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BlackRock’s IBIT Options Hit 7.7 Million Open Contracts to Enter U.S. Top 10

Nasdaq ISE seeks higher position limits, signaling a shift of bitcoin derivatives activity into the regulated ETF market.

Overview

  • Open interest in IBIT options stands at 7,714,246 contracts, ranking ninth among all U.S.-listed options and second among single stocks by open interest.
  • Nasdaq ISE has asked the SEC to lift IBIT options position and exercise limits to 1,000,000 contracts per side from 250,000.
  • The exchange’s filing notes a fully exercised 1,000,000‑contract position would equal about 7.5% of IBIT’s float and roughly 0.284% of total bitcoin supply.
  • IBIT options have outpaced SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) options in open interest and, at the end of September, topped bitcoin options open interest on Deribit.
  • Since options launched in November 2024, traders have used IBIT contracts for hedging, speculation, and covered-call strategies, while the ETF logged a recent $120.1 million daily inflow and about $62.62 billion in cumulative inflows.