Blockchain.com Opens Crypto Options Trading With $5 Entry Point

Blockchain.com has launched cryptocurrency options trading for eligible users, adding short-term derivatives on seven digital assets as the company broadens its trading products and pursues US regulatory approvals for derivatives and prediction markets.

Announced on October 20, the new feature allows users to buy call and put options on Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), Hyperliquid (HYPE), Avalanche (AVAX), XRP and TRON (TRX). Contracts have expiries of up to one week, with minimum premiums starting at $5, excluding applicable fees.

The options are purchased upfront using USD Coin (USDC) held in a Blockchain.com Trading Account. Users select a target price, expiry date and amount to spend, with the premium and applicable upfront fee representing the maximum potential loss.

Options Offer Defined Risk but No Early Exit

Call options allow buyers to position for a price above a specified target at expiry, while put options allow them to position for a price below a specified level. Unlike buying an asset directly, options let traders express a view on both price direction and timing without purchasing the underlying cryptocurrency.

However, Blockchain.com's product comes with a key restriction: positions cannot be sold or closed before expiry. Users must hold each contract until settlement, meaning they cannot exit early if market conditions change. If an option expires without a payout, the buyer loses the premium and applicable upfront fee.

The product is available only to eligible users in supported jurisdictions and is subject to local requirements. Blockchain.com’s options agreement also states that the service is provided by Blockchain.com (BVI) II Limited and is not licensed or supervised under MiCA, MiFID II or another regulatory regime in the European Union or the British Virgin Islands. Users should therefore check the terms and protections applicable to their jurisdiction.

Blockchain.com Broadens Its Trading Offering

The launch builds on Blockchain.com's expansion into derivatives earlier this year, when it introduced perpetual futures trading through Hyperliquid in its non-custodial DeFi wallet. Unlike the new options contracts, perpetual futures have no fixed expiry and can involve leverage, exposing traders to different risks.

The company also offers access to prediction markets through Polymarket. Earlier in October, Blockchain.com applied for US regulatory licences to offer prediction markets and crypto derivatives, according to The Block.

The options launch is a separate product development and does not itself establish that Blockchain.com has received US approval to offer derivatives there.

A Broader Push Beyond Crypto Trading

Blockchain.com is also exploring services that connect its crypto-native user base with traditional financial markets. In September, Unlock Blockchain reported on its agreement with the New York Stock Exchange to explore access to tokenized US stocks and ETFs. That proposed offering remains subject to regulatory approvals and is distinct from the options product.

Taken together, the developments show Blockchain.com expanding across several trading categories, including spot crypto, derivatives, prediction markets and proposed tokenized securities. The options launch adds another way for eligible users to take positions on digital-asset prices, while its short expiries and inability to exit early make understanding the contract terms particularly important.