BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Just Hit a Massive Milestone that Proves Crypto Is Now a Mainstream Bet
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) options open interest on Nasdaq hit $27.61 billion on Friday, overtaking the offshore Deribit market’s $26.90 billion. The milestone, reached in just two years, shows regulated U.S. crypto derivatives matching the scale of the long‑standing offshore venue. Analysts note that IBIT call open interest implies a near‑term Bitcoin price target around $109,700, slightly more bullish than Deribit’s $106,000 outlook. The growth signals deeper institutional participation and could spur broader Wall Street adoption of digital assets.
South Korea Greenlights Single‑Stock ETFs and 2x Leveraged Funds, Expanding Derivative‑Like Tools
South Korea's Financial Services Commission approved amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the FSCMA, permitting single‑stock ETFs and exchange‑traded notes with up to 200% leverage. The rules take effect on April 28, with the first leveraged ETFs expected to list on...
Sugar Futures Rise 2% as Brazil Real Rally and Tightening Surplus Outlook Spur Rebound
New York and London sugar futures climbed on Friday, with NY sugar gaining 2.43% and London sugar 1.82%, after a sharp three‑week decline. The rally was driven by a stronger Brazilian real, lower Brazil production forecasts and revised global surplus...
WTI Spreads Surge, 12‑month Up
WTI 12-month spread widened $7.84 (60%) for the week ending April 24 6-month spread widened $6.35 (69%) & price rose $10.55 (13%) from $83.85 to $94.40 #energy #OOTT #oilandgas #WTI #CrudeOil #fintwit #OPEC #Commodities #commoditiesmarket https://t.co/SWXxGMx8Qy
Verisure Exercises Greenshoe, Ends IPO Stabilisation Early, Adding 33 M Shares
Verisure announced that Morgan Stanley, on behalf of the underwriters, fully exercised the 15% overallotment (greenshoe) option, adding 33,042,453 shares and ending the IPO stabilisation period early. The move follows strong share‑price performance since the Nasdaq Stockholm debut on Oct. 8,...
Swap Lines Are Loans, Not Gifts, Fueling Dollar Demand
For those new to swap lines due to recent headlines, swap lines are not USD “gifts”, they are USD “loans”. The difference? Loans need to be paid back. And as such create dollar demand. Swap lines...
Questioning Friday Put Purchases on SMH Amid Burry Debate
The dunking on @michaeljburry is funny and all but if your going to buy puts on $SMH isn't Friday a decent time vs any other time in history? Depending on the comments may have to join him https://t.co/0ul7RbjQo8
Nakamoto Unveils Actively Managed Bitcoin Derivatives Program to Capture Volatility Income
Nakamoto announced an actively managed Bitcoin derivatives program that will employ covered calls, spreads and protective puts to earn volatility income and protect against downside moves. The firm says the strategy will be offered through separately managed accounts with third‑party...
The Death of the Bitcoin Carry Trade?
Bitcoin rallied about 15% since early April, yet its 30‑day average funding rate plunged into historically negative territory. Traditionally, rising prices push funding positive as leveraged longs dominate, but the current divergence shows short positions gaining strength. The article attributes...
Call‑option Surge Lifts Futures, Then Producers Reverse
Why oil futures are lower than spot prices A one-sided rush for call options forced dealers to buy the market, pushing prices up. When that flow faded and producers sold into strength, the same mechanics reversed—pulling prices back down. #OilMarkets #Brent #EnergyCrisis https://t.co/AoJ7lKdIlf
US May Weaponize Dollar Swap Lines Amid Tensions
🧵Some other important swap line factoids: 1/ Robert McCauley has been warning about the potential weaponisation of dollar swap lines for quite a while. In this view, the US is likely to apply statecrafty terms and conditions on dollar...
Bitcoin Options Show Falling Volatility as Price Stalls Near $80,000
Glassnode's options metrics show implied volatility slipping and the 25‑Delta put skew climbing to 10.7% as Bitcoin retests its February high near $80,000. Traders are selling volatility and monetizing recent call gains, indicating thin confidence in an immediate breakout.
Charles Schwab Releases Professional Guide on Options, Futures and Swaps
Charles Schwab has published a detailed educational guide that breaks down how institutional investors use options, futures and swaps to manage market risk. The guide, authored by Schwab strategist Joe Mazzola, cites the $100‑plus trillion notional value of OTC derivatives...
IAUI: Built For A Slower Gold Market
The NEOS Gold High Income ETF (IAUI) earns a Buy rating because its options‑driven structure thrives in a sideways or slowly rising gold market after the 2025 rally. By pairing partial gold exposure with Treasury‑bill collateral, IAUI can deliver double‑digit...
