Why Are Standardized Options Contracts More Liquid than Customized OTC Options?

Standardized options are listed on exchanges, have fixed terms, and are cleared by a CCP, which fosters broad market participation. Their fungibility allows any buyer to sell to any seller easily.

OTC options, being bespoke, require finding a specific counterparty willing to take the exact opposite position, severely limiting the pool of potential traders and reducing liquidity.

How Does the ‘Open Outcry’ System Historically Relate to Options Contract Standardization?
What Is the Difference between a Centrally Cleared and an Over-The-Counter (OTC) Crypto Derivative?
What Is a ‘Barrier Option,’ and Why Is It Typically an OTC Product?
What Is the Difference between an OTC Derivative and an Exchange-Traded Derivative?
What Is the Fundamental Difference between Fungible and Non-Fungible Tokens in a Financial Context?
What Is the Fundamental Difference between Fungible and Non-Fungible Token Standards?
What Is the Primary Difference between Fungible and Non-Fungible Tokens?
How Does the Institutional Use of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Options Differ from Exchange-Traded Options?

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