Wide World of Options: The New Frontier: Crypto, Prediction Markets, and the Regulators Watching It All

Options trading is full of myths that keep smart investors on the sidelines — or worse, lead them to avoidable mistakes. In this episode of Wide World of Options, host Mark Benzaquen sits down with Dan Passarelli, founder of Market Taker Mentoring, to separate fact from fiction. From misconceptions about risk and complexity to the myths that even experienced traders still believe, Dan breaks down what's really going on beneath the surface of options trading — and what investors should understand about how options really work.

As exchanges and regulators explore extended and round-the-clock trading, what are the practical and regulatory implications? Aniceto (Andy) Solares of OCC's Regulatory Team joins host, Mark Benzaquen, to unpack the push toward near-continuous markets, from Capitol Hill's perspective to what it could mean for investors.

Host Mark Benzaquen sits down with Sara Levin, Managing Director, ETF and Derivative Trading at WallachBeth Capital, for her very first podcast appearance. Fresh off moderating a panel at the Options Industry Conference, Sara breaks down the rapid growth of derivative ETFs — from buffer and defined outcome strategies to FLEX options and box ETFs. She explains how the ETF wrapper has made sophisticated derivatives accessible to both retail and institutional investors, why education remains essential as these worlds collide, and what it really means to take a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer to the market.

In this episode, host Mark Benzaquen sits down with Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist at Interactive Brokers, to explore the evolution of volatility from a simple pricing input to a full-fledged asset class. Steve breaks down the VIX, pushes back on the "fear gauge" label, and shares how investors at every level are using volatility-linked products to hedge risk and capture opportunity — before the conversation takes a lighter turn on life, karaoke, and loving what you do.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of options trading but what does that actually mean? In this episode of Wide World of Options, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Financial AI founder and CEO, Pouya Taahol, as he breaks down how investors are using machine learning, predictive analytics, and automation, and explores the questions every trader should be asking. Whether you're new to options or a seasoned investor, this is your guide to understanding one of the biggest shifts happening in financial markets today.