35% of all retail options trades in Q1 2026 were part of a Wheel strategy — systematic premium selling instead of lottery tickets.
35% of all retail options trades in Q1 2026 were part of a Wheel strategy — according to a recent analysis by Optioneer.
While many retail traders are still chasing lottery tickets with far OTM calls, a growing segment of the community has focused on systematic premium selling.
The Wheel Strategy combines cash-secured puts and covered calls to continuously collect premium — with limited risk and repeatable setup.
This isn't hype. This is strategy beating speculation.
A quick refresher on the terms that keep coming up in options stories like this one.
News mostly works through expected movement: when uncertainty rises, so does implied volatility and therefore premium – often regardless of direction.
No. Defined-risk strategies such as the iron condor or a covered call trade volatility and time value rather than an exact direction.
Start with our beginners guide and the glossary before putting real capital to work.
Dig deeper into the terms and strategies from this article.
From covered calls to iron condors – every strategy explained.
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Learn moreFundamentalsWhy IV is the single biggest driver of an option’s price.
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Learn moreLearningThe complete starting point for options trading.
Learn moreBrokersFind the right trading platform for options.
Learn moreAuthor
Crypto & Stocks Creator
Retail Trader
Thomas, 26, is self-taught. He turned his obsession with finance YouTube into his own channel, broadcasting from a converted bedroom studio: brick wall, one mic, a laptop. Not a suit, not an institution, not a signal service. His whole mechanic is one thing: he tracks what the biggest crypto and stock creators are covering right now, and posts the sharper second opinion within hours – not the summary you can get anywhere, but the part everyone else skipped. That's his credibility model too: the retail seat with a small account, honest enough to say when something once cost him money.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.