What are the biggest opportunities, risks, and regulatory battles shaping the options industry today? At the Options Industry Conference 2026, Mark Longo sits down with Jim Toes, President & CEO of the Security Traders Association (STA), for a wide-ranging discussion on the hottest topics in the derivatives world. From the explosive growth of single-name 0DTE options and FLEX products to prediction markets, event contracts, pattern day trader reforms, and the push toward 24-hour trading, Jim shares his perspective on where the industry is headed next. They also discuss the changing regulatory environment under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the challenges of market structure reform, and why the future of options trading may look very different than it does today. In This Episode: The rollout of single-name 0DTE options FLEX options and the rise of outcome ETFs Why options volume continues to surge Pattern Day Trader rule reform Prediction markets vs. traditional derivatives The push toward 24-hour options trading SEC regulation and market structure What concerns industry leaders most about the future

Guest: Greg Stevens, VP of Options Strategy - Fidelity Topics: Should options trade 24/7? How are Fidelity's customers using the new 0DTE equity options? Any surprises? What is Fidelity doing in the prediction markets? Are they going to follow Robin Hood's lead and buy an exchange? How does Fidelity approach options education? What cool new bells and whistles is Fidelity rolling out for options traders? and much more...

The vol market might be caught in a midsummer lull between truncated holiday weeks, but underneath the surface, there is plenty of drama to slice and dice. In this episode, host Mark Longo welcomes back "Dr. Vix" Russell Rhoads (Indiana University) and Bill Luby (Luby Assessment Management) to dissect a market that seems to be trapped in an anticipatory holding pattern. The guys dive deep into: The Volatility Review: A look at a celebratory but hair-trigger market as VIX cash flirts with the 19 handle. The Geopolitical Risk Horizon: Why the market chose to look right past recent Middle East turmoil and what a sub-$70 crude environment means for tech and macro hedging. The AI CapEx Arms Race: Tech earnings showdowns, Micron's blockbuster numbers, and why Microsoft's upcoming year-end earnings report could be the ultimate summer volatility catalyst. "Someone has to flinch" on tech spending—who will it be? Deep-in-the-Money VIX Puts: Analyzing the massive rise in ultra-deep VIX put spreads. Is it a smart margin play, or just a fun deployment of "entertainment capital"? Russell's Weekly Rundown: Breaking down the wild weekly options flows, short call spread ouchies, and drawing lines in the sand at the 17 and 19 strikes. Crystal Ball: The crew looks ahead past the America 250 holiday to make their two-week volatility predictions.

The commodity roller coaster kept traders busy this week as crude oil gave back much of its recent geopolitical premium, silver suffered another sharp selloff, and Nasdaq futures options lit up the tape following a volatile week for equities. On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo breaks down the biggest movers across the futures options landscape, including: Why silver volatility remains elevated despite a brutal correction Massive activity in WTI crude oil 65 puts as traders reposition Nasdaq 100 futures options reacting to earnings, inflation data and heavy market swings The biggest movers on the light side and dark side across CME markets Volatility, skew and unusual options activity across metals, energy and equity indexes What traders were buying and selling ahead of the America 250 holiday week

In this episode, host Mark Longo breaks down a wild, red-dominated trading session for Thursday, June 25, 2026, as a massive tech sell-off sweeps through the major indices. First, we dive into today's featured scan from TheHotOptionsReport.com: the Symbol Pump scan, highlighting massive volume surges in KCAI, MIMI, and FERA. Then, we kick off our daily Top 10 options volume countdown, where we look at the exact strikes, contract volume, and option premiums lighting up the tape. Inside this episode: SpaceX (#10): Falling off its usual #3 spot and testing the critical $150 IPO print. Is the 150 put a coin flip? Palantir (#8) & MicroStrategy (#7): Tech names get shellacked. Palantir hits multi-month lows, while Strategy slides nearly 30% over the past week. The Tech Carnage (#6 & #5): Amazon and Microsoft erase post-Micron optimism with heavy selling. Micron (#4): A wild post-earnings ride. After opening strong and dropping 100 handles, it claws back to finish up 165 handles at $1213.56. We look at the massive action on the 1300 calls. Apple (#2) & Nvidia (#1): Apple drops over 6% after pricing anxieties hit The Street, while Nvidia slides below par ($200) to capture the top volume spot with 3.17 million contracts.

