The scale of BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF options has rapidly increased since its launch, accounting for nearly 50% of Deribit's open interest

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, BlackRock's Bitcoin spot ETF (IBIT) options have rapidly grown since their launch on November 19, 2024, with open interest reaching 2.16 million contracts and a notional value of $11 billion, accounting for about 50% of the Deribit Bitcoin options market ($23 billion).

Deribit CEO Luuk Strijers stated in an interview that IBIT options primarily serve U.S. retail investors who previously could not access Deribit, and they have not only not impacted his business negatively but have also positively influenced institutional participants by creating new arbitrage opportunities and risk hedging strategies. He added that IBIT options trading is mainly concentrated on short-term contracts, reflecting the market's demand for low-premium options.

The crypto derivatives protocol Volmex Finance analyzed that due to the compliance advantages of BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF as an underlying asset, IBIT options are attracting U.S. institutional investors and retail investors who prefer regulated markets.