Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Bitcoin Reaches All Time High as ETF Options Go Live
Investing | Nov 20, 2024
Image: Freepik, Bitcoin hologram
Bitcoin ETF Options Are Live and What It Means for Canadian Investors
Bitcoin surged its all-time-high (ATH) at almost $95,000 USD this week, pushed higher in part by the launch of options trading on Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Blackrock and Grayscale have greenlit options offering investors the ability to hedge and speculate on the price of Bitcoin. Can Canadian investors access these options, and what does it mean for their portfolios?
See: How Fintechs Are Unlocking Value in Private Markets 2024
Bloomberg analyst is citing massive pent-up demand for such products. Big players are having a huge and immediate impact:
- Blackrock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) launched its options on Nov. 19, generating $1.9 billion in trading volume on day one with 289,000 calls and 65,000 puts signalling optimism about Bitcoin's price, representing 1% of all options traded on Nasdaq on the first day.
- Options for the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) are going live today.
- Other Bitcoin ETF players like Bitwise, ARK 21Shares, and Fidelity will be entering the options market soon.
Understanding Bitcoin ETF Options
- Bitcoin ETF options are financial contracts that let investors buy or sell a Bitcoin ETF at a set price before a certain date.
- Traders use these options to manage risk against Bitcoin's volatile price swings.
- Traders can make smaller investments that can lead to bigger returns using leverage.
- They can also speculate on price changes without actually owning Bitcoin directly.
Can Canadians Trade Bitcoin ETF Options?
Yes, with some restrictions.
- Options like BlackRock’s IBIT are listed on U.S. exchange platforms. Canadians can trade these through brokers offering access to U.S. markets like Wealthsimple or Questrade.
See: A Look Inside 2024 DIY Investing Trends in Canada
- Although Canada launched Bitcon ETFs first, Bitcoin ETF options for Canadian listed funds like Purpose Bitcoin ETF are not available locally. As Canadian exchanges catch up they may offer similar products soon.
- Canadians must ensure they follow local rules and understand how foreign exchange trades affect their taxes to remain compliant.
Conclusion
Bitcoin ETF options blend the flexibility of digital assets with the familiarity of traditional markets. While Bitcoin ETF options are not yet available in Canada, Canadian investors can access these trades with brokers offering access to U.S. markets to enable traders to hedge risk, speculate, and diversify their portfolios while opening up more opportunities for Canadians to participate in crypto's fintech boom.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Leave a Reply