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.

Finance

Cathie Wood's ARK Amends Spot Bitcoin ETF Filing to Include Surveillance Sharing, Similar to BlackRock

ARK's application may now be in pole position to be approved first as as it was filed earlier than BlackRock's.

By Jamie CrawleyJun 28, 2023

ARK Invest CEO and CIO Cathie Wood (Marco Bello/Getty Images)

Videos

Bitcoin Briefly Tops $31K After Fidelity Spot ETF Report

Bitcoin (BTC) saw a mid-morning price surge after The Block reported asset management giant Fidelity was preparing to file for a spot bitcoin ETF. A Fidelity Investments spokesperson told CoinDesk “we are not able to confirm or share an update.” "The Hash" panel weighs in on the recent flurry of spot bitcoin ETF filings from traditional finance giants in the U.S.

Jun 27, 2023

Markets

Bitcoin Briefly Pushes Above $31K After Fidelity Spot ETF Report

Fidelity previously applied for a spot bitcoin ETF in 2021, but the effort was rejected by the SEC.

By Lyllah LedesmaJun 27, 2023

Fidelity Investments sign (Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock)

Markets

Circle’s Allaire Says Bitcoin ETFs Likely to Be Approved: Bloomberg

Allaire spoke with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China.

By Sam ReynoldsJun 27, 2023

Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

Markets

ProShares' Bitcoin Futures ETF Racks Up Biggest Weekly Inflow in a Year

Investors poured in $65 million to BITO in the past week, the data shows, breaking its previous 2023 high of just over $40 million in April.

By Shaurya MalwaJun 26, 2023

The bitcoin market may see price volatility later Wednesday. (Ogutier/Pixabay)

Policy

Leveraged Bitcoin Futures ETF to Start Trading Tuesday, Sponsor Says

Volatility Shares says its 2x leveraged bitcoin futures exchange-traded fund will be based on CME Bitcoin Futures prices.

By Amitoj SinghJun 23, 2023

Opinion

Will BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Take the Spirit Out of the Honey Badger?

Financial advisors will want a simple story to tell.

By Michael J. CaseyJun 23, 2023

Honey Badger in Higashiyama Zoo

(Tomio344456/Wikimedia Commons, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Invesco Reapplies for Bitcoin ETF, Advocates for More Crypto Investment Products

Invesco first filed for a Bitcoin ETF in the fall of 2021, but has since re-applied in light of BlackRock’s application.

By Sam ReynoldsJun 21, 2023

Opinion

BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Would Be a Big Deal

And it doesn’t really matter if it’s technically a trust.

By George KaloudisJun 16, 2023

BlackRock's corporate office in New York, New York. (Jim.henderson/Wikimedia Commons)

Finance

BlackRock May Have Found Way to Get SEC Approval for Spot Bitcoin ETF

The asset management giant included a surveillance-sharing agreement in its proposal, which could eliminate the risk of market manipulation related to bitcoin.

By Ian Allison, Helene BraunJun 16, 2023