The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is extending its review period for options tied to Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs), following a regulatory filing on February 7, 2025. Nasdaq had proposed listing options contracts for BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust, which is currently the only Ether ETF offered on Nasdaq. The SEC now has until April 2025 to make a decision. This move highlights the growing importance of options markets for ETH ETFs, especially after spot Ether ETFs launched in July 2024 and raised approximately $9 billion in net assets. The introduction of options is seen as a crucial step toward increasing institutional adoption of Ether as a widely traded asset. Meanwhile, options trading for spot Bitcoin ETFs began in November 2024, indicating a trend toward expanding cryptocurrency ETF options in the U.S. This expansion is anticipated to accelerate institutional engagement with crypto markets, particularly under the influence of pro-crypto leaders in financial regulatory positions.

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