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Past rate cuts indicate potential crypto bull market catalyst — 21Shares

The Federal Reserve is expected to begin lowering its benchmark interest rate in September.

Speaking at the annual Jackson Hole Symposium, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sent his strongest signal yet that interest rate cuts are on the immediate horizon. The price of Bitcoin (BTC) rallied past $63,000 on the news, and analysts think further gains are expected when the Fed begins cutting rates.

Leena ElDeeb, a researcher at exchange-traded product issuer 21Shares, explained that previous interest rate cuts were good for the price appreciation of digital assets, as investors with cheaper access to loans take invest in risk-on asset classes. In a statement to Cointelegraph, the analyst gave a specific example of a previous rate cut at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic:

ElDeeb qualified her statements by explaining that while past performance is not a guarantee of future results, the March 2020 interest rate cuts could provide a benchmark to compare the likely effects of the impending rate cut on crypto markets.

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Direct client demand driving growth in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF so far

BlackRock head of digital assets Robert Mitchnick talked ETFs with Bloomberg’s James Seyffart at Bitcoin 2024.

Client demand was the driving force behind Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) creation, and the funds are just beginning to pick up momentum, BlackRock head of digital assets Robert Mitchnick said at the Bitcoin2024 event. He was interviewed on stage by Bloomberg journalist James Seyffart.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink was a vocal skeptic of cryptocurrency when Mitchnick was hired in 2018. Fink was subsequently “orange-pilled,” pivoting to call Bitcoin “digital gold” in a recent interview.

Mitchnick credited Fink himself for the change of heart. “Larry deserves a lot of credit for the time that he spent studying the space,” Mitchnick said. He added:

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Bloomberg ETF Expert Moves Estimated Ethereum ETF Approval Date Following New SEC Comments

Bloomberg ETF Expert Moves Estimated Ethereum ETF Approval Date Following New SEC Comments

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) expert at Bloomberg is moving his estimated date for the approval of spot market Ethereum (ETH) ETFs following recent comments made by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a new thread on the social media platform X, Bloomberg ETF specialist Eric Balchunas says that spot ETH ETFs likely won’t […]

The post Bloomberg ETF Expert Moves Estimated Ethereum ETF Approval Date Following New SEC Comments appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

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ARK Invest ends partnership with 21Shares on Ether ETF

This decision does not affect the ongoing collaboration between 21Shares and ARK Invest on other projects like the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF launched in January.

21Shares has filed an updated application for its Ethereum spot ETF S-1, rebranding the fund from Ark 21Shares Ethereum ETF to 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF. Additionally, ARK Invest has ended its partnership with 21Shares and will no longer be involved with the ETF.

According to the newly amended Form S-1, there are no updated fees. Despite acknowledging Ethereum’s groundbreaking potential and long-term value, a representative from ARK Invest confirmed that the firm has decided not to move forward with an Ether (ETH) ETF, citing a need to reassess its investment strategy.

However, this decision does not affect the ongoing collaboration between 21Shares and ARK Invest on other projects, such as the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin (BTC) ETF launched in January.

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Australia’s top exchange may approve spot Bitcoin ETFs this year: Report

Australia’s spot Bitcoin ETFs could see $3 billion to $4 billion of inflows within the first three years, according to Monochrome CEO Jeff Yew.

Australia’s largest stock exchange — the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) — could greenlight several spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the end of 2024.

Following in the footsteps of fund issuers in the United States and Hong Kong, spot Bitcoin ETF applications from VanEck Australia and local ETF-focused fund manager BetaShares are set to be approved before the year is through, anonymous sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

The uptick in spot Bitcoin ETF applications comes following the Bitcoin ETF approvals in the United States, which have seen some $53 billion in assets under management (AUM) accrued across eleven separate products.

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Spot Crypto ETFs Set To Begin Trading in Hong Kong Next Week: Report

Spot Crypto ETFs Set To Begin Trading in Hong Kong Next Week: Report

Spot market crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are reportedly set to launch in Hong Kong as soon as next week. According to a new report by Reuters, the three asset managers who are providing the products say that Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs should start trading by April 30th as they have already received regulatory […]

The post Spot Crypto ETFs Set To Begin Trading in Hong Kong Next Week: Report appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

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ARK’s amended spot Bitcoin ETF filing is a ‘good sign’ of future approval

ARK Invest and 21Shares amended spot Bitcoin ETF filing seemingly addresses earlier concerns highlighted by the SEC, which is a good sign of progress, according to Bloomberg's ETF analysts.

