According to COINOTAG news, September 27, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently given the green light to BlackRock for listing and trading its spot Bitcoin options, as reported by The Block. CryptoQuant analysts noted that this development could amplify the “paper” supply of Bitcoin, since institutional investors can gain exposure to Bitcoin by utilizing these options without direct investment in the cryptocurrency. By trading options on spot Bitcoin ETFs, investors can manage long positions in Bitcoin without actual purchases, or take short positions without initial Bitcoin ownership.
Derivatives expert Gordon Grant addressed the potential ramifications, highlighting a comparison with the gold market. He stated that, despite the dominance of “paper” trading in total volume, there is an indispensable need for physical demand to uphold this supply. Grant conveyed that although paper gold trading constitutes a considerable segment of daily volume, genuine physical trades remain crucial. He emphasized the necessity of physical backing to support the increased open interest seen within the paper market.