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 Strikes Back in Grayscale Suit Over GBTC ETF Conversion

The brief, filed last Friday, is the first from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since the lawsuit was filed in June.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler says he's trying to protect investors. (Evelyn Hockstein-Pool/Getty Images)

Finance

Cosmos Asset Management Intends to Delist Crypto ETFs in Australia

Cosmos' bitcoin ETF was Australia's first such fund when it listed on Cboe in April.

Closed store sign

Finance

Effort to Reverse SEC Rejection of Bitcoin ETF Wins Broad Crypto, TradFi Support

Regulators rebuffed Grayscale's attempt to convert its bitcoin trust into an ETF. Grayscale has powerful allies as it seeks to overturn that decision.

Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein (CoinDesk archives)

Finance

Crypto Investment Product Firm 21Shares Launches Bitcoin ETP in Middle East

21Shares’ physical bitcoin exchange-traded product will list on the Nasdaq Dubai.

Skyscrapers in Dubai (Kent Tupas/Unsplash)

Finance

WisdomTree’s Spot Bitcoin ETF Rejected by the SEC

It's the latest in a string of spot bitcoin ETF denials by the D.C. regulator.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington D.C. (Getty Images)

Learn

3 Ways Traditional Investors Can Gain Crypto Exposure

Direct investment into cryptocurrency is just one way clients of financial advisors can participate in the new asset class.

(Tetra Images/Getty Images)

Policy

A Bitcoin ETF Is Long Past Due, Crypto Lobbyists Say in New Report

The industry is baring its teeth in a long-fought battle over spot exchange-traded funds, getting set to issue a report critical of how the regulator has handled itself.

Chamber of Digital Commerce founder and CEO Perianne Boring (CoinDesk)

Videos

When Spot Bitcoin ETF? The Outlook for Regulated Investment Vehicles

Lori Tiernan, Chief Strategy Officer at Valkyrie Investments, joins Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan and Grayscale's Global Head of ETFs David LaValle at Consensus 2022 to discuss the regulations around bitcoin ETFs and an outlook into their future. Moderator: Damanick Dantes, Market Analyst, CoinDesk

Recent Videos

Layer 2

Suing SEC Is a Possibility, Bitwise Chief Compliance Officer Says

“It’s about getting answers to some of the technical questions,” Katherine Dowling told CoinDesk TV’s “All About Bitcoin.”

Bitwise Chief Compliance Officer Katherine Dowling (CoinDesk TV screenshot, modified by CoinDesk)

Videos

Valkyrie CEO: Suing SEC for Spot Bitcoin ETF is ‘Poor Judgment’

Reacting to asset manager Grayscale suing the SEC over its spot bitcoin ETF application rejection, Valkyrie CEO Leah Wald discusses her outlook for ETFs and crypto regulation and why she doesn’t agree with Grayscale’s “aggressive actions.”

CoinDesk placeholder image