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Gensler Reiterates Support for Futures-Based Bitcoin ETFs
The SEC chairman struck a similar tone in August, igniting a rush in tailor-made ETF filings.
By Danny Nelson
Updated Mar 9, 2024, 2:00 a.m. Published Sep 29, 2021, 9:41 p.m.
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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler reiterated his support Wednesday for a narrow class of bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that would invest in futures contracts instead of the crypto itself.
Gensler singled out bitcoin ETFs, which invest in futures contracts that trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and register under the Investments Company Act of 1940. The so-called ‘40 Act “provides significant investor protections,” he said in prepared remarks for a Financial Times conference: “I look forward to staff’s review of such filings.”
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He struck a similar tone in an August speech that ignited a rush in tailor-made bitcoin futures ETF filings. None has been approved by the SEC, but industry observers expect decisions as early as October.
Read more: Gensler’s Preference for Bitcoin Futures Products Is Likely Bad News for a Spot BTC ETF
The SEC is reviewing almost two dozen ETF filings for bitcoin, bitcoin futures, ether and ether futures products.
Investors haven’t been quite as eager to plow into bitcoin futures-linked products. One bitcoin futures mutual fund has amassed only $15 million in assets two months after launch, according to a tweet from Eric Balchunas, an analyst for Bloomberg.
The Bitcoin futures mutual fund that launched 2mo ago only has $15m in aum, VERY LOW considering the pent up demand. Here's a look at first 43 days of $BTCFX vs $BTCC (physical) in Canada (whose mkt is 27x smaller btw). Not sure if MF or futures is problem but poss bad sign.. pic.twitter.com/d3WwPxnpuG
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) September 29, 2021
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