According to the announcement, BitExchange became one of the first “platforms offering XRP options trading to institutional and retail traders.”
BitExchange has introduced XRP (XRP $0.58) linked options on its cryptocurrency derivatives platform. The project will enable users to trade XRP options without owning any cryptocurrencies, the exchange said in a statement on August 17.
The exchange added that the newest addition expands its offerings, which already include Bitcoin (BTC $27,887), Ether (ETH $1,735), Cardano (ADA $0.273), Toncoin (TON), and Milady (LADYS).
Profit and loss settlement will occur in US dollars, with OrBit Markets in charge of order book liquidity. Options are derivative contracts that give the buyer the right to buy or sell the underlying asset at a fixed price on or before a given date.
Put options offer the selling right, whilst call options offer the right to purchase. Typically, traders use options for hedging, reducing bullish or bearish risks, or making extra income by “writing” options alongside their holdings on the spot market. BitExchange’s worldwide head of institutional sales, Justin Buitendam, stated:
“We’re excited to be among the early platforms offering XRP options trading to institutional and retail traders, providing both long and short options trading opportunities.”
XRP is now the fifth-largest cryptocurrency in the world, valued at $30.88 billion. XRP is more volatile than Bitcoin and Ether, just like other alternative cryptocurrencies.
Following a recent decision in favor of Ripple Labs, the company that creates the XRP currency, in its continuing legal dispute with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), BitExchange launched XRP options.
The judge determined that while XRP is not a security when traded on centralized exchanges, it may be when sold directly to institutions.Numerous exchanges relisted XRP after the decision. More recently, the SEC asked permission to appeal the court’s ruling.