host Mark Longo is joined by Henry Schwartz from Cboe and Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management to break down the wildest trends shaking up the options market as we wrap up the first half of 2026. The crew dives headfirst into the massive tech market crosscurrents following Micron's blockbuster earnings release. Is the tech wreck fading, or are single-name equity options setting up for a major fade? Plus, the team analyzes a surprising spike in the VIX driven entirely by SPX upside FOMO positioning. In this episode's Trading Block and Odd Block segments, the panel uncovers questionable, high-volume flow in some very unusual names: Bumble (BMBL): Checking back in on the land of ladies looking for love. Why are traders suddenly buying up the August $3 calls on this beaten-down name? Klarna (KLAR): A massive institutional call-selling sweep hits this buy-now-pay-later fintech giant. Is it delta hedging or a short-term volatility play? Chime Financial (CHYM): A deep look into a massive, wide-collar strategy using low-delta puts and calls ahead of August earnings. The Silver Saga: Mike Tosaw addresses the live chat backlash after hesitating to pull the trigger on his famous $40 SLV put claim. Around the Block: The team previews what to expect from market volume, oil prices, and crypto/MSTR volatility heading into the upcoming America 250 holiday week.

What happens when paper trading meets the real world? On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo is joined by Dan Passarelli (Market Taker Mentoring) and Matt Amberson (ORATS) to tackle one of the biggest challenges for premium sellers: why a single losing iron condor can wipe out weeks of steady gains. The discussion covers practical risk management techniques for credit spreads, when to take profits, how to manage losing trades, and why backtesting is just as important as paper trading. The panel also dives into the explosive launch of SPCX (SpaceX) options, including record-breaking volume, sky-high implied volatility, and why experienced traders approached the frenzy very differently. Finally, the crew answers listener questions about zero-DTE options, VIX term structure, calendar spreads, and whether the options market has fundamentally changed over the past few years. In this episode you'll learn: Why paper trading can create unrealistic expectations Managing iron condors before one trade wipes out multiple winners Profit-taking vs. stop-loss rules for credit spreads How backtesting can improve trading discipline What made the SPCX options launch historic Trading ultra-high implied volatility Have 0DTE options changed options trading forever? Managing calendar spreads during volatility spikes Why you still can't trade spot VIX

On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down another action-packed trading session featuring a surprise meme-stock resurgence, a major post-earnings move from Micron, continued pressure in SpaceX, and another massive day of options activity from the market's biggest names. This episode includes: • NVIDIA tops the options leaderboard once again • Tesla, Amazon and Apple dominate today's active options • SpaceX continues its sharp pullback after its record-setting options debut • Strategy (MSTR) falls back below the $100 level • Wendy's crashes the Top 12 during an unexpected meme-stock rally • GameStop, SoFi and Microsoft stay active • Micron reports earnings after the close and immediately erupts higher in after-hours trading • Today's standout Bigger Wing Scan featuring GameStop, Hertz and UiPath Plus, Mark explains what today's hottest options trades may have been signaling—and where traders could be watching next. For even more unusual options activity and institutional order flow, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

It was a brutal week across many of the most popular futures markets. On this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo breaks down a massive selloff that hammered precious metals, cryptocurrencies, and other key futures products. Silver led the losers, plunging nearly 20% on the week, while Bitcoin and Ether continued their painful year-to-date declines. Meanwhile, energy markets remained volatile as traders digested developments in the Middle East and watched fuel prices retreat from recent highs. Inside this episode: Silver's stunning collapse and why traders are watching the July 40 puts Bitcoin and Ether continue their 2026 bloodletting Platinum and palladium join the precious metals selloff Cocoa stages a surprising comeback VIX futures catch a bid The year's biggest winners and losers across the futures landscape Record activity in Nasdaq Micro futures RBOB gasoline and heating oil pull back from their recent highs What futures traders should be watching next