A recent amendment to ARK Invest and 21Shares’ joint spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) application could be seen as a “good sign” of progress and impending approvals.

An amended Oct. 11 filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission for approval adds additional information about the proposed spot Bitcoin ETF, including practices for how the fund will custody assets and determine asset values.

Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said the changes could be in direct response to concerns the SEC has asked ETF issuers to address.

“It means ARK got the SEC's comments and has dealt with them all, and now put [the] ball back in [the] SEC's court,” Balchunas said. “[In my opinion] good sign, solid progress.”

Balchunas said the changes are “sprinkled throughout,” making the new filing five pages longer, adding in a separate post that “none of the comments were that new or insurmountable.”

Changes included ARK noting the fund’s net asset value (NAV) calculations are not in line with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) — an accounting standard used by the SEC, said Balchunas.

The new filing also clarifies the ETFs assets, held by Coinbase Custody, are in “segregated accounts [...] And are therefore not commingled with corporate or other customer assets."

Fellow Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart added in and X post the latter change signals that ARK and others are communicationg with the SEC about what the regulator wants cleared up.

“Good sign for future approval IMO,” he added.

Related: Bitcoin ETFs: A $600B tipping point for crypto

Van Buren Capital general partner Scott Johnsson noted another new addition was a comment that if BTC is increasingly used for illegal purposes and if Bitcoin mining’s environmental impact causes it to be restricted then the ETF’s value could fall.

Johnsson said based on ARK’s amendments it “doesn't look like the agency is putting up any unnecessary roadblocks via disclosure review.”

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Bitcoin ETF would be the ‘seal of approval’ from SEC: Mike Novogratz

The Galaxy Digital founder believes approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF would essentially be a United States regulator and government nod for Bitcoin.

The approval of a spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) would equate to a “seal of approval” for Bitcoin from the United States government and its securities regulator, says Mike Novogratz.

In a July 12 interview with Bloomberg TV the founder of crypto investment firm Galaxy Digital spoke about the multiple spot Bitcoin ETF filings before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including one from the $10 trillion asset manager BlackRock.

“What I do think is BlackRock, Invesco [and] the group of ETF providers is a real signal that adoption is coming,” Novogratz said.

He added many are “nervous” about investing in crypto and the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF would be an “easy first step” for most to start investing in the asset.

“I just think if it happens it's the seal of approval from the SEC and the U.S. government.”

Novogratz explained there is a “giant infrastructure” in place for the ETFs. Along with BlackRock, proposed ETFs from Valkyrie, Invesco, VanEck, WisdomTree, Fidelity and a joint fund by ARK Invest and 21Shares are also lined up for approval. Novogratz believes that many of these will likely end up being approved.

“The SEC is not going to approve one so you're going to have these giant sales forces out there giving access to people that didn't have access before.”

SEC chair Gary Gensler has previously claimed that “everything other than Bitcoin” falls under his agency’s purview and other crypto projects “are securities" as there are typically known developers and profits are anticipated based on their work.

Related: Don’t be naive — BlackRock’s ETF won’t be bullish for Bitcoin

Novogratz was evasive when asked his thoughts on if Galaxy and Invesco’s spot Bitcoin ETF would be able to list before the end of the year.

“This SEC has been really stubborn and really tough on crypto,” he said.

“No one of significance has gotten through the listing process. We are in that process and it has been a long and frustrating path. I'll leave it at that,” he added.

“I think we're probably going to need either a change of heart at the SEC or a change of administration to see real progress in crypto regulation here in the U.S.”

Novogratz predicted the price of Bitcoin will end the year at a high. “If you take out the top we’ll have a nice leg up,” he said.

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Third time’s the charm? ARK and 21Shares again file with SEC for Bitcoin ETF

Cathie Wood’s ARK and crypto investment firm 21Shares are tripling down on their attempt to get approval to create a spot Bitcoin ETF in the U.S.

