As bitcoin receives more and more attention in the mainstream financial press, investors are clamoring for new ways to access the hot cryptocurrency. That includes ETFs, but regulators are expressing reservations about bitcoin-backed exchange traded products.
Some market observers hope a vibrant futures market for bitcoin will pave the way to bitcoin ETFs becoming realities.
“A vigorous, regulated bitcoin futures market could make the Securities and Exchange Commission more comfortable with bitcoin exchange-traded products, an agency official said last week,” reports Bloomberg.
As was reported last week, Nasdaq Inc. could launch futures based on the soaring cryptocurrency next year. Nasdaq is the third US-based exchange operator to announce plans for bitcoin futures.
Nasdaq did not comment on the news. Several weeks ago, bitcoin surged after CME Group Inc., the world’s largest exchange owner, announced its plans to introduce bitcoin futures by the end of the year. The new contract will be cash-settled, based on the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR) which serves as a once-a-day reference rate of the U.S. dollar price of bitcoin. Bitcoin futures will be listed on and subject to the rules of CME.
“The SEC rejected a bitcoin ETF proposed by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss in March. The agency said in a filing on its website that Bats BZX Exchange, where the fund would’ve been listed, would be unable to enter into necessary surveillance-sharing agreements given that ‘significant markets for bitcoin are unregulated,’” according to Bloomberg.
Cboe, which acquired BATS, is also among the U.S. exchange operators pursuing bitcoin futures.
Derivatives help increase liquidity and improve markets for an asset category by allowing investors to bet on ups and downs of an asset, evening allowing individuals to adopt market-neutral strategies. They are also a key component in the creation of many futures-backed ETFs utilized by a range of investors.
Some market observers believe the launch of bitcoin futures will speed the introduction of exchange traded funds based on the digital currency. In recent weeks, several ETF issuers have also filed plans for blockchain ETFs, which would hold stocks with exposure to the digital currency trade.
For more information on the cryptocurrency market, visit our Bitcoin category.