#58843
Effective April 24, 2026, the Options Clearing Corporation announced that the National Securities Clearing Corporation will no longer accept settlement for Willow Lane Acquisition Corporation (WLAC) option exercises. All WLAC and 1WLAC contracts, each delivering 100 Class A shares, must now settle on...
We Urgently Need to Talk About Swap Lines
Izabella Kaminska’s latest Blind Spot piece warns that the current debate over dollar‑swap lines is more than a sovereign’s plea for liquidity—it is a window into the hidden mechanics of global finance. She argues that swap lines reveal who still...
Student Applies Lesson, Executes Successful SPX Trade
I love when our students get it 🚀✨☺️ Taught this last night & my girl executed on SPX this afternoon.
#58842
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) issued an adjustment memo for Marine Products Corp (MPX) options after the company’s pending merger with MasterCraft Boat Holdings (MCFT). Effective the business day after the merger closes, expected in the second quarter of 2026,...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 24, 2026
U.S. grain and livestock futures closed with modest moves on April 24, 2026. May corn slipped half a cent to $4.55 per bushel, while May soybeans rose four cents to $11.63. Live cattle futures gained $1.72, ending at $245.22 per...
A Full Week Of Coil For SPX. Do We Trend Next Week? April 27 Pan
Over the past month the S&P 500 e‑mini (ES) has posted a steep upside rally, with each minor dip quickly bought up. The author attributes the move to a classic "failed breakdown" pattern, where institutions accumulate during sharp, short‑lived drops...
Realized Vol Decline Boosts Systematic Stock Tailwinds
1M realized vol is starting to roll over. Vol control funds are stepping back in with mechanical buying. As realized vol drops, systematic flows turn supportive, and that should be a tailwind for stocks into next week.
UAE USD Swap Lines May Fund China Investments
So…will the USD swap lines Bessent is going to give UAE going to finance the UAE’s newly-signed investments in China? Or are the USD swap lines so UAE doesn’t have to sell USTs to make these investments in China? Or do the...
Futures Settle: Bears Tighten Grip on Natural Gas as May Contract Heads Toward Expiry
Natural gas spot prices fell Friday as a force majeure limited Permian northbound capacity, pushing regional prices toward record lows. The decline fed into NYMEX futures, with the May contract slipping below the $2.50 support level as storage builds and...
Consus Ag Consulting Afternoon Wrap Up
Futures slipped after mixed overnight trading, led by wheat losses as technical profit taking intensified. Corn and soybeans also fell on May options expiration, while drought in the West weighed on wheat but supported planting progress for corn and soy....
Precious Metals Rise As DOJ Drops Powell Probe To Facilitate Warsh Confirmation
Gold futures edged up $14 to $4,738 per ounce while silver rose 92 cents to $76.43 per ounce, keeping precious metals in positive territory despite ongoing geopolitical tension. The Department of Justice abruptly ended its investigation into the Federal Reserve’s...
The Role of Technical Analysis in Option Trading
Technical analysis, which studies price patterns rather than company fundamentals, is increasingly applied to option trading. Practitioners rely on chart indicators such as moving averages, Bollinger Bands, and volume to anticipate future price direction. The article highlights how technicians view...
WTI Crude Futures Hover Near $95.60 Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions
WTI crude futures traded near $95.60 during Asian hours on Friday, trimming earlier losses as geopolitical friction in the Strait of Hormuz raised supply‑risk concerns. The price rebound follows U.S. interceptions of Iranian supertankers and stalled US‑Iran peace talks, reigniting...
How a Swap Line for Persian Gulf Allies Would Break with the Past
The Federal Reserve is considering extending dollar swap lines to Persian Gulf allies such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, a departure from its traditional use as a crisis‑management tool for G7 and select emerging markets. Treasury Secretary...
🎯Take Profit Alert: CORZ Cash Secured Put
Trader closed a cash‑secured put on Core Scientific Inc. (ticker CORZ) with a $15.5 strike, collecting $87 in premium and realizing a $78 profit after seven days. The position captured 89.66% of the premium, indicating the stock stayed well above...
Prediction Markets Could Soon Be Available in Your Retirement Account
Asset managers Bitwise, Roundhill and GraniteShares have filed SEC applications to launch exchange‑traded funds that track prediction‑market contracts on U.S. elections. The proposed ETFs would let investors bet on outcomes such as the 2028 presidential race or the 2026 midterm...
US Futures Slip on Iran Talks, Boosting Pressure on Asian Markets as SK Hynix Posts Record Profit
US equity futures slipped 0.1% as Iran‑U.S. negotiations stalled, reigniting concerns over Middle‑East volatility. The dip hit Asian markets hard, even as South Korea’s SK Hynix posted record quarterly profits, underscoring a split between macro risk and strong corporate earnings...
