US options markets reached a historic milestone on Thursday as put option trading volume on the CBOE surged to a record 11.23 million contracts. This session surpassed the previous all-time high of 10.22 million contracts set on April 4, 2025.
The record-breaking volume represents an influx of over 1 million additional contracts compared to the prior peak. This surge in bearish activity has significantly elevated the market's 20-day moving average for put options.