The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently reviewing an application to approve the launch of FLEX equity options on the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF (IBIT). According to a filing submitted on December 2, the BOX Exchange has requested a rule change to allow trading of FLEX IBIT options and is seeking an SEC waiver of the standard 30-day implementation delay in order to protect investor interests and ensure fair competition among exchanges. Nasdaq PHLX and Nasdaq ISE have also submitted similar proposals, with Nasdaq ISE becoming the first exchange approved to list options on IBIT.
The launch of FLEX IBIT options is aimed at helping market participants more effectively manage the volatility risk of the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF, while also increasing liquidity and reducing counterparty credit risk. In addition, BlackRock is awaiting approval for the iShares Bitcoin Advanced Yield ETF (ETHA), which will provide investors with returns from Bitcoin-related strategies. Unlike IBIT, which only tracks the spot price of Bitcoin, ETHA is designed for yield-focused investors seeking more stable returns. The SEC is expected to decide on the listing of options and ETFs for IBIT and ETHA in the first quarter of 2026.
On the market side, Bitcoin has risen nearly 8% in the past 24 hours, currently trading at around $93,243, with a low of $86,404 and a high of $93,542, and trading volume rebounding 10% year-over-year. This price rally has been driven by multiple factors, including Vanguard listing the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF and other crypto funds, liquidity injections following the end of the Fed’s quantitative tightening, and rising market expectations for a possible rate cut in December.
Activity in the derivatives market has also increased significantly. According to CoinGlass data, the total open interest in Bitcoin futures has risen 6% in the past 24 hours, with 4-hour Bitcoin futures open interest on CME and major exchanges up more than 1.8% and 2.77%, respectively. If approved, FLEX options will further enrich ETF derivative tools, enhance institutional investors’ risk management capabilities, and may have a positive impact on market liquidity.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Gold falls to $4,758, the BTC Volatility Index drops 1.77%, and WTI crude oil rises 0.44%
April 10, gold and silver prices fell slightly, trading at $4,758.37 per ounce and $75.165 per ounce, respectively. The Bitcoin Volatility Index (BVIX) dropped to 44.36, and in the foreign exchange market, the U.S. dollar rose against the offshore yuan and the Japanese yen. Major European stock indexes generally declined, while WTI and Brent crude oil rose slightly. The Gate platform supports trading a variety of financial market products.
GateNews26m ago
Changpeng Zhao: Quantum computing could undermine existing encryption mechanisms; Bitcoin may need to fork to respond
Changpeng Zhao said in an interview that advances in quantum computing technology could threaten the security of existing cryptocurrencies, and that Bitcoin may need to adopt post-quantum encryption technology through a fork upgrade. He emphasized that the emergence of new encryption algorithms will help address the challenges posed by quantum computing.
GateNews29m ago
Cango Completes $442M Bitcoin Liquidation and Secures $75M in New Capital for AI Pivot
Cango Inc. sold 6,451 bitcoin across February and March 2026, applying the proceeds entirely to retire crypto-collateralized loans as the company transitions its mining infrastructure toward artificial intelligence (AI) compute services.
Key Takeaways:
Cango Inc. sold 6,451 BTC across February an
Coinpedia1h ago
BTC 跌破 72000 USDT
Gate News bot 消息，Gate 行情显示，BTC 跌破 72000 USDT，现价 71996.4 USDT。
CryptoRadar2h ago
BTC 15-minute drop of 0.42%: Large-amount net outflows and geopolitical risk-off sentiment weigh on the short-term market
From 22:30 to 22:45 (UTC) on 2026-04-09, the BTC price briefly dipped within a 0.46% amplitude range. The return was recorded at -0.42%, and the price fluctuated between 72,298.3 and 72,631.6 USDT.
During this period, market attention warmed up. Trading volume for short-term active orders increased alongside heightened volatility, and overall sentiment turned cautious.
The main driving forces behind this unusual move were net outflows of large exchange funds and a liquidity bottleneck. On-chain data shows that over the past 24 hours, the BTC exchange large-net-outflow amount reached -559.08 BTC, directly reflecting institutions and Large Investors
GateNews2h ago
