The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced its decision to approve options trading on the Bitcoin ETF, following recent approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This development sets the stage for these trades to go live imminently, possibly as soon as tomorrow or the day after.
The approval process saw the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) initially giving its nod in September, overcoming significant regulatory hurdles. The recent approvals from the OCC and CFTC mark the completion of these regulatory steps, facilitating a swifter rollout of Bitcoin spot ETF options trading.
ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas noted that while the OCC hasn't pinpointed an exact launch date, the approval makes its initiation a certainty. Alison Hennessy from NASDAQ indicated that the listings are imminent, potentially starting this week, echoing a sense of urgency and readiness from relevant financial entities.
The role of the SEC was crucial, as its initial approval broke significant ground, despite initial delays under SEC Chair Gary Gensler's oversight. The extended waiting period for CFTC's subsequent approval remains unexplained, but did not impede the quick action from the OCC post-approval.
According to Balchunas, the approval signals a rapid pace in the usual listing process following OCC’s clearance. However, market readiness and response times may vary. The introduction of ETF Options Trading represents a major step in Bitcoin's institutional adoption, enhancing market liquidity and broadening investment opportunities.
