BlackRock Bitcoin Options Surpass $16 Billion in Open Interest…"Increased Trading by U.S. Retail Investors"

The open interest (OI) of Bitcoin (BTC) options launched by global asset management firm BlackRock has reached $11 billion (approximately 16 trillion won), showing significant short-term growth. It is analyzed that trading by U.S. retail investors has increased.

On the 14th, cryptocurrency media outlet CoinDesk reported, "The Bitcoin options launched by BlackRock in November last year recorded an open interest of $11 billion as of the 13th," adding, "The demand for regulated cryptocurrency products in the U.S. is clearly increasing." The open interest of BlackRock Bitcoin options has grown to half the size of the Deribit Bitcoin options market, the world's largest cryptocurrency options exchange.

Luke Strijers, CEO of Deribit, analyzed, "BlackRock's Bitcoin options are mainly traded by U.S. retail investors," adding, "The activation of BlackRock options does not negatively impact Deribit. Rather, it has brought positive effects, such as promoting strategies to mitigate risks in the cryptocurrency market."

Strijers analyzed, "BlackRock's Bitcoin options trading is mainly focused on short-term options. There is high demand for contracts with low price premiums (expiring in the short term)." He explained that BlackRock's Bitcoin options are often used by short-term investors and volatility traders in the U.S. for hedging strategies.

The media added, "There was a lack of Bitcoin and Ethereum options platforms for U.S. investors, but BlackRock is successfully filling this gap."

Meanwhile, open interest refers to the number of contracts in the derivatives market that traders have not yet settled. An increase in open interest means that funds are flowing into the market. Generally, as open interest increases, the volatility of coin prices is likely to increase.