Nasdaq is seeking approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to remove restrictions on options trading of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by leading issuers such as BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) and Fidelity Investments .
On Jan. 21, Nasdaq filed a form with the securities regulator to amend options position limit rules and exercise limit rules on certain crypto assets.
Related: Multicoin Capital's Kyle Samani asks BlackRock and Fidelity to choose Solana
A crypto ETF is a fund that is traded on a regular trading exchange, tracks the price of a cryptocurrency, and gives investors indirect crypto exposure through a traditional avenue.
Following the SEC approval, leading asset managers like BlackRock launched ETFs linked to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in 2024.
If the SEC approves the proposal, the following crypto funds will get affected:
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BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (Nasdaq: IBIT)
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Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (NYSE: GBTC)
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Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (NYSE: GBTC)
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Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (NYSE: BITB)
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Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (BATS: FBTC)
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ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (BATS: ARKB)
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VanEck Bitcoin ETF (BATS: HODL)
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BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (Nasdaq: ETHA)
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Fidelity Ethereum Fund (BATS: FETH)
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Bitwise Ethereum ETF (NYSE: ETHW)
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Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (NYSE: ETHE)
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Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (NYSE: ETH)
Nasdaq seeks immediate effectiveness of the proposed rule change, which eliminates the previous 25,000 position and exercise limit restrictions for options on the crypto ETFs listed above.
Once approved, these funds will be subject to the standard position limits outlined in the Nasdaq Options Market rules, as applied to other ETF options.
Nasdaq said the change would lead to "just" and "equitable" trading principles, an end to discrimination, and a free and open market via a consistent regulatory regime.
In addition, the change doesn't extend any significant burden on competition and aims to protect investors, Nasdaq added.
The stock exchange asked the regulator to waive the standard 30-day delay and make the proposal effective immediately.
As per the on-chain analytics platform SoSoValue, spot Bitcoin ETFs and spot Ether ETFs have cumulative total net inflows of $56.6 billion and $12.34 billion, respectively, as of Jan. 22.
More News:
BlackRock’s IBIT to offer Bitcoin annuity to Americans
Delaware Life Insurance Company announced on Jan. 20 that it will add the BlackRock U.S. Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index to its fixed index annuity (FIA) product suite.
BlackRock's global head of digital assets, Robert Mitchnick, said, “The BlackRock U.S. Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index offers a measured approach, allowing policyholders to participate in digital assets while maintaining the downside protection they expect from annuity products.”
The FIA mixes U.S. equities with BlackRock’s IBIT to give limited Bitcoin exposure to American retirees.
Related: BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Update: What Comes Next?
This story was originally published by TheStreet on Jan 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Policy section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
