A Bunch of Questions—and Answers!—About the New Bitcoin ETFs
Jan 18, 2024
auto_awesome
James Seyffart, ETF analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, joins the hosts to answer listener questions about the newly launched Bitcoin ETFs. They discuss the backing of these funds, structure dynamics, Coinbase's role as a custodian, and the potential impact of the wash-sale rule on gold and crypto ETFs.
The approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs brought relief and marked a significant step forward for the cryptocurrency industry, with successful launches and positive investor response.
Bitcoin ETFs provide investors with a convenient and regulated way to gain exposure to Bitcoin, with the ETFs being physically backed by actual Bitcoin and the custody being handled by custodians like Coinbase.
Deep dives
Bitcoin ETFs Finally Approved After Years of Waiting
After 10 and a half years, Spot Bitcoin ETFs were finally approved, leading to intense excitement and high trading volumes in the first few days. There were concerns and conspiracy theories leading up to the approval, including speculation that the SEC chairman manipulated the market with a fake tweet. However, the approval brought relief to those involved and signaled a significant step forward for the cryptocurrency industry. Despite the successful launch, some people expected the ETFs to cause an immediate spike in Bitcoin's price, while others questioned the impact of the ETFs on the original purpose of Bitcoin as a currency outside the traditional system. Overall, the launches were seen as a success, with substantial trading volumes and positive investor response.
Key points about Bitcoin ETFs: backed by actual Bitcoin, settlement process, and custodians
Bitcoin ETFs are physically backed by actual Bitcoin, and investors have direct exposure to the cryptocurrency. The creation of shares in ETFs involves a cash-only process, where the ETFs themselves hold the Bitcoin and sell it when an investor wants to redeem their shares. The custodian for these ETFs, such as Coinbase, plays a crucial role in storing the Bitcoin securely. While the specific wallet addresses may not be disclosed to the public due to security reasons, some smaller ETF issuers may choose to share this information with their clients for transparency. Overall, the ETFs aim to provide investors with a convenient and regulated way to gain exposure to Bitcoin.
Success and Competition in the Bitcoin ETF Market
The launch of Bitcoin ETFs has been highly successful in terms of trading volume and investor interest. In the first few days, the trading volume reached billions of dollars, and the ETFs attracted a significant amount of assets. The newborn ETFs, in particular, showed proportional flows and volumes, indicating a healthy distribution across multiple issuers. While Grayscale's GBTC continues to dominate in terms of assets and liquidity, other ETFs are gaining traction and narrowing the gap. Looking ahead, some key factors to watch include the development of options trading, the introduction of leverage ETFs, fee competition, and potential expansion into retirement accounts. Flows, both short-term and long-term, will continue to be an important metric to monitor the success and competition among the Bitcoin ETFs.
Future Considerations for the Bitcoin ETF Market
As the Bitcoin ETF market evolves, there are several factors to keep an eye on. One important aspect is the tightness of spreads between buy and sell prices for the ETFs. Over time, as market makers and authorized participants become more efficient, these spreads are expected to narrow. Additionally, the introduction of options trading in a few months will further expand the ecosystem and attract more trading activity. Lower fees are also anticipated, with the possibility of certain ETFs setting new lows to attract investors. Another interesting development to watch is the potential use of multiple custodians by ETF issuers, which could enhance security and diversify risk. Overall, the growth and success of the Bitcoin ETF market will be shaped by factors such as volume, fees, spreads, options trading, and custody arrangements.
After years and years of drama, the US Securities and Exchange Commission finally let 10 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds begin trading last week. The launches have been wildly successful. But now that these funds are in the wild, you probably have a few questions. And you're not alone!
On this episode, Eric and Joel along with James Seyffart, ETF analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence—open up the mailbag to answer all your most pressing questions.