SEC again delays Ether ETF options on Cboe

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has erstwhile again extended its deadline for deciding whether oregon not to licence Cboe Exchange to database options tied to Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

The bureau has fixed itself until May to marque a last determination to o.k. oregon disapprove of Ether (ETH) ETF options trading connected the US exchange, according to a Feb. 28 regulatory filing. 

Cboe initially requested to database Ether ETF options successful August 2024, but the SEC sought other clip to scope a determination successful October. 

The speech is seeking to database options connected the Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH). The money is among the much fashionable Ether ETFs, with astir $1.3 cardinal successful nett assets, according to data from VettaFi. 

On Feb. 7, the SEC sent a akin response to different US securities exchange, Nasdaq ISE. The bureau intends to determine by April if the speech tin database options tied to BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). 

BlackRock’s money is the largest ETH ETF, with much than $3.7 cardinal successful nett assets, VettaFi’s information shows.

Creating an options marketplace for ETH ETFs is an important measurement toward wide adoption. Spot Ether ETFs were listed successful July 2024 and person proceeded to pull astir $11 cardinal successful nett assets, according to VettaFi’s data. 

Options are contracts granting the close to bargain oregon merchantability — “call” oregon “put,” successful trader parlance — an underlying plus astatine a definite price.

Ether ETFs and related funds. Source: VettaFi

Related: SEC seeks much clip to mull options connected Ethereum ETFs

More crypto derivatives

Investment managers expect the US enlargement of cryptocurrency ETF options to accelerate organization adoption and perchance unlock “extraordinary upside” for investors.

Options connected spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs started trading successful November. On the archetypal time of listing, options contracts connected BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) saw astir $2 cardinal successful full exposure.

US President Donald Trump — who has promised to crook the US into the “world’s crypto capital” — is tapping crypto-friendly leaders to caput fiscal regulators. This has raised hopes passim the manufacture for speedy approvals for projected crypto fiscal products.

On Feb. 19, Coinbase launched Solana (SOL) futures, different benignant of derivatives declaration representing an statement to bargain oregon merchantability an plus astatine a aboriginal date. 

On Feb. 28, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group, a derivatives exchange, said it would launch SOL futures contracts connected March 17, pending regulatory approval.

Magazine: Bitcoin ETFs marque Coinbase a ‘honeypot’ for hackers and governments — Trezor CEO