Bitcoin ETF options launch, paving the way for new exposure for investors

On Tuesday, BlackRock launched iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) options trading on the Nasdaq exchange. The ETF options traded 73,000 options contracts within the first hour after listing and immediately ranked among the top 20 most active non-index options.

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm with over $10 trillion, launched iShares BTC Trust (IBIT) options trading on the Nasdaq exchange on Tuesday, November 19th. The options immediately ranked among the top 20 most active non-index options after trading 73,000 options contracts in the first trading hour and $1.86 billion in notional traded on the first day. 

BTC ETF options launch on exchanges, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading the pack

IBIT is the only Bitcoin ETF option listed so far, but other Bitcoin ETFs are expected to have options available as soon as this week. The options pave the way for a new derivative that allows institutional investors to hedge their exposure to Bitcoin by trading the asset at a predetermined price and anticipating a rise or fall in a given timeframe. 

According to economist and newsletter author Noelle Acheson, BTC in the U.S. is still a tiny asset class despite its lively derivatives market. 

“Bitcoin has a lively derivatives market, but in the U.S. it is still tiny compared to other asset classes and is largely limited to institutional players.”

– Noelle Acheson

The economist emphasized that Bitcoin’s onshore derivatives market will enhance its market sophistication and reinforce investor confidence. According to Acheson, new investors will most likely join the bandwagon, reducing volatility.

Todd Sohn, ETF strategist at Strategas, highlighted that BTC ETF options may lead to new funds that adopt those options. He mentioned that Grayscale did a filing for a covered call fund and said that BlackRock may follow suit. Sohn expressed his bullish concerns that the ecosystem may begin to fly since the market may buffer other trend-following strategy market participants.

Alex Thorn, head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital, said Bitcoin ETF options like Nasdaq-listed IBIT options are likely to reduce volatility and increase the investor base, allowing market participants to open larger position sizes. 

According to Thorn, more investors are likely to approach Bitcoin from a fundamental standpoint if volatility declines rather than just a high-risk speculative asset. He also said Bitcoin ETF options will facilitate more hedging for institutions on Bitcoin and increase the liquidity while impacting retail trading in case of bullish market sentiment. 

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs manage assets worth $97.29 billion

The US financial watchdog approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January this year. So far, the approved ETFs have topped the list as the most successful ETF launches in history, with more than $97 billion in total assets cumulatively under their custody, according to Sosovalue . 

As time passes, more institutions are showing interest in the asset. A last-week 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shows that billionaire Paul Tudor’s hedge fund holds 4.4 million shares of $230 million worth of BlackRock Bitcoin’s ETF as of September 30th. His fund’s investment was worth 160 million, but the shares have soared to $230 million.

On the other hand, Microstrategy added 51,780 BTC valued at $4.6 billion on November 18th, bringing its total holdings to 331,200 Bitcoin worth 30 billion at BTC’s current prices. Microstrategy has inspired other companies, such as Metaplanet and, most recently, Solidion, to adopt Bitcoin as a strategic reserve.

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