In a move that further strengthens the status of digital currencies, parallel to the measures taken by the Federal Reserve, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has approved Nasdaq’s application to list options contracts on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF. This move is a clear sign of the growing acceptance of digital currencies in traditional financial circles.
Starting trading requires approval from the Options Clearing and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The SEC approval opens the door to the listing of options contracts, which will significantly enhance the fund's liquidity and attractiveness to institutional investors.
Since the SEC approved the listing of a spot bitcoin ETF in January after a lengthy legal battle by Grayscale Investments, the fund has raised more than $22.7 billion in assets. The SEC approval has opened the door to a major expansion in the spot bitcoin ETF market.

Despite the approval of the listing of spot Bitcoin ETFs, concerns remain about the risks associated with trading in digital derivatives. During the review process, several comments were submitted that raised concerns about the volatility of the cryptocurrency market and its increasing integration into traditional financial systems. However, the SEC determined that the oversight mechanisms put in place by Nasdaq are sufficient to ensure the integrity of trading.
In a parallel move, Nasdaq has applied to list options on the iShares Ethereum Trust. The fund’s assets will primarily consist of Ethereum, but will not include the Ethereum escrow service. The development is expected to broaden the range of investment products available to U.S. investors, pushing for greater integration of digital assets into traditional financial markets.

In addition, the approval to list options contracts on spot Bitcoin ETFs is an important step, as it is expected to attract more investments to this market and provide investors with a wider range of options for managing their portfolios. Experts expect other asset management companies to follow BlackRock’s lead and apply to list similar funds, which will enhance the status of digital currencies as attractive investment assets.