Blockchain.com opens options trading on seven crypto assets, settled in USDC
DeFi & Yields ·
The exchange begins offering crypto options contracts funded entirely in USDC while it seeks regulatory approval to offer derivatives in the United States.
Blockchain.com has launched options trading covering seven crypto assets, including bitcoin, ether and SOL, with contracts funded in USDC and expiries running up to one week, according to The Block. The move positions the exchange among a small group of US-facing venues offering crypto options directly, at a time when such products have historically been concentrated on offshore platforms.
The short-dated structure, with expiries capped at a week, is designed to let traders take near-term views on price moves or volatility without committing to longer contract cycles. Settling in USDC, the dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Circle, ties the product to an asset that trades consistently against the dollar, simplifying collateral and settlement for users compared with funding positions in a volatile underlying token.
The launch comes as Blockchain.com pursues licenses to offer derivatives in the US market, a regulatory track that has moved slowly for crypto options specifically. Futures products such as CME's Bitcoin contracts have been available domestically since 2017, but regulated options access in the US has lagged, with offshore venues historically dominating that segment of the market.
Two distinct sources are tracking this launch within the same reporting cluster, both describing the seven-asset rollout and the pursuit of US derivatives licenses as the core elements of the announcement. The emphasis on USDC funding and short expiries appears consistently across the coverage, suggesting those details are central to how Blockchain.com is positioning the product rather than incidental features.
What remains unclear is the specific timeline for Blockchain.com's US derivatives licensing process, which assets beyond bitcoin, ether and SOL are included among the seven, and how trading volumes on the new options product compare with existing offshore venues. Whether the exchange expands expiries beyond one week or adds further assets once licensing progresses is also not yet specified.