Nasdaq has requested approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to start options trading for Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
This request, filed on August 6, focuses on BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which is the only Ethereum ETF listed on Nasdaq’s platform.
The proposal comes shortly after Ethereum ETFs were approved. Since approval, they have attracted about $1.5 billion in net inflow, with BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust receiving over $500 million of that total.
However, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not yet approved options trading for spot Bitcoin ETFs. These Bitcoin ETFs, which began trading in January, now hold about $50 billion in Bitcoin. Despite requests from several options exchanges, including Nasdaq ISE, the SEC has indicated that more time is needed to make a decision.
Options trading is a key tool for managing market volatility and using complex investment strategies. Financial advisers and hedge funds often use it to protect against large price swings and to create various investment strategies.
If Nasdaq’s request is approved, it could significantly impact the ETF market, which is largely managed by financial advisers.
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