BlackRock and Nasdaq have filed an application to launch options on the spot Ethereum ETF with the SEC. The corresponding document appeared on the Commission's website.
The deadline for a decision from the SEC is April 9, 2025. At the same time, a positive decision must also be received from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC, an independent bureau of the US Treasury Department) and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Despite the upcoming bureaucratic procedures - the chances are high. Simply because it's #BlackRock. Just look at the statistics of approvals of applications for ETFs that they have submitted.
What does this mean for the crypto market?
Firstly, the introduction of options on a spot ETF allows investors to apply more complex trading and hedging strategies without owning the crypto asset itself. Which is rather a minus for us, because the emergence of the instrument will not increase demand for the assets themselves and will not raise their prices.
Secondly, this move could further integrate ETH into traditional financial markets, enhancing the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies in the eyes of regulators and major financial institutions. Which is a plus, of course.
Thirdly, such a move highlights the growing recognition and adoption of the Ethereum ETF, which has already been seen with the Bitcoin ETF. It could also open the door to other innovative financial products in the crypto space, strengthening the position of cryptocurrencies as a full-fledged asset class in financial markets. Which, again, is also a plus.
