Cboe Global Markets

It started in 1973, when we created the

World's first listed options exchange

We continue to create markets and products that have shaped the financial world by staying committed to Product Innovation, Leading-edge Technology, and Seamless Solutions.

Over the past 50 years we've created some of the most identifiable and widely used financial products across asset classes and around the world. And we have some big plans for the next 50.

50 Years of Stories See All Stories

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50 Years of highlights 1973-2023

1973
Cboe is founded
The Chicago Board Options Exchange® (Cboe) is founded and becomes the first marketplace for trading listed options. There were only 16 stocks with listed options on the first day of trading on April 19, 1973. 911 option contracts were traded that day.
1983
Cboe launches index options
Cboe creates options based on the S&P 100 (OEX) and S&P 500 (SPX) Indices. Cboe remains the exclusive home to S&P 500 Index Option trading today with SPX, XSP and Nano options, as well as options on the S&P 500 ESG Index and certain S&P Select Sector Indices.
1985
Cboe Options Institute established
Empowering seasoned options traders and beginners alike, The Options Institute (OI) has been teaching curious minds since 1985. The OI advances its vision of increasing investor IQ by making product and markets knowledge accessible and memorable.
1993
VIX Index created
Cboe develops the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX)—a financial benchmark designed to be an up-to-the-minute market estimate of expected volatility of the S&P 500 Index. It is calculated by using the midpoint of real-time SPX option bid/ask quotes.
2004
Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE) launches
To support the development of VIX futures, Cboe launches its own futures exchange. VIX futures provide market participants with the ability to trade a liquid volatility product based on the VIX Index methodology. VIX options launched in 2006.
2005
Bats Trading Inc. is founded
After Bats launched trading, it quickly became the third-largest U.S. equities market by volume. As part of Cboe, the company operates four U.S. equities exchanges the BZX Exchange, BYX Exchange, EDGA Exchange and EDGX Exchange.
2008
Bats Europe launches
Since its launch, Bats Europe has been one of the largest truly pan-European equities exchanges by value-traded and market share and continues to promote competition and innovation in Europe's equity trading landscape as Cboe Europe today.
2010
Cboe goes public
Cboe demutualized and completed its Initial Public Offering on June 15, 2010. Local political leaders joined Cboe associates and Chairman Bill Brodsky to celebrate the momentous occasion with a confetti-blasted bellringing on the trading floor.
2015
Bats acquires Hotspot FX
Bats Global Markets acquired global FX platform Hotspot, enabling the firm to offer foreign exchange trading. Today, Cboe FX brings the powerful benefits of an independent, transparent market structure to institutional foreign exchange trading.
2015
Cboe acquires LiveVol
Cboe's acquisition of LiveVol set a path for a reimagined market data business. Since then, Cboe has made four additional acquisitions to round out its portfolio of products and services designed to help customers through every step of the trading life cycle.
2016
Bats Global Markets completes IPO
Bats completed its Initial Public Offering in 2016, listing its stock on its own BZX Equities Exchange at $19 per share—making it one of the Kansas City area’s largest IPOs at the time.
2017
Cboe and Bats come together
Cboe acquired Bats on February 28, 2017, creating a new company called Cboe Global Markets to reflect its asset class diversification across the globe.
2017
Cboe acquires Silexx
Cboe acquires multi-asset order execution management system (OEMS) Silexx. Today, Cboe Silexx provides broker- and exchange-neutral access, along with risk management capabilities, post-trade allocation, regulatory and compliance checks, order staging and basket trading.
2018
Cboe lists on BZX Exchange
Cboe transfers the primary listing of its common stock to Cboe BZX Exchange—exclusively listing its stock on its own listing venue to leverage its strengths as a leading equities operator.
2019
Cboe completes all exchange migrations
Since acquiring Bats in 2017, Cboe embarked on a multi-year exchange migration to Bats proprietary technology. In 2019, the company completed the migration of all options, equities and futures markets to one technology platform.
2020
Cboe adds Clearing capabilities in Europe
Cboe acquired pan-European clearing house EuroCCP to enhance its European equities business and support equity derivatives trading and clearing in the region. In 2022, the subsidiary rebranded to Cboe Clear and now provides clearing services to 47 venues.
2020
Cboe creates Data and Access Solutions Division
Cboe acquired FT Options, Hanweck and Trade Alert in 2020, laying the foundation for the creation of Data and Access Solutions the following year. The global division integrates Cboe’s suite of data solutions, analytics and indices with market data services offerings.
2020
Cboe acquires MATCHNow
By acquiring MATCHNow, the largest equities ATS in Canada, Cboe gained a foothold in a key global capital market, while expanding the company's geographic presence and diversifying the product capabilities of its equities business.
2020
Cboe acquires BIDS Trading
Cboe acquired BIDS Trading, a registered broker-dealer and the operator of the BIDS ATS, gaining a foothold in the off-exchange segment of the U.S. equities market. BIDS Trading operates as an independently managed trading venue separate from the Cboe U.S. securities exchanges.
2021
Cboe acquires Chi-X Asia Pacific
Through ownership of Chi-X Asia Pacific, Cboe gained entrance into two of the world's largest securities markets—Japan and Australia—to establish a significant presence in the Asia Pacific region for the first time.
2021
Cboe launches Cboe Europe Derivatives
Cboe Europe Derivatives offers futures and options based on Cboe Europe single country and pan-European indices. Contracts traded on CEDX are cleared at EuroCCP, allowing customers to benefit from efficiencies in trading and clearing.
2022
Cboe BIDS Canada Launches
Cboe launched Cboe BIDS Canada on February 1, 2022, marking its first new Canadian offering following the integration of MATCHNow. With this offering, Cboe brings BIDS' leading block trading capabilities to Canadian investors.
2022
Cboe acquires ErisX, launches Cboe Digital
Cboe acquired ErisX on May 2, 2022, entering the digital asset spot and derivatives marketplaces while emphasizing the exchange principles of transparency and regulatory compliance. Later that year, 13 firms signed on as investors in the newly rebranded Cboe Digital business.
2022
Cboe acquires NEO
By acquiring NEO, Cboe expands its North American footprint, adding a registered Canadian securities exchange with diverse products and services such as corporate listings, cash equities trading and a non-listed securities distribution platform.
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