GCEX Launches Bitcoin and Ether Options for Institutional Clients in the UK
Crypto prime broker GCEX now offers OTC Bitcoin and Ether options exclusively to professional clients in the UK.
Crypto prime broker GCEX now offers OTC Bitcoin and Ether options exclusively to professional clients in the UK. Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at ₹77,29,360 ($81,711.00). This is an original Token Times brief based on reporting by Finance Magnates, with live market data added, as of Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:45:01 UTC.
This development expands institutional access to crypto derivatives in the UK, highlighting growing institutional interest while maintaining regulatory compliance. It also positions GCEX to compete for market share in the crypto options space.
- GCEX now offers Bitcoin and Ether options to professional clients in the UK
- Products are traded over-the-counter via FCA-authorized entity
- Retail investors excluded due to FCA crypto derivatives ban
- BTC down 1.70% in 24h as broader market shows signs of cooling
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- GCEX Launches Bitcoin and Ether Options for Institutional Clients in the UK — this brief
GCEX, a crypto prime broker, has introduced 
Bitcoin and Ether options trading for professional and institutional clients in the UK. The products are traded over-the-counter through GC Exchange Limited, the company's UK arm regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The offering is targeted at hedge funds, asset managers, and family offices that meet the FCA's criteria for professional clients. These clients can request pricing directly from GCEX's trading desk. Retail investors are excluded from participation due to the FCA's ban on selling crypto derivatives to retail customers, which has been in effect since January 2021.
This move comes as London's trading industry seeks to reclaim its position in the crypto market. GCEX aims to attract clients who prefer not to use traditional crypto exchanges for options trading. The company is entering a market that includes established players like Deribit, which was recently acquired by Coinbase for $2.9 billion.
The broader crypto market is experiencing a slight downturn, with Bitcoin's price down 1.70% in the past 24 hours. Despite this, the overall market sentiment remains in 'Greed' territory with a Fear & Greed index of 68. The total crypto market cap stands at $2.81 trillion.
The introduction of regulated crypto options in the UK could attract more institutional investors to the market. Investors should monitor how this offering impacts trading volumes and whether other brokers follow suit with similar products.
Since this brief published about 46 minutes ago, Bitcoin (BTC) has moved from ₹77,35,413.80$81,775.00 to ₹77,29,359.79$81,711.00 — -0.08%.
The chart plots BTC's price: grey is the move before this brief published, the vertical dashed line marks the moment it published, the horizontal dashed line is the price then, and the coloured area is the move since — from Token Times's market data (daily resolution; intraday detail builds over the first day). It shows what happened after the news, not that the news caused it; many factors move prices. Not financial advice.
Will Bitcoin reach $85,000 in October?
Crowd-implied probability on Polymarket, ₹11.44M 24h volume, resolves Nov 1 — snapshotted when this brief published (Oct 22 09:05 UTC). A market price reflects what traders collectively expect; it is not a forecast by Token Times and will have moved since. View the market ↗
At today's peer-to-peer rate, 1 BTC ≈ ₹8.40M (about $81,711.00), down 2.0% over 24 hours. The rupee itself trades about 8.6% above the official rate on the P2P market, so a Indian buyer's effective cost differs from the headline dollar price.
Live market data
Current prices for the asset in this story — live, source-stamped, updated every 15 minutes.
Figures and sectors in this story, checked live against on-chain aggregators · October 22, 2026.
Token Times reads these figures directly from on-chain aggregators (DeFiLlama, mempool.space) at build time — independent of what any outlet reported. Sector totals aggregate every protocol DeFiLlama tracks in that category. Values are live and will change.
GCEX Launches Bitcoin and Ether Options for Institutional Cl — questions & answers
Who can trade GCEX's Bitcoin and Ether options?
Only professional and institutional clients, not retail investors, due to FCA restrictions.
How are the options traded?
The options are traded over-the-counter through GCEX's FCA-authorized UK entity.
Why is GCEX launching these options now?
To capitalize on growing institutional interest in crypto derivatives and capture market share in the UK.
How much is 1 Bitcoin worth in rupee today?
About ₹8.40M at the live peer-to-peer (P2P) USDT rate, which is what Indians typically trade at — equivalent to roughly $81,711.00. The rupee price moves with both BTC's US-dollar price and the USDT/INR rate; use our Bitcoin in rupee page for any amount.
Has Bitcoin's price moved since this brief was published?
BTC is down 0.08% since this brief first published — trading at ₹77,29,360 ($81,711.00) now versus ₹77,35,414 ($81,775.00) at publication. Token Times re-checks this figure against CoinGecko and Binance every 15 minutes.
Which outlets reported this story?
This is an original Token Times brief that synthesises reporting from Finance Magnates. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.
Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original Token Times brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.