Traders bet big on US election with $345M in options

Market Update - August 22, 2024

1. Harris policy adviser talks digital assets: Speaking at a Bloomberg roundtable event, Kamala Harris policy adviser Brian Nelson said Harris will support policies to grow crypto and other emerging technologies.
   
   
2. Spot bitcoin ETF holdings total $4.7 billion: Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley invested in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, among other ETFs.
   
   
3. Bitcoin crossed over $61,000 as volatility remains high: With the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision looming, traders are cautious about future price movements.
   
   
4. Tether has launched its USDT stablecoin on the Aptos blockchain: The move comes as Tether’s main competitor, Circle, announced that USDC will soon have tap-to-pay functionality enabled.
   
   
5. Traders have invested heavily in bitcoin options linked to the US election, with over $345 million in open interest: The majority of the interest is in call options, suggesting traders could be anticipating potential record highs in bitcoin.
   
   
6. The SEC has rejected Cboe BZX’s filings for two proposed spot Solana ETFs, citing concerns about Solana's classification as a security: The decision has halted the approval process, with VanEck and others still vying to launch Solana ETFs.
   

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