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.

Markets

Bitcoin ETPs Witness Record-Breaking Monthly Inflows: K33 Research

ProShares’ Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) has hit an all-time high bitcoin equivalent exposure of 4,425 BTC.

By Sam ReynoldsJul 19, 2023

Layer 2 blockchains could siphon revenue away from Ethereum. (Muhammad Iswahyudi/Pixabay)

Policy

Deadlines for U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETF Approvals Come Into Sight

The applications by industry giant BlackRock and others have sparked speculation approval will be granted.

By Amitoj Singh, Sandali HandagamaJul 18, 2023

Policy

SEC's Gensler 'Disappointed' by Part of Ripple's XRP Judgement, Still Assessing Opinion

Ripple scored a partial victory in its fight with the SEC last week with a court ruling that institutional sales of the tokens violated federal securities laws, but sales on exchanges and programmatic sales did not.

By Amitoj SinghJul 17, 2023

SEC Chair Gensler (Evelyn Hockstein-Pool/Getty Images)

Finance

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Talks Up Crypto Demand From Gold Investors

The asset management giant last month applied with regulators to open a spot bitcoin ETF.

By Jamie CrawleyJul 14, 2023

Markets

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Discount Narrows to Lowest Since May 2022

Buying for the trust has picked up on hopes the SEC might soon approve a spot bitcoin ETF.

By Lyllah LedesmaJul 10, 2023

Policy

Grayscale Argues Leveraged Bitcoin Futures ETF Approval Shows Spot ETF Should Be Approved

The crypto asset manager is suing the SEC for rejecting its bitcoin ETF application last year.

By Elizabeth NapolitanoJul 10, 2023

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Finance

BlackRock CEO’s Turnabout on Bitcoin Elicits Cheers, Skepticism of Crypto Cred

Larry Fink, CEO of the world’s biggest asset manager, says crypto could “revolutionize finance,” endorsing an industry he once viewed with skepticism. But the very nature of an ETF is at odds with the original ideals of Bitcoin.

By Helene BraunJul 7, 2023