Announced during the CFTC Fintech Forward 2019 today, digital asset exchange Bakkt will start offering Bitcoin options beginning this December.
Kelly Loeffler, Chief Executive Officer of Bakkt, revealed the news during a panel discussion on “Re-imagining Markets: What Digitization Means … for Transactions, Custody, and Markets.” A post on Medium was published around the same time.
Bakkt officially launched in September with physically settled Bitcoin futures.
The addition of crypto-options should come as no surprise as the derivatives have been messaged as forthcoming at multiple events.
Loeffler said via the Medium post:
“Since launching the Bakkt Bitcoin Futures just one month ago, we’ve been working closely with market participants to build liquidity, create market transparency and build open interest. Notably, we saw a record 590 contracts of Bakkt Bitcoin Monthly Futures change hands yesterday, October 23. We also completed a milestone with seamless physical deliveries in both our daily and monthly bitcoin futures contracts.”
Bakkt is a venture supported by ICE – the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange.
Bakkt is licensed by the State of New York to provide custody of Bitcoin and is a qualified custodian. Bakkt is also registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Key features of the Bakkt Bitcoin Options contract include:
• Capital efficiency
• Cash or physical settlement
• European style option
• Attractive fees
• Broad distribution and liquidity
• Instant Messaging
• Block trades
• Options analytics— Bakkt (@Bakkt) October 24, 2019
