Sometimes the difference between security and compromise comes down to a single click – and a healthy dose of suspicion. And it’s because scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated with their phishing attempts. It’s to the point where even following standard security best practices isn’t enough to protect you. Case in point: last week’s near-successful phishing attack on Zach Latta.
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Ethereum ETF Options Launch Amid Market Headwinds: A Potential Turning Point?
Ethereum reached a notable milestone earlier this month when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved options trading for several spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The move is expected to increase liquidity, attract interest from institutional investors, and solidify Ethereum’s position as a major cryptocurrency.
Yet Ethereum’s smaller market cap relative to Bitcoin means it is also vulnerable to gamma squeezes, thereby increasing investor risks. BeInCrypto consulted an expert in derivatives trading and representatives from FalconX, BingX, Komodo Platform, and Gravity to analyze the potential impact of this new characteristic.
Ethereum ETF Options Gain SEC Approval
The Ethereum community rejoiced earlier this month when the SEC approved options trading for existing Ethereum ETFs. This approval marks a significant regulatory development for digital assets.
This week marked the official debut of options trading for spot Ethereum ETFs in the United States. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) was the first to list options, with trading commencing on the Nasdaq ISE.
Shortly after, a broader availability of options followed, including those for the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) and the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH), as well as the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW), all of which began trading on the Cboe BZX exchange.
This move allows a wider range of investors, beyond crypto traders, to benefit from hedging and speculation opportunities on Ethereum’s price through options on familiar investment vehicles like ETFs without direct ownership.
The timing of this news is particularly positive, as Ethereum has been losing some ground in the market lately.
Options Trading to Bolster Ethereum’s Market Position
A significant decline in market confidence surrounded Ethereum this week, with BeInCrypto reporting its price had plummeted to its lowest point since March 2023. This drop coincided with a broader market downturn, worsened by Donald Trump’s Liberation Day.
Further fueling this bearish sentiment, the ETH/BTC ratio has reached a five-year low, highlighting Bitcoin’s growing dominance over Ethereum.
Meanwhile, large Ethereum holders are increasingly selling off substantial amounts, putting downward pressure on their prices. Ethereum’s value has fallen sharply by 51.3% since the beginning of 2025, and investor confidence has waned, as evidenced by a decrease in addresses holding at least $1 million in ETH.
With options trading now accessible to more traders, experts anticipate that Ethereum’s market position will improve.
“ETH’s been leaking dominance, stuck sub-17%. Options give it institutional gravity. It becomes more programmable for fund strategies. More tools mean more use cases, which then in turn means more capital sticking around,” Martins Benkitis, CEO and Co-Founder of Gravity Team, predicted.
This newfound accessibility of options trading will create additional opportunities for investors and the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
Greater Investor Access and Liquidity
The SEC’s approval of Ethereum ETFs in July 2024 was significant because it allowed traditional investors to enter the crypto market without directly holding the assets. Now, with options trading also available, these benefits are expected to be even greater.
“It will provide additional opportunities for portfolio diversification and create more avenues for ETH-based products. With options beyond the limited Bitcoin ETF offerings, investors may reconsider how they allocate their funds. This shift could result in more sophisticated trading strategies and greater participation in Ethereum-based products,” Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer at BingX, told BeInCrypto.
The Ethereum ETF market will naturally become more liquid with increased participation through options trading.
High Trading Volumes and Hedging Demands
The SEC’s fresh approval of options trading for Ethereum ETF investors suggests that the market will likely initially experience a high trading volume. As a result, market makers must be prepared.
An increase in call options will require institutional market makers to hedge by buying more Ethereum to meet demand.
“This is the canonically accepted dynamic of options markets bringing better liquidity to spot markets,” explained derivatives trader Gordon Grant.
Ethereum will also secure a unique advantage, particularly in institutional trading, enhancing its perceived quality and driving optimism among key market participants.
“ETH just got a serious institutional tailwind. With options now in play, Ether is stepping closer to BTC in terms of tradable instruments. This levels up ETH’s legitimacy and utility in hedging strategies, narrowing the gap on Bitcoin’s dominance narrative,” Benkitis told BeInCrypto.
Yet, rapid surges in options trading could also have unintended consequences on Ethereum’s price, especially in the short run.
Will Investors Suffer a Gamma Squeeze?
As market makers rush to acquire more of the underlying asset in case of a higher volume of options calls, Ethereum’s price will naturally increase. This situation could lead to a pronounced gamma squeeze.
