Binance Democratizes Bitcoin Options: Now Every Trader Can Write Contracts Like the Pros
Wall Street’s playground just got a crypto makeover. Binance—the exchange that never sleeps—is tearing down the velvet rope around Bitcoin options writing. No more VIP lists or six-figure minimums. Your grandma’s trading account now has the same tools as hedge funds (though we don’t recommend letting her use them).
Why this matters: Options writing = selling contracts for premium income. It’s the market maker’s game—until today. Binance’s move effectively turns every retail trader into a mini-derivatives desk. Cue the ‘power to the people’ tweets.
The fine print: This isn’t free money. Writing options means unlimited downside risk if BTC moons (or tanks) unexpectedly. But hey—at least the 24/7 liquidations will distract you from your fiat currency’s inflation problems.
Last thought: The real winners? Binance’s risk engine and their ever-growing stack of liquidated collateral. Some things never change in finance—even in DeFi drag.
Binance is rolling out a long-awaited feature for everyone: the ability to write (sell) Bitcoin options. It’s a clear nod to growing interest among everyday traders who want more than just “buy low, sell high” or straightforward futures bets.
Here’s the backstory: in June 2020, the global bitcoin options market did about $4.1 billion in volume. Five years later, in June 2025, that figure exploded to nearly $139 billion, a mind-blowing 3,200% leap. Clearly, people want tools that let them hedge risk, earn some income up front, or simply play more nuanced strategies when Bitcoin’s price rollercoaster kicks in.
“Users around the world utilize Binance’s derivatives products for liquidity and hedging at highly-competitive prices and our Bitcoin options products will meet the growing retail demand for more and better trading tools,” said Jeff Li, VP of Product at Binance. “As with traditional markets, accelerating crypto adoption will increase demand for more sophisticated liquidity tools and we are committed to building a fuller suite of derivative products to support our users.”
Until now, writing options on Binance have been largely reserved for professionals or institutions. But opening it to all users means anyone with a verified account can now:
- Collect premiums by selling call or put options
- Manage downside—for example, you could sell puts if you’re comfortable buying Bitcoin at a lower price
- Enhance yield on your USDT holdings by taking on the obligation to deliver BTC at a future strike
Of course, with greater power comes greater responsibility. Binance has tightened risk controls: you’ll need to post margin in USDT that covers your potential obligation, and every writer must pass a quick suitability quiz before diving in.
To sweeten the deal, Binance is slashing Maker and taker fees by 20% on all newly listed Bitcoin options contracts, no end date announced yet, but it’s a nice perk to test the waters. And if you’re a high-volume or institutional trader, there’s an “Enhanced Program” waiting for you, with even lower fees, easier qualification thresholds, and a longer onboarding grace period.
Quick Glance at the Mechanics
- Collateral & Settlement: USDT
- Contract Size: 1 BTC
- Index: Binance BTCUSDT Spot
- Strikes: Deltas from ±0.05 up to ±0.95
- Tick Size: 5
- Transaction fee rate: 0.03%
- Exercise fee rate: 0.015%
And Binance options don’t all expire together. Binance offers daily (08:00 UTC each day), weekly (Fridays at 08:00 UTC), monthly (last Friday of each month), and quarterly (last Friday of each quarter) expiries.
All told, opening options writing to everyone is a big step in turning crypto trading into a more mature, versatile market. If you’ve ever wanted to play a more advanced game with your Bitcoin, beyond just “go long” or “short,” now’s your chance to give it a shot.
