Nasdaq Wins SEC Approval for Bitcoin Index Options
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved Nasdaq's proposal to list options tied directly to a Bitcoin price index. This move marks an important step in expanding regulated access to digital asset derivatives for institutional and retail traders.
The contracts, which will trade on the Nasdaq PHLX under the ticker QBTC, track the CME CF Bitcoin Real Time Index. This index pulls valuations from major spot venues every 200 milliseconds.
The approval widens the menu of tools available to US traders, who until now have mainly relied on Bitcoin futures options at the CME Group and options tied to spot funds like the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF.
However, trading cannot begin immediately as the contracts still need clearance from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. David Barrett, Nasdaq's head of U.S. options, called the decision an important step in expanding regulated access to digital asset derivatives.