When market makers hedge their positions in this scenario, the resulting buying pressure would create a positive feedback loop. Retail investors will feel more inclined to join in, hoping to profit from Ethereum’s rising price.
The implications of this scenario are especially pronounced for Ethereum, considering its market capitalization is notably smaller than that of Bitcoin.
Retail traders’ aggressive buying of ETHA call options could compel market makers to hedge by acquiring the underlying ETHA shares, potentially leading to a more pronounced effect on the price of ETHA and, by extension, Ethereum.
“We believe option sellers will generally dominate in the long-run but in short bursts we could see retail momentum traders become massive buyers of ETHA calls and create gamma squeeze effects, similar to what we’ve seen on meme coin stocks like GME. ETH will be easier to squeeze than BTC given it is only $190 billion market cap vs BTC’s $1.65 trillion,” Joshua Lim, Global Co-head of Markets at FalconX, told BeInCrypto.
Meanwhile, Grant predicts arbitrage-driven flows will further exacerbate price swings.
Arbitrage Opportunities Expected to Emerge
Experienced investors in options trading may pursue arbitrage to gain profits and reduce risk exposure.
Arbitrage involves exploiting price differences for the same or nearly identical assets across different markets or forms. This is done by buying in the cheaper market and selling in the more expensive one.
According to Grant, traders will increasingly look for and exploit these price differences as the market for ETH options on different platforms develops.
“I would expect more arbitrage behaviors between deribit CME and spot eth options and while one sided flows across all three markets could be temporarily destabilizing, greater liquidity through a diverse array of venues should ultimately dampen the extrema of positioning driven dislocations and the frequency of such dislocations. For instance, it appears –anecdotally as the data is still inchoate– that vol variance on btc is declining post intro of iBit options,” he explained.
While arbitrage activity is expected to refine pricing and liquidity within the Ethereum options market, the asset continues to operate under the shadow of Bitcoin’s established market leadership.
Will Landmark Options Approval Help Ethereum Close the Gap on Bitcoin?
Though Ethereum achieved a major landmark this week, it faces competition from a major rival: Bitcoin.
In late fall of 2024, options trading started on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), becoming the first US spot Bitcoin ETF to offer options. Though not even a year has passed since the original launch, options trading on Bitcoin ETFs experienced strong trading volumes from retail and institutional investors.
According to Kadan Stadelmann, Chief Technology Officer of Komodo Platform, options trading for Ethereum ETFs will be comparatively underwhelming. Bitcoin will still be the cryptocurrency of choice for investors.
“Compared to Bitcoin’s Spot ETF, Ethereum’s ETF has not seen such stalwart demand. While options trading adds institutional capital, Bitcoin remains crypto’s first mover and enjoys a greater overall market cap. It is not going anywhere. It will remain the dominant crypto asset for institutional portfolios,” Stadelmann told BeInCrypto.
Consequently, his outlook does not include Ethereum’s market position surpassing Bitcoin’s in the immediate term.
“The once-promised flippening of Bitcoin’s market capitalization by Ethereum remains unlikely. Conservative and more-monied investors likely prefer Bitcoin due to its perceived safety compared to other crypto assets, including Ethereum. Ethereum, in order to achieve Bitcoin’s prominence, must depend on growing utility in DeFi and stablecoin markets,” he concluded.
While that may be the case, options trading doesn’t harm Ethereum’s prospects; it only strengthens them.
Can Ethereum’s Options Trading Era Capitalize on Opportunities?
Ethereum is now the second cryptocurrency with SEC approval for options trading on its ETFs. This single move will further legitimize digital assets for institutions, increasing their presence in traditional markets and boosting overall visibility.
Despite recent significant blows to Ethereum’s market position, this news is a positive development. Although it might not be sufficient to surpass its primary competitor, it represents a step in the right direction.
As investors get used to this new opportunity, their participation level will reveal how beneficial it will be for Ethereum.
The post Ethereum ETF Options Launch Amid Market Headwinds: A Potential Turning Point? appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Solana Price Fails to Stay Above $200 As 1.4 Million New Holders Retrace
Solana (SOL) recently attempted to break the $200 mark but failed as investor sentiment shifted. The altcoin, after briefly surpassing this level, has been unable to maintain momentum.
Now, Solana’s price is facing further declines as market conditions weaken and investor behavior changes.
