Ethereum surged 14% in the last 24 hours following a major regulatory greenlight from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
On Wednesday, the SEC approved the listing and trading of options tied to several spot Ethereum ETFs, including:
- BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA)
- Bitwise Ethereum ETF
- Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust
- Ethereum Mini Trust
What Are ETH ETF Options?
Options are derivatives that give traders the right—but not the obligation—to buy or sell the underlying asset (in this case, ETH) at a specific price by a certain date.
These tools allow investors to hedge exposure or speculate on Ethereum’s future price movements.
Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst James Seyffart commented that the approval was “100% expected,” with April 9 being the SEC’s decision deadline.
Meanwhile, Nate Geraci, president of The ETF Store, added, “Just like with BTC ETFs, expect to see a bunch of new launches… covered call ETH ETFs, buffer ETH ETFs, etc.”
Delayed But Anticipated Approval
The SEC initially postponed a decision after Nasdaq ISE filed on July 22, 2024, to launch options for ETHA. At the time, advocacy group Better Markets urged caution, citing high volatility in crypto markets.
Still, the move isn’t without precedent—Bitcoin ETF options were approved in October 2023 across NYSE American, Nasdaq, and Cboe Exchange.
According to the SEC, these newly approved ETH options provide investors with “a relatively lower-cost investing tool to gain exposure to Ether.”
ETH Price Rallies on ETF Optimism and Tariff Pause
Ethereum is currently trading at $1,641, according to Coinmarketplace data, following the ETF options approval and a 90-day pause on new U.S. tariffs announced by President Trump.
The regulatory boost comes as spot ETH ETFs struggle. Since February 20, they’ve only recorded inflows on four days, with funds down more than 50% year-to-date, according to Farside Investors.
Ironically, inverse ETH ETFs have been among the best performers in 2025. Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas noted that -2x ETH ETFs, which profit from falling ETH prices, are currently topping charts.
Still, the latest SEC decision may signal a turning point as ETH options unlock new institutional strategies and retail access, adding fuel to a potentially broader rebound.
