FLEX Options Volume Hits Record High in Q1 2026 Amid Institutional Adoption

Cboe's FLEX options saw significant growth in the first quarter of 2026, with an average daily volume of 1.9 million contracts, a 35.8% increase from the same period a decade ago.

This surge in popularity can be attributed to the flexibility and customization offered by FLEX options, which allow traders to choose strike prices, expirations up to 15 years, and settlement methods.

The rise of institutional adoption has also been driven by advances in electronic trading and data transparency.