SPY Gamma Exposure Peaks at 715, Watch for Rejection
Gamma exposure update for $SPY: $715 has been lit up with positive exposure all week. We're now approaching that strike, be cautious of chop/rejections as we near it. I've got support at $711, positive exposure above and below spot.
Silver Shortage Claim Challenged by Low Futures Delivery Volume
If there is such a shortage of Silver, as those making the bullish case say there is, what do they say about only 3,301 contracts taking delivery in April Silver Futures....... that's approximately $1.2B which is like an intra day tick...
SEBI Weighs Uniform Price Bands for F&O Stocks Across Exchanges to Fix Mismatch
India’s securities regulator SEBI is evaluating a rule that would apply dynamic price bands to all futures‑and‑options (F&O) stocks on every exchange. The move targets the current timing mismatch where a stock added or removed from the derivatives segment on...
Investors Prefer Brent Dates, Futures Marriages Mislead Markets
Investors and media have often dated Brent but married futures (thanks, I'll be here all week). A lucid new @CSIS primer explores this dynamic and why it sends false signals — a hot topic these days. Link in next post....
Will Market Makers Allow QQQ 0DTE Expirations?
Are market makers going to let 0DTE and weekly call options in $QQQ expire at these price levels on a Friday?
Forward Prices Rise on Western Strength Despite Permian Natural Gas Rout
During the week of April 15‑22, natural‑gas forwards climbed in the Western United States, pushing the PG&E Citygate price to $1.339 per MMBtu and delivering the strongest weekly gain in the winter strip. At the same time, spot prices in...
Nvidia Call Volume Surpasses 4M, Highest Since November
Nvidia daily call volumes crack 4 million for the first time since November, and still a couple hours and change to go. https://t.co/WDY9ZrVRbd $NVDA https://t.co/P63hpn9lBB
Dealers Guard SPX Floor Amid Summer Downside Hedge
What are Vegas odds for gap down Monday? (Likely gets bought in a week, but still.) Dealers are defending $SPX $7100 floor past six days, where $SMH has risen 42% in 19 days - all the while institutions are hedging for...
Lighter Unveils Multi-Asset Margin Starting With ETH
Lighter has introduced Multi‑Asset Margin, allowing traders to post ETH as collateral for perpetual futures. The ETH collateral is discounted by a loan‑to‑value haircut and counted toward a unified margin balance, with per‑user and global supply caps at launch. Access...
Whales Load Up BTC Futures, Raising Liquidation Risk
🚨 WHALES GOING HEAVY LONG ON BTC 🚨 Whales on Hyperliquid are aggressively longing $BTC futures, stacking leveraged positions after the breakout above the March local high The heavier the longs… the bigger the liquidation risk https://t.co/7oPd7Rx3fK
Powell's Resignation Intention Could Push June Contract to $1
No idea why the June contract is still trading around 60 cents. Powell only has to announce his “intention” to resign as a Fed Governor and, according to the rules, as long as the proposed date to resign is within...
Morning Rant – 4/24/26
On April 24, 2026, JB released his daily "Morning Rant," a concise market briefing that highlighted modest gains in U.S. equity indices, mixed corporate earnings, and evolving Federal Reserve policy. The commentary noted a dip in oil prices below $80 per barrel...
Brent Climbs $14 This Week, Hormuz Market Steady
Brent crude (June futs) currently up just more than $14/bbl on the week. Just another normal week in the Hormuz market. https://t.co/j33nO5RKff
April
Back in the Lej/lem at 3.30 This trade is in delivery and not a recommendation. Still think April goes off 5 bucks over June. Will risk a buck on it.
#58835
The Options Clearing Corporation will consolidate Celcuity Inc.'s flex options, changing the ticker from 1CELC to CELC. The adjustment applies to the C series contract expiring on July 17, 2026, with a $170 strike price. The change becomes effective at...
IBM Put Position Rolled to June 220, Strangle Ends
rolled short $IBM Apr 24 Exp 235 puts down and out to June 220 puts, calls from Strangle expire today.
Sell April 24 60/75 Strangle for $1.55 Credit
$INTC "Trade Idea 4: Sell the April 24 Expiry 60/75 Strangle for a $1.55 credit."puts expire. Will need to roll calls up and out
VIX Slides to 19 as Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire, Boosting Options Markets
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) slipped to roughly 19 on Wednesday, a 2.5% decline, after President Trump announced an indefinite extension of the Iran cease‑fire. The drop lifted equity ETFs and signaled a shift in options pricing as market fear...
Navigating the Future of US Options Markets: Takeaways From the SEC Roundtable
On April 16, the SEC convened a roundtable of exchanges, market makers, broker‑dealers, clearing firms, academics and regulators to examine whether the U.S. options market’s regulatory framework is keeping pace with its rapid growth. While commissioners praised the market’s strength,...