical support on high volume
Triggers:
- December 2 earnings miss with weak AI revenue disclosure
- Major customer cancellations or contract renegotiations
- Regulatory headwinds for crypto mining operations
- Analyst downgrades citing stretched valuation (P/E of 157x)
- Competitive pressure from mega-cap cloud providers
Call spread outcome: Maximum loss of $7M premium paid - ouch! π
π‘ Trading Ideas
π‘οΈ Conservative: "Wait and See" Strategy
Play: Stay in cash, watch December earnings
Don't chase this rocket! Wait for:
- December 2 earnings to validate AI cloud revenue trajectory
- Pullback to $55-60 support zone for better entry
- Confirmation that $500M ARR target is achievable
Why this works: Stock up 485% YTD - risk/reward favors patience. Let the spread traders take the risk!
Risk: FOMO if stock continues parabolic move
Reward: Better entry price and more clarity on execution
βοΈ Balanced: "Follow the Smart Money" Spread
Play: Small bull call spread (2026 expiration)
Buy $70 Sep 2026 calls, sell $85 Sep 2026 calls
Risk: Premium paid (~$8-10 per spread)
Reward: $15 max profit if reaches $85+
Position size: 5-10 contracts max ($4K-8K risk)
Why this works: Mirrors institutional trade with defined risk, long enough timeline for AI story to materialize
π Aggressive: "AI Moonshot" Play
Play: Straight long calls targeting breakout
Buy $75 Mar 2026 calls or $80 Mar 2026 calls
Risk: Total premium paid (plan for 100% loss)
Reward: 3x-5x+ if AI cloud story accelerates
Position size: 2-5% of portfolio only
Why this works: March 2026 captures Q1 earnings and Sweetwater 1 energization catalysts. If $500M ARR target hits, stock could run to $100+
Warning: This is pure speculation on execution - only for traders who can afford to lose it all! π°
β οΈ Risk Factors
Real talk - what could derail this trade:
- Valuation stretched: P/E of 157x leaves zero room for disappointment. Any earnings miss could trigger 30%+ selloff
- Execution risk: Scaling AI cloud operations against AWS, Azure, CoreWeave is HARD. Data center delays happen constantly
- Bitcoin dependency: Still derives majority revenue from mining. BTC crash to $50K would wreck the thesis
- Competition intensifying: Every Bitcoin miner (MARA, RIOT, CLSK) pivoting to AI cloud. Market getting crowded fast
- Regulatory uncertainty: Crypto regulations could restrict operations. AI data center permits can get delayed
- Technical overbought: 485% YTD gain, RSI screaming, MACD extended. Gravity still exists!
- Convertible notes overhang: $875M offering creates future dilution risk if stock doesn't perform
- Supply chain constraints: GPU shortages or delays could push out revenue ramp
- Insider selling: Watch for executives taking chips off the table after 5x run
The elephant in the room: JPMorgan rated this Underweight with $24 target (60% downside!) citing valuation. Yes, they might be wrong on the AI story, but they're not stupid. This stock is priced for PERFECTION. π
π The Bottom Line
Real talk: This $24.4M call spread package tells us institutional money is making a BIG bet that IREN's transformation from Bitcoin miner to AI cloud giant actually works. The 2026 expirations give time for the $500M+ AI ARR story to materialize.
If you own IREN: These long-dated calls suggest smart money expects $75-85 by late 2026. Consider holding through the AI buildout but watch December 2 earnings like a hawk. Any stumble on AI revenue disclosure and this dumps HARD.
If you're watching: This is a show-me story. Wait for December 2 earnings to validate the AI cloud revenue ramp. A pullback to $55-60 would offer much better risk/reward than chasing at $61 after a 485% run.
If you're bearish: The valuation is absurd (P/E 157x) and one misstep destroys the premium. But fighting this momentum with shorts/puts is like standing in front of a freight train. Better to wait for confirmation of execution issues.
Mark your calendar:
- December 2, 2025 (After Market Close) - Q1 FY2026 Earnings (THE catalyst that makes or breaks this)
- April 2026 - Sweetwater 1 energization (1.4GW facility - massive scale proof point)
- Q1 2026 end - $500M AI ARR target deadline
The next 6 months determine if this is the next CoreWeave success story or just another crypto miner pump-and-dump. These call spreads are betting on the former - but at these prices, there's no margin for error! β‘
Disclaimer: Options trading involves substantial risk of loss. This analysis is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. IREN is a highly volatile, speculative stock - only invest what you can afford to lose completely. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
About IREN Limited: IREN is a vertically integrated data center business focused on Bitcoin mining and AI cloud infrastructure powered by 100% renewable energy, with a $17.37 billion market cap in the finance services sector. The company is executing a strategic transformation from pure crypto mining to a dual-revenue model targeting $500M+ in AI cloud annual recurring revenue by Q1 2026.