Nvidia (NVDA) Options Signal $180–$190 Bullish Bias: Whale Buys and AI News Fuel Breakout Potential

• Nvidia’s options market shows a 0.95 put/call open interest imbalance, with heavy call OI at $180–$190 and puts at $170–$175.
• Block trades reveal 26,000 shares of $175 calls bought ahead of 2025 expiration, signaling institutional bullishness.
• Technical indicators confirm a short-term bullish trend, with RSI at 63.56 and MACD above signal line.
• Recent $100B OpenAI and $5B Intel deals, plus Rubin CPX GPU launch, validate AI infrastructure momentum.

The confluence of options positioning, technical strength, and AI-driven news paints a compelling case for Nvidia’s near-term upside. With the stock trading at $176.32 (down 0.77% from $177.69), the market is pricing in a high probability of a breakout above key resistance levels. The $180–$190 call-heavy open interest and strategic block trades suggest institutional players are hedging for a potential 6%+ rally, while technicals confirm a bullish bias. This article dissects the data to identify actionable opportunities for traders.

Bullish Options Imbalance and Whale Activity Define the $180–$190 Sweet Spot

The options chain reveals a stark skew toward calls, with $180–$190 strikes dominating open interest for Friday and next Friday expirations. For Friday, the $180 call (OI: 110,084) and $190 call (OI: 69,472) are the most liquid, while next Friday’s $185 call (OI: 58,037) and $192.5 call (OI: 31,556) show growing positioning. This distribution suggests market participants expect a $176.32–$190 range breakout, with the $180 strike acting as a psychological pivot. The put/call open interest ratio of 0.95 (926,056 puts vs. 977,856 calls) further reinforces the bullish tilt, though the relatively high put OI at $170–$175 (89,167 and 72,792) indicates some hedging for a pullback.

Notable block trades amplify this narrative. The NVDA20250919C175 call option saw 26,000 shares traded at $296 per contract, totaling $7.7 million in turnover. This large buy order ahead of the September 19 expiration suggests a bet on a $175–$190 price surge by late 2025. Meanwhile, the NVDA20260116P160 put option had conflicting trades (buy and sell of 1,250 contracts), hinting at a wash sale or hedging activity. These moves indicate that large players are either securing long-dated exposure or managing risk in a volatile sector.

AI Infrastructure News Validates Options Sentiment

Nvidia’s recent announcements align with the bullish options positioning. The $100 billion OpenAI investment and $5 billion Intel partnership underscore its dominance in AI infrastructure, with the latter providing a lifeline to Intel while securing custom chip production. The Rubin CPX GPU launch and Blackwell Ultra’s MLPerf record further cement Nvidia’s technological edge, addressing growing demand for inference workloads. These developments are likely to drive Blackwell Data Center revenue growth (up 17% sequentially in Q2) and justify the options market’s optimism.

However, antitrust scrutiny of the OpenAI deal introduces a risk. Regulators may demand concessions to prevent market concentration, which could delay the first $10 billion phase (targeted for late 2026). Traders should monitor this as a potential headwind, though the broader AI narrative remains intact.

Actionable Trade Setups: Calls for $180–$190 Breakouts and Stock Entry at $175–$177

For options traders, the $180 call (NVDA250919C180) expiring Friday offers a high-probability play. With open interest at 110,084 and the stock currently at $176.32, a 2.1% move to $180 would trigger significant gamma exposure. For longer-term positioning, the $185 call (NVDA250926C185) expiring next Friday (OI: 58,037) balances cost and reward, requiring a 4.6% move to $185 for meaningful gains.

Stock traders should consider entry near $175–$177, the 30D support/resistance range (177.64–177.97). A close above $177.69 (previous close) would confirm a bullish reversal, with $180 as the first target and $185–$190 as the key breakout zone. Stop-loss placement below $174.93 (intraday low) would protect against a breakdown.

Volatility on the Horizon: Catalysts and Risks in Q3–2026

The next 90 days will be critical for Nvidia. The OpenAI investment’s regulatory approval and Blackwell GPU deployments could drive volatility, while the Goldman Sachs Communacopia presentation on September 30 may provide additional catalysts. Conversely, a slowdown in AI adoption or antitrust setbacks could trigger a pullback to the Bollinger Band lower bound at $166.32. Traders should balance bullish options with short-term puts at $170–$175 to hedge against a 5%–7% correction.

In summary, Nvidia’s options market, technicals, and news flow converge on a $180–$190 breakout scenario. While risks exist, the data supports a strategic long bias with defined entry and exit points. For those seeking leverage, the $180 call (NVDA250919C180) and $185 call (NVDA250926C185) offer high-conviction plays, while stock traders can capitalize on the $175–$177 support zone. As AI infrastructure spending accelerates, Nvidia remains a focal point for both institutional and retail capital.