Bitcoin ETF options likely to go live in Q4 – Bloomberg analyst Bitcoin ETF options likely to go live in Q4 – Bloomberg analyst
James Seyffart highlighted that the deadline for a SEC decision is at Sep. 21, with the possibility of options being added in the same month.
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Updated: Aug. 8, 2024 at 11:06 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
Options features are likely to be added to spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETF) in the US in the fourth quarter, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart.
However, in another post, Seyffart highlighted that the offering could start as soon as the third quarter, as the final deadline for a decision from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is approximately Sep. 21.
He added:
“Technically in our note I said second half of 2024 because the SEC deadline is in 3rd quarter (sept 21) and there’s nothing stopping things from moving even faster than that other than: ‘It normally takes longer than that.’
Seyffart also pointed out that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) must also approve the inclusion.
As a reference, the Bloomberg analyst listed 20 ETFs related to Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) that already have options, including leveraged products.
Coincidentally, less than an hour after Seyffart posted this prediction, three exchanges — BOX Exchange, MIAX Pearl, and Miami International Securities Exchange — have withdrawn their applications to list spot Bitcoin ETF options.
However, senior Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted that those are three “tiny exchanges,” while major entities, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, and Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) still have active applications.
Options for Ethereum ETFs
On Aug. 7, Nasdaq and BlackRock filed to add
to the asset manager’s spot Ethereum ETF iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). The SEC has 21 days to provide comments on the matter, although the final deadline is “likely to be around” April 9, 2025, according to Seyffart.
In the filing, Nasdaq mentioned other commodity ETFs with listed options in its platform, such as BlackRock’s iShares COMEX Gold Trust and the iShares Silver Trust.
Bitcoin ETF flows
After two consecutive days of outflows, Bitcoin ETFs registered $45 million in inflows on Aug. 7. Despite Grayscale’s GBTC outflows amounting to $30.7 million, BlackRock’s IBIT received $52.5 million in cash.
Balchunas said he was surprised by the inflows as he expected outflows to continue until Bitcoin ETFs had reduced their AUM by roughly 2% to 3%. Yet, only 0.5% was registered, despite BTC falling 21% on the weekly timeframe.
Mentioned in this article
Bitcoin 
Ethereum 
BlackRock 
Grayscale Investments 
Nasdaq 
Cboe Global Markets 
21Shares Core Ethereum ETF iShares Bitcoin Trust 
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust iShares Ethereum Trust ETF 
Eric Balchunas 
James Seyffart Author 
Gino Matos
Gino Matos is a law school graduate and a seasoned journalist with six years of experience in the crypto industry. His expertise primarily focuses on the Brazilian blockchain ecosystem and developments in decentralized finance (DeFi).
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In this article
Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.
Ethereum
$3,172.24
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps).
BlackRock
BlackRock, synonymous with global asset management, is an American multinational investment management corporation based in New York City.
Grayscale Investments
Established in 2013 by Digital Currency Group, Grayscale Investments is a trusted authority on digital currency investing and cryptocurrency asset management.
Nasdaq
NASDAQ, which stands for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, is an American stock exchange based in New York City and one of the largest electronic stock markets in the world.
Cboe Global Markets
Cboe Global Markets is a leading global exchange operator and provider of financial market solutions.
The 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF (CETH) is an exchange-traded fund designed to offer investors exposure to the performance of Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain.
The BlackRock Bitcoin ETF, known as the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), is an investment fund that provides regulated exposure to Bitcoin for investors.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) is a digital currency investment product that provides investors with access to Bitcoin through traditional investment channels.
The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) by BlackRock is an innovative investment product designed to provide investors with exposure to Ethereum, one of the leading cryptocurrencies.
Eric Balchunas is an American author, ETF analyst, and Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
James Seyffart is a well-regarded analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, specializing in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and the broader fund industry.