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Bitget Launches US Stock Options, First Major Crypto Exchange to Offer the Product

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Bitget has become the first major crypto exchange to offer US stock options trading, expanding its Stock+ platform beyond tokenised equities and pre-IPO access into listed derivatives. The exchange announced the launch on July 3, positioning itself ahead of rivals like Binance and OKX, which have added tokenised stock products but have not moved into options.

What the New Product Offers

The initial rollout covers single-leg long call and long put options on US-listed stocks. A call option lets a trader take a bullish position on a stock’s price, while a put option allows a bearish bet or a hedge against existing holdings. For buyers, risk is capped at the premium paid, though contracts can expire worthless if the anticipated price move does not happen.

Bitget has deliberately kept the launch simple, limiting functionality to single-leg buying while it builds out supporting infrastructure. Multi-leg strategies such as spreads and straddles are planned for later stages of the rollout.

To promote the launch, eligible users who complete their first US stock options trade can receive $15 worth of NVIDIA stock, subject to campaign terms and regional availability.

How Bitget Compares to Other Exchanges

Bitget is not the only exchange pushing into US equities. Robinhood introduced tokenised US stocks and ETFs for European users in 2025, and Kraken offers similar tokenised exposure through its xStocks product. MEXC also launched a product called RealStocks in 2026, allowing users to buy actual shares in US-listed companies and collect dividends while settling trades in USDT.

What sets Bitget apart, at least for now, is that it is the only major exchange combining direct crypto trading with a listed options product on US equities. That distinction matters because options are already tightly regulated instruments in traditional markets, and bringing them onto a crypto exchange raises added questions around eligibility checks, disclosures, and jurisdictional restrictions.

What to Watch Next

Bitget’s options launch reflects a broader pattern among crypto exchanges positioning themselves as universal trading venues rather than platforms limited to digital assets. Whether this translates into meaningful trading activity from crypto-native users and whether regulatory frameworks in major markets keep pace with these product expansions will shape how far the model can scale. The exchange’s next moves, particularly around multi-leg options strategies, will likely determine how seriously it can compete with established Wall Street derivatives platforms.

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