The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently reviewing an application to approve the launch of FLEX equity options on the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF (IBIT). According to a filing submitted on December 2, the BOX Exchange has requested a rule change to allow trading of FLEX IBIT options and is seeking an SEC waiver of the standard 30-day implementation delay in order to protect investor interests and ensure fair competition among exchanges. Nasdaq PHLX and Nasdaq ISE have also submitted similar proposals, with Nasdaq ISE becoming the first exchange approved to list options on IBIT.
The launch of FLEX IBIT options is aimed at helping market participants more effectively manage the volatility risk of the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF, while also increasing liquidity and reducing counterparty credit risk. In addition, BlackRock is awaiting approval for the iShares Bitcoin Advanced Yield ETF (ETHA), which will provide investors with returns from Bitcoin-related strategies. Unlike IBIT, which only tracks the spot price of Bitcoin, ETHA is designed for yield-focused investors seeking more stable returns. The SEC is expected to decide on the listing of options and ETFs for IBIT and ETHA in the first quarter of 2026.
On the market side, Bitcoin has risen nearly 8% in the past 24 hours, currently trading at around $93,243, with a low of $86,404 and a high of $93,542, and trading volume rebounding 10% year-over-year. This price rally has been driven by multiple factors, including Vanguard listing the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF and other crypto funds, liquidity injections following the end of the Fed’s quantitative tightening, and rising market expectations for a possible rate cut in December.
Activity in the derivatives market has also increased significantly. According to CoinGlass data, the total open interest in Bitcoin futures has risen 6% in the past 24 hours, with 4-hour Bitcoin futures open interest on CME and major exchanges up more than 1.8% and 2.77%, respectively. If approved, FLEX options will further enrich ETF derivative tools, enhance institutional investors’ risk management capabilities, and may have a positive impact on market liquidity.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Tether Withdraws 951 BTC Worth $70.47M from Major CEX, Holds $7.2B in Bitcoin Reserves
Tether's BTC reserve address withdrew 951 BTC valued at $70.47 million, part of Q1 2026 purchases. It now holds 97,141 BTC worth around $7.2 billion, making it the fifth-largest BTC wallet with unrealized gains of $2.175 billion.
GateNews21m ago
BTC 15-minute drop of 0.62%: Exchange net inflows and liquidity depletion in sync trigger selling pressure
2026-04-15 14:30 to 2026-04-15 14:45 (UTC), the BTC price’s return over 15 minutes was -0.62%. The quoted range was 73,905.4 to 74,448.0 USDT, with a swing of 0.73%. Market volatility quickly intensified, drawing widespread attention from investors, and short-term trading activity became active.
The main driver behind this unusual movement was BTC net inflows to exchanges. On-chain data shows that during this period, about 6 BTC ($420,690) moved into exchanges, combined with the fact that the market’s overall order book depth has been continuing since February
GateNews1h ago
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana ETFs Record Positive Net Inflows on April 15
Gate News message, according to the April 15 update, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a single-day net inflow of 4,566 BTC (approximately $337.41 million) and a 7-day net inflow of 6,753 BTC (approximately $499.04 million). Ethereum ETFs saw a single-day net inflow of 23,405 ETH (approximately $54.37 million)
GateNews2h ago
BTC 15-minute drop of 0.70%: Increased ETF fund outflows and a coordinated sell-pressure trigger from derivatives position adjustments
From 2026-04-15 13:30 to 13:45 (UTC), the BTC price fluctuated within the range of 73,846.3 to 74,415.9 USDT. Within 15 minutes, the return recorded -0.70%, with an amplitude of 0.77%. During this period, market volatility intensified, trading volume and on-chain transfers heated up significantly, and market participants’ risk sensitivity increased.
The main driving force behind this unusual move was a sharp increase in ETF fund outflows. Data shows that on 2026-04-13, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of -231.7 million dollars, far above the one-week average
GateNews2h ago
Canaan Creative Reports 89 BTC Mining Output in March, Holdings Reach 1,808 BTC
Canaan Creative reported producing 89 BTC in March 2023, with total holdings of 1,808 BTC and 3,952 ETH. The company increased its global mining capacity by over 10 megawatts, reaching a total of 266.3 megawatts.
GateNews3h ago
Strive Raises SATA Dividend to 13%, Adds 27 Bitcoin to Bring Total Holdings to 13,768 BTC
Strive, a Nasdaq-listed bitcoin treasury company, is raising its Series A Preferred Stock dividend to 13.00%. It also acquired 27 additional bitcoins, totaling 13,768 BTC, ensuring dividend payments can be supported for about 19.6 years.
GateNews4h ago