The markets turned blood red today, but the options tape is still lighting up! Join Mark Longo as he breaks down a macro-focused session where single-name volume took a slight breather, but the underlying volatility remained fast and furious. We head over to TheHotOptionsReport.com to unpack today's featured 1K Spread scan, flagging 71 massive non-index spreads with Netflix, XLF, and IWM leading the charge. Then, we countdown the top 10 most active underlying equities of the day, including: Palantir (#10) & Intel (#8): Checking out aggressive short-term call selling after a rough session. Microsoft (#9) & Amazon (#5): The tech giants bucking the red trend to post impressive rallies. Micron (#6): Taking a massive 13% drubbing ahead of earnings. Are the $1100 calls a buy or sell? SpaceX (#3): The rollercoaster continues! We break down the newly added weekly options and the heavy premium on the Friday $160 calls. Tesla (#2) & NVIDIA (#1): Tesla sheds nearly 6%, while NVIDIA pins exactly at the $200.00 par line. Want to run your own unusual activity scans? Head over to TheHotOptionsReport.com to build your own watchlists and track the tape.

Event contracts and digital asset derivatives are emerging under CFTC oversight, while listed options and ETFs remain SEC-regulated. Meanwhile, some platforms are offering both. This panel will examine: •    The SEC and CFTC frameworks and their implications for innovation. •    Whether event contracts should be viewed as gaming, financial hedging, or a hybrid. •    How crypto-linked options and ETFs fit into the regulatory patchwork. •    What market participants need to prepare for as regulatory convergence (or conflict) plays out. Moderator: The Honorable Dawn D. Stump, Principal, Stump Strategic Panelists: JJ Kinahan, Senior Vice President, Head of Retail Expansion and Alternative Investment Products, Cboe Global Markets Ryan Jachym, Global Head of Markets Policy in the Office of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Goldman Sachs Summer Mersinger, Chief Executive Officer, Blockchain Association Thomas Plummer, Prediction Markets, Jump Trading This panel is proudly sponsored by State Street Investment Management

Institutions are increasingly using derivative-based ETFs and FLEX Options as complementary tools to achieve precise risk-return outcomes. This panel will explore how products such as buffer and target outcome ETFs, hedged equity structures, and single-name/high-payout ETFs are reshaping institutional allocation models — and how FLEX Options provide the customization needed to support these strategies. Moderator: Sara Levin, Managing Director, ETF and Derivative Trading, WallachBeth Capital Panelists: Sean Truett, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Box Options Market LLC Geoff Gaiss, Vice President Global Derivatives, TRAFiX Burke Ashenden, Head of Capital Markets & Institutional Strategy, Innovator James Maund, Head of Capital Markets, Krane Shares This panel is proudly sponsored by BofA Securities.  

On this episode, Mark Longo is joined by Bill Ulivieri of Cenacle Capital Management to break down the latest action across Bitcoin, IBIT, and the wider crypto derivatives space. The guys dive deep into MicroStrategy (MSTR), discussing its current 26% discount to net asset value and why Bill is looking to sell the $100 par puts "with reckless abandon." They also explore the Altcoin Universe—including the growing volume in PER (Hyperliquid), the latest on Circle, and a look at decentralized AI tokens like BitSensor (TAO)—before tackling a listener question on major regional transaction regulations that could ripple across the broader digital asset landscape. In this episode, we break down: Bitcoin & iBit Breakdown: Navigating the dip to $62K, current iBit options flow, and the anticipation of a July 4th Clarity Act pop. The MSTR Volatility Monster: Why MSTR options are trading at nearly 2x the volatility of iBit, and how to trade the current net asset value (NAV) discount. Altcoin Universe: Deep dives into ETH futures, BMNR earnings, Circle time-spreads, and the rise of decentralized AI tokens like BitSensor (TAO). Crypto Questions: Breaking down new regional digital asset transaction acts, what they mean for self-custody wallets, and the upcoming industry pushback against surprise transaction fees.

