Bitcoin ETF

What is a bitcoin ETF? They are a relatively easy-to-purchase investment vehicle that owns bitcoin (BTC), the original cryptocurrency. Just like stocks, exchange-traded funds are listed on exchanges, can be traded throughout the day and are available for purchase through normal brokerage accounts. A bitcoin ETF was first proposed in the U.S. around 2013 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, but were never approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Several applications for them are pending with the SEC as of January 2024, from companies including BlackRock, Grayscale, Fidelity, Galaxy/Invesco and Franklin Templeton. If approved, crypto ETFs could dramatically broaden the base of people who can invest in digital assets. There have been bitcoin futures ETFs available in the U.S. for several years, but the latest round of proposed products, technically known as spot bitcoin ETFs, are a more efficient and desirable product.


Policy

SEC Delays Decision on HashDex Bitcoin Spot ETF Application, Grayscale Ether Futures Filing

Franklin Templeton also has an outstanding bitcoin ETF application with a Nov. 17 decision deadline.

Photo of the SEC logo on a building wall

Markets

Navigating the Next Wave of Crypto Institutionalization: A Due Diligence Primer

As FTX showed, operators in digital asset markets need to improve corporate governance standards. Here are the key components as the industry readies for another possible bull run.

(Silas Baisch/Unsplash)

Markets

Bitcoin Drops 4% to $35K Despite Soaring Tradfi Markets, But Analysts Remain Optimistic

An unexpected slowdown in inflation sent stock and bond markets sharply higher, but crypto was left out, possibly due to declining enthusiasm about the imminent approval of a spot bitcoin ETF.

Bitcoin price on Nov. 14 (CoinDesk)

Policy

Cathie Wood Speculates Gary Gensler's Political Ambitions Are Affecting Spot BTC ETF Judgement

The ARK Invest founder and CEO remains bullish and said the crypto market opportunity could scale to $25 trillion by 2030.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler in Washington on Oct. 25, 2023 (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Markets

Bitcoin Spot ETFs Will Introduce Crypto to Broader Investor Base: Coinbase

Spot ETFs are likely to lay the foundation for a more regulated market, with greater inclusion and a significant growth in demand, the report said.

(Alpha Photo/Flickr)

Markets

The Crypto Market Rally Looks Overdone, JPMorgan Says

Digital assets have seen strong gains in the last month due to excitement about the potential approval of bitcoin spot ETFs, but this bullish sentiment may be misplaced, the report said.

JPMorgan sign on the side of an office building

Markets

Bitcoin Tops $36K as 'ETFs Not Yet Priced in'

Bitwise's CIO sees future upside to bitcoin's price as the world's largest digital asset has 30% this month.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan (Suzanne Cordiero/CoinDesk/Shutterstock)

Policy

U.S. SEC Said to Open Talks with Grayscale on Spot Bitcoin ETF Push

Representatives of the company are answering questions from two divisions of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the wake of Grayscale's court win over the agency.

Chair Gary Gensler's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is said to be in new talks with CEO Michael Sonnenshein's Grayscale Investments over its spot bitcoin ETF application. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Finance

BTC Price Pushes Towards $36K Ahead of 2023's Last Approval Period for Bitcoin ETFs

Analysts at Bloomberg predict that if a spot bitcoin ETF is not approved in this period, there’s still a 90% chance for approval by Jan. 10.

Chair Gary Gensler's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is weighing Hashdex's ETF application, which analysts suggest could have a leg up because of its novel approach.  (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Opinion

Bitcoin ETFs: A Surge of Fresh Capital or Speculation From Crypto Insiders?

How capital from BTC ETFs, if and when approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, will eventually trickle down.

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