Nasdaq moves to remove position limits on options tied to bitcoin and ether ETFs

The proposal was filed on 7 January 2026 and became effective on 21 January 2026 after the SEC waived its standard 30 day waiting period, while retaining the authority to suspend the change within 60 days for further review. A public comment period is open, and the SEC is expected to make a final determination by late February unless the rule is paused.

The filing covers options listed on Nasdaq linked to spot bitcoin and ether ETFs from issuers including BlackRock, Fidelity, Grayscale, Bitwise, ARK 21Shares, and VanEck, according to the document. Nasdaq argued that lifting the limits would allow crypto ETF options to be treated in the same manner as other options that qualify for listing, and it maintained that existing safeguards against manipulation and excessive risk would remain in place.

Nasdaq received approval in late 2025 to list options on single asset crypto ETFs as commodity based trusts, but the exchange had continued to apply position limits. In November, Nasdaq filed a separate proposal seeking to raise position limits on options tied to BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust to as much as one million contracts.

The exchange has also expanded its crypto related product work beyond options. In January, Nasdaq and CME Group announced plans to unify their crypto benchmarks under the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index, which tracks digital assets including bitcoin, ether, XRP, Solana, Cardano and Avalanche. For readers looking for a practical comparison of derivatives trading on major venues, see our Binance Futures trading reviews.