BlackRock’s (IBIT) Bitcoin Trust Options Set to Begin Trading Tomorrow

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) options are set to begin trading tomorrow, according to Alison Hennessy, head of ETP listings at Nasdaq.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) options will begin trading tomorrow, according to Nasdaq’s head of ETP listings.

The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) has confirmed that it is prepared to clear and settle options for spot Bitcoin ETFs, such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (iBIT).

The statement follows key developments, including the SEC’s approval on September 20 to permit options trading for the iBIT Trust and the CFTC’s November 15 staff advisory on clearing options for spot commodity ETFs.

“It's a matter of when, not if,” Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas said after the announcement.

Later, Alison Hennessy, Head of ETP Listings at Nasdaq, told ETF IQ that iBIT options could be listed as early as tomorrow.

Finally, the OCC has updated its website to confirm that iBIT options will be listed tomorrow, November 19, 2024.

Since its launch in January, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust has become a significant player in the crypto industry.

The ETF has $43 billion in assets under management (AUM) and holds nearly 472,000 Bitcoin, indicating strong institutional demand.

This announcement comes amid surging Bitcoin ETF trading volumes, which have ranged from $3 billion to $7 billion throughout November.

The increase coincides with Donald Trump’s victory as the 47th US president, following his expected reelection win on November 6.

This renewed optimism resembles the early-year momentum observed during the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January, when trading volumes reached between $4 billion and $12 billion before declining in Q2 and Q3.

The article has been updated to include additional information from the OCC.