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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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Cboe (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Finance
Bitcoin etf
Cboe Says Bitcoin ETFs to Start Trading Thursday, Though the SEC Hasn't Approved Them Yet
The exchange's website listed six bitcoin ETF applicants to start trading tomorrow.
Cboe (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
By Aoyon Ashraf
Jan 10, 2024 at 7:44 p.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
Bitcoin ETFCBOESEC
SEC office (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
Policy
Newsletters
Bitcoin ETF Confusion Abounds
A hacked X/Twitter account and misunderstood filings make for a wild countdown to an expected approval.
SEC office (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
By Nikhilesh De
Jan 10, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
NewslettersState of CryptoRegulationsBitcoin ETFSEC
(Mohammadreza alidoost/Unsplash)
Learn
Bitcoin etf
How to Buy a Bitcoin ETF
Now that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first crypto exchange-traded funds to hold digital assets, the actual buying may be the easy part.
(Mohammadreza alidoost/Unsplash)
By Jesse Hamilton
Jan 10, 2024 at 7:04 p.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
Bitcoin ETFLearnSEC
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
Consensus Magazine
Opinion
Everyone Wants the SEC’s Fake News to Be Real
The agency said for months it couldn’t approve bitcoin ETFs because of market manipulation. Then, in a delicious irony, it was itself manipulated, showing how even non-news ca...
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
By Ben Schiller
Jan 10, 2024 at 5:40 p.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
OpinionBitcoin ETFNewslettersThe Node
SEC headquarters (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
Consensus Magazine
Opinion
Did the Fake Bitcoin ETF Announcement Prove an SEC Approval Is a 'Sell-the-News' Event?
The SEC's social media account was hacked to say the much-anticipated financial product was approved, perhaps answering the question of what will happen when it actually happe...
SEC headquarters (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
By Meltem Erdem
Jan 10, 2024 at 5:16 p.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
OpinionBitcoin ETFTwitterX
Screen grab from Bitcoin transaction showing the line embedded using the OP_RETURN function, "SEC Chairman on the brink of second ETF approval." (Mempool.space)
Technology
Ordinals
Bitcoin ETF Chaos Memorialized on Blockchain, With Nod to 'Chancellor on the Brink' Reference
Jokester pays $2.97 to record the one-liner "SEC Chairman on the brink of second ETF approval" on the blockchain.
Screen grab from Bitcoin transaction showing the line embedded using the OP_RETURN function, "SEC Chairman on the brink of second ETF approval." (Mempool.space)
By Bradley Keoun
Jan 10, 2024 at 2:48 p.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
OrdinalsBitcoinBlockchainSECBitcoin ETF
(Markus Spiske/Unsplash)
Markets
Blackrock
BlackRock, ARK 21Shares Follow Rivals in Cutting Bitcoin ETF Fees
The SEC is expected to approve multiple ETFs at the same time, meaning the different providers will tussle for market share using fee structure as one of the main weapons.
(Markus Spiske/Unsplash)
By Jamie Crawley
Jan 10, 2024 at 11:43 a.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
BlackRockArk 21sharesBitcoin ETFFees
(John Angel/Unsplash)
Markets
Cryptoquant
BTC Supply in Profit Nears 90% as Price Rallies on Expected Bitcoin ETF Approval
Just under half of the bitcoin supply was in profit at the start of last year.
(John Angel/Unsplash)
By Sam Reynolds
Jan 10, 2024 at 9:22 a.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
CryptoQuantbtcBitcoinBitcoin ETF
SEC Chair Gary Gensler in Washington on Oct. 25, 2023 (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
Policy
Sec
Hacker Seized SEC Phone Number to Post Fake Bitcoin ETF Approval, X Says
The revelation raises questions about the investments regulator's security protocols.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler in Washington on Oct. 25, 2023 (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
By Danny Nelson
Jan 10, 2024 at 4:32 a.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
SECTwitterBitcoin ETF
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) is one of the lawmakers asking for more information after the SEC's X account was compromised on Tuesday. (Shutterstock/CoinDesk)
Policy
Regulations
Crypto Boosters Attack SEC for 'Manipulating' BTC Market After ETF Tweet
Lawmakers and crypto boosters are asking questions about how the SEC's X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised, leading to a bogus tweet on Tuesday.
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) is one of the lawmakers asking for more information after the SEC's X account was compromised on Tuesday. (Shutterstock/CoinDesk)
By Danny Nelson
Jan 10, 2024 at 1:22 a.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2024
RegulationsBitcoin ETFSEC