- Multiple applications for Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (BTC ETFs) signal a significant milestone in the evolution of the crypto market.
- In August, a U.S. appeals court ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to reconsider its rejection of Grayscale’s BTC ETF application.
- According to Bernstein analysts in their September report, a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund could generate an estimated $600 billion in new demand, potentially doubling Bitcoin’s current $550 billion market capitalization.
What are Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (BTC ETFs)? What do these ETFs aim for? Detailed information about Bitcoin ETFs and the performance of Bitcoin!
What Are Bitcoin ETFs? Why Are They Important?
Multiple applications for Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (BTC ETFs) signal a significant milestone in the evolution of the crypto market. These financial instruments have garnered significant interest from investors, traders, and financial regulators.
BTC ETFs aim to provide exposure to the volatile and innovative world of crypto and have the potential to reshape both the crypto market and traditional financial markets.
In August, a U.S. appeals court ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to reconsider its rejection of Grayscale’s BTC ETF application. The overlooked impact of this decision could be the potential influx of $600 billion into the crypto market.
ETFs allow investors to gain regulated exposure to various asset classes, similar to how ETFs like iShares MSCI Brazil ETF and VanEck Brazil Small-Cap ETF democratized investment in the Brazilian market. The approval of a BTC ETF could democratize investment in the crypto sector.
However, these predictions are hypotheses because the actual outcome depends on various variables, including market dynamics, company strategies, and regulatory responses. The SEC has repeatedly delayed Cathie Wood’s Bitcoin ETF application.
In August, Cathie Wood anticipated these delays and suggested that the SEC might approve multiple Bitcoin ETFs simultaneously. However, on September 26th, the SEC extended the decision deadline to January 10th.
The delays and rejections of Bitcoin ETF applications by SEC Chairman Gary Gensler have been criticized and have disappointed investors. A bipartisan group of lawmakers called on Gensler this month to approve an ETF immediately and argued that spot crypto ETFs should not be rejected following the Grayscale court decision.
Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart suggested that the SEC’s recent decisions may have reduced the likelihood of ETF approvals in 2023. Applications from major players like BlackRock, Bitwise, and Wisdomtree are scheduled for review in the third week of October.
The approval of Bitcoin ETFs would be a significant step toward mainstream crypto acceptance. The court decision, while raising doubts about the SEC’s exclusive authority over digital assets, indicates that other institutions, Congress, and the courts may influence crypto regulations. This could make Bitcoin investment more accessible and regulated, attracting more capital to the crypto market.
Current Market Performance of BTC
While BTC appears to be on track to halt its six-year losses in September, gains this month may be at risk due to the threat of an impending federal government shutdown. BTC, the largest crypto by market capitalization, was trading at $26,915 on Saturday and has posted a 3.85% return so far this month. However, BTC has dropped 1.6% from its brief touch of $27,400 on Thursday.
Sustaining this negative price movement through the weekend could jeopardize BTC’s significant positive monthly return that started at around $26,000 at the beginning of a highly rising month.
Market participants await the early online launch of futures-based exchange-traded funds next week, while ETH is trading relatively flat around $1,670. Ripple’s XRP, Solana’s SOL, and TRON, representing digital assets outside the top market cap, have seen 3-5% increases.
Will BTC Serve as a Hedge Against Inflation?
The U.S. economy has recently faced challenges, with the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation index rising by 3.5% in the past year. Even when volatile food and energy sectors are excluded, it’s clear that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to control inflation have not met the 2% target rate.
U.S. Treasury bonds have lost $1.5 trillion in value due to these interest rate increases. This has led to speculation about whether riskier assets like Bitcoin and the stock market will resist higher interest rates and a monetary policy aimed at slowing economic growth.
As the U.S. Treasury continues to flood the market with debt, the likelihood of much higher interest rates remains a real threat, which could increase losses for fixed-income investors. An additional $8 trillion in government debt will mature within the next 12 months, contributing to financial instability.
