The options contract activity for BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) continues to climb. As of Tuesday, IBIT had 7,714,246 open interest (O.I.) contracts, ranking ninth among all U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, and index options, and second among stock options alone. Data shows that Bitcoin ETF options are rapidly becoming one of the most closely watched macro assets in the U.S. market. BloFin Research pointed out that if Deribit open interest is included, IBIT options' scale can rival that of VIX and SPY options, further solidifying Bitcoin’s status as a macro asset. IBIT options were launched in November 2024, providing ETF holders with risk management tools while meeting institutional investors' demand for regulated options trading. Traders widely use these options for hedging, speculation, and covered call strategies.

The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has revealed a Money Laundering network used by Russian intelligence agencies to convert cash into Crypto Assets to support the espionage organization of former Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek. The organization, consisting of six Bulgarian nationals, was involved in espionage activities and assassination plots and had previously been dismantled by the British police.

Golden Finance reports that Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas has released research findings indicating that Bitcoin is not a leading indicator for the stock market. The data shows that in the months following a fall in Bitcoin, the stock market still exhibits positive performance 62% of the time. Balchunas also noted that the S&P 500 index ($SPY) performs strongly, maintaining stability even in the months when both Bitcoin and stocks are falling.