Bitcoin ETF

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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.

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Mining rigs (Sandali Handagama)
Bitcoin Miners May Be Due a Breather After Spot ETF Approval, JPMorgan Says
The total market cap of the listed miners in the bank’s coverage has increased 131% since the end of September, the report said.
Mining rigs (Sandali Handagama)

Grayscale Investments CEO Michael Sonnenshein
First Mover Americas: Grayscale's Is the First ETF to Begin Trading
The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for Jan. 11, 2024.
Grayscale Investments CEO Michael Sonnenshein

SEC logo (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
Ether ETF Hopes Drive Smart Money Bets After Historic Bitcoin ETF Approval
Bets on Ethereum tokens may spark a reversal of fortunes for ETH investors, especially as the token underperformed bitcoin in 2023.
SEC logo (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Grayscale advert at the World Trade Center PATH station in New York (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
Grayscale Claims Bragging Rights for First Spot Bitcoin ETF to Begin Trading
Grayscale's conversion of its $27 billion bitcoin trust into an ETF was finally approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday
Grayscale advert at the World Trade Center PATH station in New York (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman SEC Gary Gensler (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk, modified)
Gary Gensler Voted to Approve Bitcoin ETFs, Despite Public Criticism
Three out of five committee members approved the various filings that gave the green light for the first-ever spot bitcoin ETFs to be offered in the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman SEC Gary Gensler (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk, modified)

Ben Franklin with laser eyes (Franklin Templeton via X)
Ben Franklin's Laser Eyes Suggest a Tough – and Quirky – Battle for Bitcoin ETFs
Franklin Templeton, the $1.5 trillion asset manager, gave its famous logo a glowing, crypto-y tweak after the SEC approved bitcoin ETFs, possibly girding for a tough battle wi...
Ben Franklin with laser eyes (Franklin Templeton via X)

Bitcoin ETF frenzy drives volume growth on prediction markets. (Obsahovka/Pixabay)
Bitcoin ETF Frenzy Brings Windfall Volume to Decentralized Predictions Platform Polymarket
Polymarket saw betting contracts worth more than $5.7 million change hands on Wednesday.
Bitcoin ETF frenzy drives volume growth on prediction markets. (Obsahovka/Pixabay)

BlackRock is one of the big-name providers offering a spot bitcoin ETF. (Jim Henderson, modified by CoinDesk)
Bitcoin ETF Approval Is Likely to Benefit Institutional Investors: Goldman Sachs
ETFs offer better investor protection, increased liquidity and lower tracking error than closed-end funds and trusts, the report said.
BlackRock is one of the big-name providers offering a spot bitcoin ETF. (Jim Henderson, modified by CoinDesk)

Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss at CoinDesk's Consensus 2019 (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
Bitcoin ETF Approval Marks Conclusion of a Decade-Long Journey
Much has changed since the Winklevoss filed unsuccessfully for the first Bitcoin ETF in July 2013.
Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss at CoinDesk's Consensus 2019 (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

Hal Finney.
Bitcoin ETFs Secure Approval Exactly 15 Years After Hal Finney’s Iconic ‘Running Bitcoin’ Tweet
Finney, who died in August 2014, was also the first person besides Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, to download and run Bitcoin’s software.
Hal Finney.