Bitcoin News and Finance
Bitcoin ETFs Explained: A Closer Look at BTC Exchange-Traded Products Skip to main content

Bitcoin ETFs Explained: A Closer Look at BTC Exchange-Traded Products

Bitcoin ETFs Explained: A Closer Look at BTC Exchange-Traded Products

Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, that track the price of bitcoin have become a popular means for mainstream investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market without directly owning bitcoin. Though the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved a spot bitcoin ETF in the U.S., futures-based and international bitcoin ETFs are offering investors new participation methods.

The Basics: Defining a Bitcoin ETF

An ETF is an investment fund traded on stock exchanges, similar to stocks. A bitcoin ETF doesn’t directly trade bitcoin; rather, it tracks bitcoin futures contracts or holds private keys associated with the cryptocurrency. This setup grants regular investors and institutions access to bitcoin exposure without dealing with cryptocurrency exchanges or wallets.

There are two main types of bitcoin ETFs: futures-based and spot bitcoin ETFs. Futures-based bitcoin ETFs, such as the Proshares “Bitcoin Strategy ETF,” which debuted in 2021, don’t directly invest in bitcoin. Instead, they track bitcoin futures contracts traded on platforms like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). A spot bitcoin ETF directly holds actual bitcoin assets on behalf of its investors. Unlike futures-based funds, it provides direct exposure to the crypto asset’s real-time price movements.

Currently, spot bitcoin ETFs are unavailable in the U.S. but some expect that to change in the near future. Investors, however, can tap into Canada’s “Purpose Bitcoin ETF” – a fund with physical backing. Moreover, there’s Europe’s “XBT Provider Bitcoin Exchange Traded Note,” listed on their local stock exchanges. Yet, in the U.S., these spot bitcoin ETFs encounter significant legal obstacles and still await SEC endorsement.

​​Bitcoin Exposure — The Appeal and Challenges of Exchange-Traded Products

Until a spot bitcoin ETF receives U.S. approval, close alternatives include the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and products from XBT Provider. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is a trust holding bitcoin, with shares traded over-the-counter (OTC). As of September 2023, it managed assets worth more than $16.53 billion. XBT Provider offers notes like Bitcoin Tracker One, with more than $4.43 billion in assets. Though not strictly ETFs, these products resemble aspects of a spot bitcoin ETF.

The allure of bitcoin ETFs is evident: They provide uncomplicated bitcoin exposure as a security without the intricate storage and security requirements of the actual cryptocurrency. As bitcoin becomes more mainstream, some believe a U.S. spot bitcoin ETF might attract a significant surge of institutional investment in digital currencies.

Conversely, a bitcoin ETF might allow for leveraging fictional bitcoin supplies to control futures positions. If prices climb rapidly, a fictitious supply of paper bitcoin could be used to control them. Nontransparent fractional reserve practices might emerge, skewing prices as seen in traditional markets. But with BTC’s transparent blockchain, future ETFs might need to prove 100% reserves.

What do you think about bitcoin ETFs? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Custodial Lightning Network Service Attack Discovered by LN ‘Newbie’ — Hacker Strikes 6 LN Custodians

On September 18, a Redditor posted to the r/bitcoin forum and explained how he discovered a way to “attack [the] lightning Network’s custodial services.” The Reddit account dubbed “Reckless Satoshi” wanted to figure out if a “discrepancy between real routing fees and service’s transaction fee can be exploited for a profit.” The researcher disclosed that he wanted to see how large the damage could be and said “it is bad.” 6 Lightning Network Custodial Services Attacked, Researcher Discloses Findings to Offenders Prior to Public Disclosure A Redditor called Reckless Satoshi published a disclosure post on r/bitcoin this past Saturday and disclosed how he had found a vulnerability with routing fees and some of the Lightning Network’s custodial services. The research attack was done in good faith and after it was complete he disclosed the bugs to the offending services before publishing his findings. Reckless Satoshi used the Lightning Network (LN) attack on six different services incl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Axie Infinity Down 40% Since Last Week’s Price High, Protocol Revenue Outshines Competitors

Last week, the game token leveraged within the Axie Infinity gaming universe skyrocketed to all-time highs, while other crypto markets remained extremely lackluster. During the last seven days, Axie Infinity’s platform token has dropped significantly in value shedding more than 12%. Meanwhile, the game platform’s smooth love potion token has slid over 8% over the last 24 hours. Axie Infinity Down More Than 40% Since All-Time High Not too long ago, the axie infinity (AXS) token was a topical conversation because it reached an all-time high on July 15. At the time, AXS managed to capture $28.93 per unit and since then it has shed 12.8% during the last seven days. The axie infinity (AXS) token is used within the blockchain-based game that involves battles between token-based creatures called “Axies.” AXS is used for the game’s governance system as well as other actions within the game. At the time of writing axie infinity (AXS) is exchanging hands for $16.70 per coin. AXS/USD on Ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Play-to-Earn Game From Polker (PKR) Exchange Listing – Endorsed by Akon

The Play-to-Earn NFT based Polker.Game ‘s native token $PKR has been officially listed on the popular centralized exchange BitMart. Polker.game has been in the spotlight recently as Akon, the American R&B superstar and record producer gave his official endorsement of polker stating that the “game is revolutionary” and that Polker is “hands down.. the best play to earn, NFT game in the space.”. With the BitMart listing and celebrity endorsement from Akon, Polker is perfectly positioned to become a major player in the Play-to-Earn league. Watch Akon’s Video Here What is Play-to-Earn? Although not a new concept, play-to-earn has become a trending term due to the popularity of the NFT game AXIE infinity. In the past, previous play-to-earn games have also achieved success – however, thanks to the huge amount of development in the blockchain space in recent years the gaming experience is now massively improved. Play-to-Earn games are essentially free to play and open to anyone and...
Post a Comment
Read more

China to Crack Down on Copyright Infringement Through NFTs

Authorities in China are going after creators of digital collectibles based on other people’s works of art, the use of which was not authorized. The government offensive is part of a campaign to combat online copyright infringement and piracy with the participation of several departments. Regulators in China Move to Strengthen Copyright Supervision of Online Platforms The National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) has recently launched a campaign against copyright infringement and piracy on the internet, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Internet Information Office of the People’s Republic. A major objective of the initiative is to improve copyright supervision of online businesses by investigating cases involving the sale and distribution of infringing products on short video, live broadcast and e-commerce platforms, and promptly dealing with infringing content, the agency announced in a press r...
Post a Comment
Read more
Blogarama - Blog Directory