Host Mark Longo breaks down a wild, high-volume day across the options tape where tech took a beating, chip stocks went wild, and a massive names suffered jaw-dropping premium swings. First, we kick the tires on today's Lucky Seven Scan at TheHotOptionsReport.com , highlighting unusual volume spikes in Arcosa Inc. (ACA), Absci Corp (ABSI), and Acumen Pharmaceuticals (ABOS). Then, we dive into the top 10 most active options chains of the day: SMCI (#10): Rallies over 15% to $35.46. Did buyers of the weekly $40 calls get a banger day? Intel (#9): Up nearly $7 to $140.94. Paper leans heavy into selling the weekly $160 covered calls. Big Tech Sell-Offs (#8 - #4): Breaking down the overriding and sweat equity in Netflix (NFLX), Microsoft (MSFT)—which broke the $370 strike in both directions—Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), and Amazon (AMZN). SpaceX (#3): A brutal 16.5% downward slide ($30.40 drop) to close at $154.60. Is a 126 Vol implied volatility too cheap for the June weekly $180 calls? Nvidia (#2): A relatively light 2.92 million contracts as NVDA slides to $208.65, making the zero-day-to-expiration (0DTE) $215 calls look like a slam-dunk sell. Tesla (#1): TSLA takes the crown, rallying to $405.05. We look at the absolute wild price action on the 0DTE $410 calls that hit an intraday high of $415. Check out the data yourself: Head over to TheHotOptionsReport.com for pre-baked unusual options scans.

On today's episode, host Mark Longo and the all-star panel break down a fascinating "ho-hum" macro day that is hiding massive, wild swings under the surface of individual single-name equities. First, the crew tests their wits with an official geography question from a 1980s Trivial Pursuit deck that leaves everyone questioning the data. Then, Mike Tosaw and Andrew Giovinazzi dive deep into the trading floor to look at the massive rotation into small caps (IWM), unusual vertical action in September VIX options, and why the tech giants (MSFT, GOOGL, AMZN) are shedding serious weight from their recent all-time highs while AI chip darlings like SanDisk (WDC) and Micron (MU) steal all the oxygen in the room. On the Trading Block & Odd Block: SpaceX Tears: Andrew's mama, Mama Lobster, is in mourning as SpaceX plunges roughly 11% in a single session. Is the air coming out of the IPO bubble, or is the premium vastly underpriced for single-leg buyers? Biotech Calls (ERAS): Heavy upside call buying hits the October 20 lines for Erasca Inc. Andrew breaks down why this early-stage oncology player is seeing big institutional accumulation. Pizza Puts (PZZA): Massive volume hits the August 25 puts for Papa John's. The panel breaks down why the entire restaurant and fast-food sector is getting squeezed eight ways from Sunday. Fiserv (FI): The continuation of the massive July 40 put saga. Is paper finally getting assigned on this "stair-step" downward trend? The Strategy Block: Mike Tosaw breaks his own golden rule of spreading to discuss why the extreme volatility and massive price extensions in SpaceX make a rare, compelling case for buying single-leg options instead of spreads.

