Notice2026-00806

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq GEMX, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 5, Sections 5 and 7

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Published
January 16, 2026

Issuing agencies

Securities and Exchange Commission

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2249-2250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00806]



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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-104593; File No. SR-GEMX-2026-01]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq GEMX, LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 5, 
Sections 5 and 7

January 13, 2026.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on January 6, 2026, Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (``GEMX'' or ``Exchange'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') 
the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, 
which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change 
from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 5 (Entry and 
Display of Orders); and Options 3, Section 7 (Types of Orders and Order 
and Quote Protocols).
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at <a href="https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/gemx/rulefilings">https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/gemx/rulefilings</a>, 
and at the principal office of the Exchange.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 5 (Entry and 
Display of Orders) and Options 3, Section 7 (Types of Orders and Order 
and Quote Protocols). Each rule change will be described below.
Options 3, Section 5
    The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 5, Entry and 
Display of Orders, to align the rule text at Options 3, Section 5(c) 
with Nasdaq Phlx LLC (``Phlx'') Options 3, Section 5(c). Today, GEMX 
Options 3, Section 5(c) states,

    The System automatically executes eligible orders using the 
Exchange's displayed best bid and offer (``BBO'') or the Exchange's 
non-displayed order book (``internal BBO'') if the best bid and/or 
offer on the Exchange has been re-priced pursuant to subsection (d) 
below and Options 3, Section 4(b)(6) above.

    At this time, the Exchange proposes to state,

    The System automatically executes eligible orders using the 
Exchange's displayed best bid and offer (``BBO'') or the Exchange's 
non-displayed order book (``internal BBO'') if there are non-
displayed orders on the order book or the best bid and/or offer on 
the Exchange has been re-priced pursuant to subsection (d) below and 
Options 3, Section 4(b)(6) above.

    The amendment is non-substantive because, today, a non-displayed 
order on the order book will be executed at the best price on the 
Exchange whether that best price is displayed or non-displayed.
Options 3, Section 7
    The Exchange proposes to amend the language of GEMX Supplementary 
.03 to Options 3, Section 7 to align with Phlx Supplementary .03 to 
Options 3, Section 7. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend the 
``Financial Information eXchange'' or ``FIX'' at Supplementary .03(a) 
to Options 3, Section 7 to align the rule text with Phlx Supplementary 
.03(a) to Options 3, Section 7 and note that the interface allows 
Members and their Sponsored Customers to connect, send, and receive 
messages related to orders and auction orders and responses to and from 
the Exchange. This amendment reflects current System operation.
    Similarly, the Exchange proposes to amend the ``Ouch to Trade 
Options'' or ``OTTO'' at Supplementary .03(b) to Options 3, Section 7 
to align the rule text with Phlx Supplementary .03(b) to Options 3, 
Section 7 and note that the interface allows Members and their 
Sponsored Customers to connect, send, and receive messages related to 
orders, auction orders, and auction responses to and from the Exchange. 
This amendment reflects current System operation.
    Finally, the Exchange proposes to amend the ``Specialized Quote 
Feed'' or ``SQF'' at Supplementary .03(c) to Options 3, Section 7 to 
align the rule text with Phlx Supplementary .03(c) to Options 3, 
Section 7 and note that the interface allows Market Makers to connect, 
send, and receive messages related to quotes, Immediate-or-Cancel 
Orders, and auction responses to and from the Exchange. This amendment 
reflects current System operation.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\3\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\4\ in particular, in that it 
is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system, and, in general to protect 
investors and the public interest.
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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Options 3, Section 5
    The Exchange's proposal to note that the System automatically 
executes eligible orders using the Exchange's displayed best bid and 
offer (``BBO'') or the Exchange's non-displayed order book (``internal 
BBO'') if there are non-displayed orders on the order book or the best 
bid and/or offer on the Exchange has been re-priced pursuant to 
subsection (d) below and Options 3, Section 4(b)(6) is consistent with 
the Act because, today, a non-displayed order on the order book will be 
executed at the best price on the Exchange whether that best price is 
displayed or non-displayed. This rule text aligns GEMX Options 3, 
Section 5(c) with Phlx Options 3, Section 5(c).
Options 3, Section 7
    The Exchange's proposal to amend FIX at Supplementary .03(a) to 
Options 3, Section 7 to align the rule text with Phlx Supplementary 
.03(a) to Options 3, Section 7 and note that the interface allows 
Members and their Sponsored Customers to connect, send, and receive 
messages related to orders and auction orders and responses to and from 
the Exchange is consistent with the Act as the interface is designed 
for Members to communicate to the Exchange with responses and receive 
messages from the Exchange. This rule text aligns with Phlx 
Supplementary .03(a) to Options 3, Section 7. Similar changes are 
proposed for OTTO at Supplementary .03(b) to Options 3, Section 7 and 
SQF at

[[Page 2250]]

Supplementary .03(c) and those changes align with Phlx Supplementary 
.03(b) and (c) to Options 3, Section 7. The amendments reflects current 
System operation.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Options 3, Section 5
    Amending Options 3, Section 5(c) does not impose an undue burden on 
intra-market competition because the Exchange will automatically 
execute each transaction at the best price available on the Exchange.
    Amending Options 3, Section 5(c) does not impose an undue burden on 
inter-market competition because all options Exchange execute at the 
best price available on that market regardless of the displayed price.
Options 3, Section 7
    Amending the protocols at Supplementary .03 to Options 3, Section 7 
to specify the protocols permit communications to and from the 
Exchange, including responses, does not impose an undue burden on 
intra-market competition because this is true for all Members.
    Amending the protocols at Supplementary .03 to Options 3, Section 7 
to specify the protocols permit communications to and from the 
Exchange, including responses, does not impose an undue burden on 
inter-market competition because other options exchange such as Phlx 
have identical protocols.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) 
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \5\ and 
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\6\
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

    <bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
    <bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#453730292068262a2828202b3136053620266b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c2b0b7aea7efa1adafafa7acb6b182b1a7a1eca5adb4">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include 
file number SR-GEMX-2026-01 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

    <bullet> Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to file number SR-GEMX-2026-01. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and 
copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include 
personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit 
only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may 
redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material 
that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions 
should refer to file number SR-GEMX-2026-01 and should be submitted on 
or before February 6, 2026.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
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    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-00806 Filed 1-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on January 16, 2026.

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