BlackRock, a prominent institutional investor, files a spot Ethereum ETF. The podcast discusses the likelihood of approval, market surveillance agreements with Coinbase, and the impact on the crypto market. It explores the implications for detecting fraud, the rise of Ethereum's price, Bitcoin liquidations, and the rise of CME as a trading venue. Discussion on the current state of the Bitcoin market and potential impact of a Bitcoin ETF approval is also included.
BlackRock has filed to launch a spot Ethereum ETF, which has the potential to be approved based on their successful track record with ETF applications.
The announcement of BlackRock's Ethereum ETF filing caused the price of Ethereum to surge by 8% and had a ripple effect on the cryptocurrency market, influencing declines in other coins and driving up the performance of Ethereum staking ecosystem tokens.
Deep dives
BlackRock's Ethereum ETF filing
BlackRock has filed to launch a spot Ethereum ETF, which stands a good chance of being approved due to their track record of successful ETF applications. The legality of a spot Ethereum ETF is supported by the court's decision on spot Bitcoin ETFs and the increase in Ethereum futures markets. BlackRock's application highlights the surveillance agreements with Coinbase and the CME Ethereum futures market as measures to prevent manipulation.
Ethereum's price response and market impact
Upon the confirmation of BlackRock's ETF filing, the price of Ethereum surged by 8% and continued rising throughout the day. This news also affected other cryptocurrency markets, with top 30 coins experiencing declines, while Ethereum staking ecosystem tokens performed well. Bitcoin also had a solid morning, reaching a new year-to-date high before experiencing a 5% drawdown. The volatile day in the market resulted in significant liquidations and a reduction in open interest, with the CME overtaking Binance as the largest trading venue for Bitcoin futures.
Skepticism and excitement about ETF approvals
Some analysts express skepticism about the recent Bitcoin rally, citing subdued and declining volume as a red flag. However, Bitwise's CIO believes that ETF approvals are not priced in, as many potential buyers are not aware of the imminent approval and don't expect it until 2025 or later. A survey of financial advisors also indicates a similar sentiment, with the majority not anticipating the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF in the near future.