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.


Videos

Why is Bitcoin Pulling Back?

Osprey Funds founder and CEO Greg King analyzes the crypto markets and his outlook as bitcoin continues to fade after last week’s sell-off from the $52,000 resistance level, and the upside appears to be limited given signs of slowing momentum.

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Policy

SEC Sets November Deadline for Final Decision on VanEck Bitcoin ETF

Regulators are again postponing a decision on what would be the first U.S. bitcoin ETF.

SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission

Policy

State of Crypto: SEC vs. CFTC

A crypto turf war may be brewing between two U.S. regulators.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler

Finance

Withdrawal of Ether Futures ETF Proposals Good Sign for Bitcoin Futures ETF: Analyst

Bloomberg Intelligence’s James Seyffart thinks a bitcoin futures ETF could get approved as soon as October.

Jan van Eck, president and CEO of VanEck speaks at Consensus Invest 2018 (CoinDesk)

Videos

VanEck Adds to ETF Applications With Ether Futures Filing

Fund manager VanEck filed for its fourth crypto exchange-traded fund (ETF) application on Wednesday. This time, it’s for an ethereum-based ETF that would seek to sidestep U.S. regulators’ crypto ETF blockade by trading ether indirectly. “We’ve seen over a dozen bitcoin-related ETF applications but not as many ether-related ETF applications,” CoinDesk’s Nikhilesh De said.

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Videos

Galaxy Digital Files for US Bitcoin Futures ETF

Just months after filing for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), Michael Novogratz's cryptocurrency-focused financial services firm Galaxy Digital has filed with U.S. regulators for a bitcoin futures ETF. This comes as SEC Chairman Gary Gensler signaled he preferred ETFs based on bitcoin futures earlier this month at the Aspen Security Forum. CoinDesk's Nikhilesh De discusses the state of bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. as the SEC has yet to approve any of the dozens of applications for crypto ETFs in recent years.

Recent Videos

Videos

Osprey Funds CEO: ‘Bitcoin Could Get Into 6 Figures’ by End of Year

Greg King, founder and CEO of crypto asset manager Osprey Funds, discusses his reading of bitcoin's price action and his bullish outlook for the cryptocurrency. ​"The breakout past $40,000 signals some positive upside here going into year-end," King said. "As far as an end target... we could get into six figures." Plus, when will the U.S. approve a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF)?

Recent Videos

Markets

Crypto Asset Manager Valkyrie Files for Bitcoin Futures ETF

Valkyrie said that the ETF would not "directly invest in bitcoin."

Valkyrie has filed for a bitcoin futures ETF.

Markets

VanEck Tries Again for Bitcoin Strategy ETF With SEC

VanEck unsuccessfully tried to list a similar fund in 2017.

(VanEck)

Policy

Gensler’s Preference for Bitcoin Futures Products Is Likely Bad News for a Spot BTC ETF

The SEC chairman's comments this week are causing issuers to readjust their expectations for the approval of a spot bitcoin ETF.

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler