Bitcoin trading is becoming increasingly mature, resembling the market for conventional stocks like Apple or Microsoft. A significant development is now coming from Nasdaq, a major U.S. exchange, which aims to substantially increase the number of Bitcoin-related contracts allowed for trading. Specifically, this concerns options on a fund from BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers.
Raising the Limits #
The BlackRock fund in question is the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which tracks the price of bitcoin. Investors can invest in it without having to purchase bitcoin directly. In addition to the fund itself, there are also “options” on this fund. An option grants the right to buy or sell at a later date at an agreed-upon price, a tool primarily used for risk management or to capitalize on expected price movements.
Currently, a maximum of 250,000 of such options can be traded per day. Nasdaq wants to increase this to one million. While this may seem technical, it is crucial: the same high limit applies to major names like Apple and Nvidia. This means Bitcoin is officially reaching the level of large, established investment products.
Growing Interest in Bitcoin #
The reason for this change is simply that there is significantly more interest. In 2025, nearly €24 billion was traded in the BlackRock fund. This volume is so high that the current limit is beginning to hinder trading. Large investors, such as pension funds and investment funds, want more room to hedge against risks, such as a falling dollar or sharp fluctuations in the bitcoin price.
According to analysts, this move shows that bitcoin is playing an increasingly large role in the traditional financial system. For years, large investors stayed on the sidelines because the market was too volatile and lacked clear regulations. Now, more and more institutions are choosing to enter as the market becomes more stable and better regulated.
Bitcoin as a Serious Investment #
Nasdaq also wants to fully unblock certain special options with more flexible terms. The goal is to prevent large transactions from occurring off-exchange and instead keep them within the oversight of official markets.
According to experts, this is more than a symbolic moment. Bitcoin is being treated as a serious investment asset, comparable to gold or major stocks. This could lead to the development of even more financial products centered around bitcoin in the future.
In short: Bitcoin is continuing its shift from “experiment” to “full-fledged investment,” opening the door for even more major players in the financial world.