What You Need to Know

• BlockFills and CoinDesk Indices have launched options based on the CoinDesk 20 Index.
• The asset manager Hyperion Decimus executed the first transaction this month.

Institution-focused digital asset trading firm BlockFills is partnering with CoinDesk Indices to release options linked to the CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20). This index, which began last year, evaluates the performance of prominent digital assets to meet institutional needs for a variety of tradeable options beyond just Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Now that options are available, traders can engage with volatility and time alongside price speculation, increasing professional liquidity within the index.

Options are contracts granting the holder the ability to buy or sell the underlying asset at a specified price by a certain date. The current crypto market uptrend, spurred by institutional adoption of Bitcoin, has led to a growing interest in options associated with BTC and cryptocurrency-related products such as spot ETFs.

“As the digital assets market continues to mature, qualified institutional market participants are demanding a foundational reference index to trade, invest and measure performance,” said Perry Parker, Head of Options Trading at BlockFills.

Institutions are actively participating in BlockFills’ CD20 options, as evident by asset manager Hyperion Decimus executing the first transaction this month.

“The BlockFills CoinDesk 20 index options market is a unique solution for professionals managing a portfolio within this asset class, and we are thrilled to kick off trading of the product,” stated Chris Sullivan, Principal at Hyperion Decimus.

“HD aims to use the derivative for both hedging and directional trades,” added Sullivan.