Solana Investors Are Bearish
The Liveliness metric has shown a sharp increase over the past 12 days, reaching a monthly high this week. Liveliness measures the movement of long-term holders (LTHs), and when it spikes, it typically signals selling activity.
This is currently the case with Solana, as many LTHs are selling off their holdings. Given that LTHs significantly influence price action, this selling pressure is contributing to the price decline. The large-scale selling could increase the downward pressure, making it harder for Solana to regain traction in the market.
Solana’s macro momentum is also showing signs of weakness. The number of new addresses has hit a monthly low, with the daily rate of new address creation dropping significantly. In the past 48 hours, Solana saw a decline of 1.4 million new addresses, highlighting a lack of interest from fresh investors.
The declining number of new addresses suggests that Solana is losing its appeal to new investors, which could prolong the current downtrend. As fewer people are willing to invest in the asset, its price is more likely to continue its retreat.
SOL Price Fails Again
Solana’s price is currently trading at $187, just below the resistance of $188. After its recent failed attempt to hold above $200, the altcoin has struggled to maintain its value. With the LTHs selling off and new investors pulling back, Solana faces a challenging road ahead.
Given the current market conditions, Solana is vulnerable to further price declines. If the selling pressure continues, it could slip below the support of $176, deepening the losses for investors. This would confirm the bearish sentiment surrounding the altcoin.
However, if broader market conditions shift favorably, Solana could potentially bounce back. Should the altcoin reclaim $188 as support, it might target a rise back to $201, giving it another opportunity to attempt holding above the $200 mark.
The post Solana Price Fails to Stay Above $200 As 1.4 Million New Holders Retrace appeared first on BeInCrypto.
3 Altcoins to Watch in the Final Week of April 2025
As April comes to an end, many altcoins are enjoying gains, especially in the last seven days, stemming from Bitcoin’s run up to $95,00. A few key tokens are looking at a bullish start in May due to varying factors.
BeInCrypto has analyzed three such altcoins for investors to watch in the last few days of April as they prepare for important developments.
BNB
BNB is currently showing positive performance, with expectations for further gains this week due to the upcoming Lorentz hard fork. Set to go live on April 30, the upgrade will bring faster blocks to the chain, which is likely to boost network efficiency and support a potential price rise for the altcoin.
Having broken free from a two-and-a-half-month downtrend, BNB is now trading at $606. The altcoin is aiming to breach the $618 resistance, and if successful, it could capitalize on bullish momentum from the Lorentz upgrade. This would set the stage for a potential rise to $647.
If BNB fails to break the $618 resistance, a decline could follow, potentially dropping the price below $600. In this scenario, BNB may find support at $576, which would invalidate the bullish outlook. Monitoring the $618 level will be key for assessing the altcoin’s trajectory in the coming days.
Kaspa (KAS)
KAS has gained 27% over the past week, helping to invalidate the bearish signals from the Ichimoku Cloud. Currently trading at $0.099, the altcoin is nearing the critical $0.103 resistance level. If this momentum continues, KAS could potentially break through and establish a new bullish trend.
The upcoming Crescendo upgrade is expected to drive further positive momentum for KAS. With the mainnet activation set to increase the network’s transaction capacity tenfold to 10 blocks per second (BPS), this event could play a pivotal role in propelling the price upwards and attracting more investor interest.
If the Crescendo upgrade lives up to expectations, KAS could rise to $0.112, potentially reaching $0.120. However, if KAS fails to breach the $0.103 level, the altcoin may experience a decline. A drop below $0.092 could send the price toward $0.083, invalidating the current bullish outlook.
Aave (AAVE)
Another altcoin to watch in the last week of April is AAVE, which has experienced a strong 22% rise this week, making it one of the best-performing altcoins. Despite the impressive gains, the current price action suggests that AAVE has not yet reached its peak. The altcoin still has room for further upward momentum, supported by strong market interest.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicates that AAVE is currently in the bullish zone but is far from the overbought level of 70.0. With plenty of room before hitting this threshold, AAVE’s price could continue rising, potentially surpassing $180 and reaching $198.
However, if the bullish momentum weakens, AAVE could see a decline below the $167 support level. In this case, the price may fall to $153, and if this support level is breached, AAVE could drop to $126. Such a move would invalidate the current bullish outlook, signaling a possible trend reversal.
The post 3 Altcoins to Watch in the Final Week of April 2025 appeared first on BeInCrypto.