By the Power of Grayskull, we're finally doing it! In this special spoiler-filled episode, Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian, and Uncle Mike Tosaw journey back to Eternia to break down the new Masters of the Universe movie. From Skeletor, Trap Jaw, Battle Cat, and Man-At-Arms to Orko, She-Ra, and the future of the franchise, the gang dives deep into everything they loved, what surprised them, and where the story could go next. Did the filmmakers finally deliver the He-Man movie fans have been waiting nearly 40 years to see? How does it compare to the infamous 1987 Dolph Lundgren film? What worked, what didn't, and what characters need to appear in the sequel? Grab your Power Sword and join us for the ultimate Masters of the Universe discussion. In This Episode: First impressions of the new Masters of the Universe film Skeletor, Trap Jaw, Battle Cat and Beast Man breakdown The return of Eternia and Castle Grayskull Favorite characters and standout scenes Orko, She-Ra and the post-credit reveals What we want from a potential sequel Why this movie resonated with longtime He-Man fans ⚠️ Full spoilers throughout this episode.

This week on This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo welcomes first-time guest Jim Iurio, CEO of JI Financial Strategies, for a wide-ranging discussion covering the biggest movers and opportunities across the futures options landscape. Crude oil volatility has collapsed as geopolitical fears ease, gold traders are eyeing potential downside targets, the Nasdaq and Russell 2000 continue to show surprising strength, and SpaceX remains the talk of the trading world. Jim shares his technical outlook on energy, metals, equities and crypto while offering a variety of options strategies for traders looking to navigate today's markets. In this episode: • Crude oil's dramatic reversal and what comes next • Why Jim believes crude could ultimately trade much lower • Gold's surprising weakness during geopolitical turmoil • Put fly opportunities in gold and silver • Nat gas setups and key technical levels • Nasdaq and Russell 2000 outlooks • Liquidity, momentum and the current equity rally • The SpaceX options phenomenon and IPO enthusiasm • Bitcoin, Ethereum and crypto market analysis • Movers & Shakers across energy, metals and equity indexes

On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down another record-setting day in SpaceX (SPCX) options trading, with the newly listed name blasting past its already historic debut volume. Was the wild ride in SpaceX enough to dethrone NVIDIA from the top of the volume leaderboard? You'll also get the latest on: • NVIDIA once again claiming the top spot in options volume • Tesla and SpaceX combining for nearly 6 million contracts • Massive activity in Apple, Intel, Amazon and Micron • Palantir, Microsoft and Strategy rounding out the Top 10 • The hottest contracts, biggest trades and key levels from the day • A look at the Million Plus Scan from QuikOptions, highlighting the largest premium trades on the tape For more data and analysis, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

On this truncated holiday edition of The Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by panelists Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry Schwartz of Cboe to break down a wild, high-volume week in the options market. The crew dives deep into the absolute blockbuster debut of SpaceX options, putting up a staggering 1.8 million contracts on day one—roughly 5X the historic 2012 Meta IPO record. The panel adjusts those numbers for "options inflation" compared to 2012's average daily volume (ADV) and analyzes the extreme upside skew, crashing implied volatility, and how retail traders are playing the action. Plus, Mike Tosaw gives his take on the new Fed chair's shift in guidance policy and details why he's keeping an eye on silver (SLV) put options. Finally, the team breaks down unusual activity in Butterfly Network (BFLY), Allot Limited (ALLT), and QuantumScape (QS).

Is the 0DTE premium-selling boom finally running out of steam? Or are premium sellers still holding the winning hand? In this highly anticipated follow-up to one of our most popular episodes, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli revisit the question: Should you stop selling 0DTE options? This time, they're armed with something they didn't have before—real intraday backtesting data. Joining the program is Matt Amberson, Founder of ORATS, who brings years of options analytics expertise and a treasure trove of intraday options data to the discussion. Together they dive deep into: The results of extensive 0DTE SPX backtesting Why short strangles continue to outperform in many market environments The surprising impact of trade timing on 0DTE profitability Why selling premium near the open may be far superior to waiting until midday The risks and rewards of short strangles versus iron condors Double calendars and other alternatives for traders seeking defined risk How ORATS built one-minute options data and intraday backtesting tools Whether the new generation of single-name 0DTE options (NVDA, TSLA, MSFT and more) changes the game