The volatility risk premium (VRP) strategy is a sophisticated approach that captures the consistent difference between implied volatility (expected volatility priced into options) and realised volatility (the actual movement of the underlying asset). In most markets, implied volatility tends to be priced higher than realised volatility, creating a persistent opportunity for traders willing to take on volatility exposure.

This article explains how the volatility risk premium works, why it exists, how to build strategies around it, and the key risks traders need to manage.

What Is the Volatility Risk Premium (VRP)?

The volatility risk premium is the systematic return earned by selling volatility — that is, selling options or volatility derivatives — because investors are willing to pay a premium for downside protection, insurance, and uncertainty hedging.

• Implied volatility (IV) reflects the market’s expectations of future volatility.
• Realised volatility (RV) measures the actual past price fluctuations.
• Typically, IV > RV over time.

This consistent gap allows traders to sell options (short volatility) and profit as long as realised volatility stays below implied volatility.

For example:

• If the S&P 500 implied volatility is priced at 20%, but realised volatility turns out to be 12%, option sellers capture the 8% differential as profit, assuming no adverse price moves.

Why Does the Volatility Risk Premium Exist?

• Investor demand for protection: Institutions and retail investors buy options for insurance, pushing IV higher.
• Market uncertainty: Fear of tail events (e.g., crashes, geopolitics) embeds a volatility premium.
• Structural flows: Systematic hedging by pensions, insurers, and asset managers supports volatility selling strategies.

How to Capture the Volatility Risk Premium

1. Systematic Short Options Strategies

• Sell straddles: Short both calls and puts around the current price.
• Sell strangles: Short out-of-the-money calls and puts.
• Short put options: Popular in equity indices, capturing VRP while biasing towards market upside.

These strategies are typically delta-neutral at inception but require ongoing management to adjust for market moves.

2. Volatility Futures and ETFs

• Short VIX futures: VIX futures typically trade at a premium to spot VIX, creating roll-down profits over time.
• Short volatility ETFs: Instruments like SVXY offer indirect exposure to VRP through VIX futures shorting.

3. Volatility Swaps

• Trade variance swaps or volatility swaps directly, which allow pure exposure to the spread between implied and realised volatility.

Key Metrics in VRP Strategies

• Implied vs realised vol spread: The bigger the spread, the larger the expected premium.
• Skew: Monitor the steepness of option skew, which impacts put selling strategies.
• Carry: The expected profit from holding a short volatility position if volatility remains stable or declines.

Risk Management in VRP Strategies

Volatility selling strategies can be highly profitable most of the time, but they are exposed to fat-tail risks — sharp losses during market crashes or volatility spikes.

Critical risk management techniques include:

• Dynamic sizing: Reduce exposure as volatility rises.
• Stop-loss triggers: Close positions if VIX spikes above certain thresholds.
• Hedging: Buy protective puts or volatility calls to cap losses.
• Diversification: Sell volatility across multiple assets (equities, FX, rates) to spread risk.
• Tail risk strategies: Use long-volatility hedges in a separate portfolio sleeve.

Example: S&P 500 Short Straddle VRP Strategy

• Each month, sell ATM straddles on the S&P 500.
• Delta hedge daily to maintain market neutrality.
• Monitor implied vs realised vol spread.
• Close positions if realised volatility rises sharply or drawdown limits are triggered.

Performance drivers:

• Stable or falling volatility benefits the strategy.
• Sharp, sudden volatility spikes (e.g., during crises) can cause outsized losses if not hedged.

Common Pitfalls in VRP Strategies

Pitfall	How to Avoid
Holding short volatility through event risk (e.g., Fed, elections)	Reduce size or hedge before known catalysts
Overleveraging short options	Use volatility-based sizing rules
Ignoring volatility regime changes	Adjust strategy to account for shifting volatility dynamics
Selling volatility too cheaply in low-volatility environments	Monitor implied-realised spreads carefully

Advantages of Volatility Risk Premium Strategies

• Persistent edge: The volatility premium has historically been positive across multiple markets.
• Diversification: VRP returns have low correlation with traditional long-only portfolios.
• Cash flow generation: Selling volatility generates regular premium income.
• Adaptability: Can be applied across equities, FX, commodities, and rates.

Conclusion

The volatility risk premium strategy offers a powerful way to harvest consistent returns by systematically selling overpriced volatility. However, success depends on rigorous risk management, understanding volatility dynamics, and preparing for the inevitable volatility spikes that can challenge even the best-structured approaches.

To master volatility trading and learn how to construct robust VRP strategies across asset classes, enrol in our expert-led Trading Courses designed for hedge fund traders, macro investors, and quantitative portfolio managers.