VIX options traded 2.44M contracts Friday, the most in a year and 3x average.
1.85M of that was calls. 1.2M of that was tied to 10/21 exp.
Only Aug 2, 2024 had more VIX call volume (since Oct '19).
VIX exp is today at 9:30AM EST,
with 42% of total VIX contracts rolling off.
Positioning remains broadly the same with MM's still short calls, they'll just have about 1/2 the size.
Impacts are likely muted given vols tied to FOMC at 2PM.