# Options Introduction | European, USDC‑Settled Crypto Options Learn about European style, USDC cash-settled crypto options for Bitcoin, Ethereum and 80 altcoin markets offered on PowerTrade. ### PowerTrade Crypto Options: Trade BTC, ETH & 80+ Altcoins PowerTrade is the leading platform for **European-style, USDC cash-settled crypto options**, offering Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and over **80 altcoin options markets**. Whether you want to hedge, speculate, or build advanced strategies, PowerTrade provides the most flexible and capital-efficient tools in the crypto derivatives market. #### What Are Crypto Options? Crypto options are financial derivatives that give traders the **right, but not the obligation**, to buy or sell an underlying cryptocurrency at a fixed price (the *strike price*) on or before a specific date. Unlike spot trading or perpetual futures, options allow you to limit your downside while keeping unlimited upside potential. On PowerTrade, all options are **European-style** and **settled in USDC**, giving you direct, transparent exposure to crypto price movements without holding the underlying asset. #### Premiums The **premium** is the cost you pay to buy an option. It depends on factors like: * Strike price * Time to expiration * Current market price of the underlying crypto * Market volatility On PowerTrade, all option premiums are **denominated in USDC**, making them simple and transparent. *** #### Call Options A **call option** gives the buyer the right (not the obligation) to **buy** the cryptocurrency at the strike price. * Traders buy calls when they expect the crypto price to **rise**. * Profit potential is unlimited if the price moves above the strike price. **Example:** A trader buys a BTC call option with a $50,000 strike price. If BTC rises to $55,000 before expiry, the trader can buy at $50,000 and capture the $5,000 difference (minus the premium). *** #### Put Options A **put option** gives the buyer the right (not the obligation) to **sell** the cryptocurrency at the strike price. * Traders buy puts when they expect the crypto price to **fall**. * Useful for hedging against downside risk. **Example:** A trader buys an ETH put option with a $3,000 strike price. If ETH drops to $2,500, the trader can sell at $3,000, profiting $500 (minus the premium). *** #### European Style Options PowerTrade offers **European-style options**, which can only be exercised at the expiration date. This structure: * Prevents early exercise risk * Simplifies strategy planning * Keeps the focus on price moves up to expiry *** #### USDC Cash-Settled Options All PowerTrade options are **cash-settled in USDC**: * No need to hold BTC, ETH, or altcoins directly * Settlement in stable USDC makes it easy to manage profits and losses * Reduces custody risk compared to physically settled options *** #### Why Trade Options on PowerTrade? * ✅ 80+ **altcoin options markets** (the most in crypto) * ✅ Tight pricing & deep liquidity * ✅ Risk-defined strategies with capped downside * ✅ Flexible expirations — daily to 3 months forward * ✅ Simple settlement in **USDC** PowerTrade gives you the ultimate platform to **trade, hedge, and profit from volatility** in the crypto markets. *** #### Get Started Today 📩 Email Support: \ 💬 Telegram 24/7 Desk: 👉 Start Trading Options on [PowerTrade](#powertrade-crypto-options-trade-btc-eth-and-80-altcoins) or [PowerDEX](https://dex.power.trade) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://support.power.trade/trading/options/options-introduction.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.