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest and European crypto investment firm 21Shares are seemingly unperturbed by the cryptocurrency regulatory environment in the United States, again requesting approval for a Bitcoin (BTC)-based financial product.

On April 25, the two companies requested that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approve the creation of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) despite being rejected twice before.

The two companies first applied to create their spot Bitcoin ETF on June 28, 2021, which was later rejected by the SEC in April 2022. The regulator said the product did not meet the requirements of listing a financial product under its rules of practice as well as those of the Exchange Act.

The pair filed another request for a second time in May 2022, an application the SEC rejected again on Jan. 26 this year.

An ETF allows investors exposure to a particular asset without actually owning the underlying financial product. A spot Bitcoin ETF allows investors to gain indirect exposure to the cryptocurrency with shares that track BTC’s price in real-time without actually holding Bitcoin.

While the SEC has approved a number of Bitcoin Futures ETFs — that expose buyers to the potential future value of BTC — it has so far rejected every application for a spot Bitcoin ETF citing difficulties with “protecting investors and the public interest” against fraud and manipulation.

Related: Despite regulatory clarity, Hong Kong crypto ETFs experience lukewarm demand

According to ETF analysts from Bloomberg, it seems likely that a spot Bitcoin ETF could become a reality in the U.S. midway through this year.

Crypto conglomerate Digital Currency Group (DCG) is currently seeking to convert its flagship Grayscale Bitcoin Investment Trust (GBTC) into a spot Bitcoin ETF and has sued the SEC for rejecting its proposal.

Grayscale chief legal officer Craig Salm said in a tweet on Jan. 12, “The case is moving swiftly. While timing is uncertain, oral arguments may be as soon as Q2 [2023].”

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ETH products grow in August as BTC products dip: CryptoCompare report

The upcoming Merge has contributed to a rise in Ethereum investment products and trading volume, as crypto market AUM figures continue to drop amid the bear market

Ethereum investment products increased by 2.36% to $6.81 billion in assets under management (AUM) throughout August, outperforming Bitcoin products which saw a 7.16% drop off to $17.4 billion. 

The figures were contained in a new report by CryptoCompare.

This was also reflected in the Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH)-product trading volumes, with Grayscale’s most notable Bitcoin product, GBTC experiencing a 24.4% drop in volume, while its Ethereum product, GETH actually increased 23.2%. CryptoCompare's report suggeste the highly anticipated Ethereum Merge was the cause behind the change in trading volumes:

Indeed, even at a more granular level, no Bitcoin products covered in this report saw AUM or volume gains in the month of August. We could be seeing interest move away from Bitcoin in the short term, as Ethereum-based products hold the attention with the much-anticipated merge on the horizon.

Monthly AUM figures for digital asset investment products fell 4% overall, which was largely attributed to 6% fall from Grayscale’s GBTC product, as it accounts for $13.4 billion of the total $25.8 billion of digital assets under management (53.4%).

The largest inflows came from products falling under the “Other” umbrella, representing non-Bitcoin and Ethereum products, which saw a 12.3% increase to $1.13 billion over the first three weeks, according to the  report.

Monthly AUM figures for digital asset investment products have steadily dropped throughout the bear market. Source: Crypto Compare.

Despite the bear market, a number of highly-regarded financial institutions have launched crypto investment products throughout the month of August. These products have come in the form of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Certificates (ETC), Exchange Traded Notes (ETN) and Trust products.

Among the most notable was BlackRock’s private spot Bitcoin Trust, a move which brought about a “here comes Wall Street” response from former Grayscale CEO Barry Silbert. The launch of the Bitcoin Trust from the world’s largest asset manager came following its partnership with Coinbase to provide its clients with institutional trading services.

Charles Schwab was another financial institution to make a play this month, having launched its own “Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF”, tickered STCE on the New York Stock Exchange, which provides exposure to a mix of mining and staking companies, along with several blockchain-based applications.

Related: Institutions flocking to Ethereum for 7 straight weeks as Merge nears: Report

BetaShares launched Australia’s first Metaverse-focused ETF on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), along with a new Metaverse and nonfungible token (NFT) focused ETF launched by finance firm SoFi.

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