JPMorgan sees ‘high anticipation’ for CME Bitcoin options launch

Bitcoin was up 2.1% to $8,209.42 as of 11 a.m. in Hong Kong, according to Bitstamp pricing, near its highest levels since mid-November.

SINGAPORE: Institutional interest in Bitcoin-related contracts appears to be building and market measures indicate high anticipation of the launch of CME Group Inc. options on Jan. 13, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

While a consortium known as Bakkt, which includes New York Stock Exchange parent Intercontinental Exchange Inc., began offering options last month, volumes and open interest have been "rather small, ” strategists led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote in a note Jan. 10. Given the dominance of CME in trading Bitcoin futures on regulated exchanges, this new offering may change things, they said.