Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has officially expanded its derivatives suite by opening ether (ETH) options writing to all eligible users. This move, announced on December 22, 2025, marks a significant shift in the exchange’s strategy to democratize advanced financial tools that were previously reserved for professional and institutional traders. By allowing retail users to “write” or sell options, Binance is positioning the platform as a primary venue for investors seeking to generate passive-like income through option premiums, CoinDesk said in a report.
The new feature allows users to take the role of the option seller, effectively collecting an upfront premium from buyers in exchange for taking on the risk of the asset’s price movements. This strategy, common on institutional platforms like Deribit, enables traders to monetize their existing ETH holdings by selling “covered calls” or to earn income by selling “puts” if they are willing to buy the asset at a lower price. To ensure responsible participation, Binance has implemented a mandatory suitability assessment, requiring users to demonstrate an understanding of the risks associated with derivatives before they can access the writing feature.
This expansion comes amid a broader surge in institutional appetite for crypto derivatives. Earlier this year, the market saw a pivotal shift when BlackRock’s IBIT options volume surpassed native BTC options on major crypto exchanges, signaling that traditional financial structures are increasingly integrating with digital assets. Binance’s upgrade is a direct response to this trend, aiming to capture a larger share of the retail and institutional market by offering a more robust and faster trading infrastructure.
To support the rollout, Binance has overhauled its options platform with significant technical improvements designed for high-frequency trading. The revamped ecosystem features higher API throughput and lower latency, which are critical for maintaining execution speed during periods of high market volatility. Additionally, the exchange has introduced advanced WebSocket streams to provide deeper market data and has expanded available strike prices to offer traders more precision in their hedging and speculative strategies.
To further incentivize liquidity in the newly opened markets, Binance is offering a 20% discount on trading fees for VIP users across its BTC, ETH, BNB, and SOL contracts.
