$Bitcoin ETF Approval: My Insights on the Milestone and its Implications for Blockchain Adoption.
The US capital markets regulator SEC approved 11 spot bitcoin ETFs, including those by BlackRock, Vanguard, Franklin Templeton, Valkyre, Fidelity, and Invesco, on January 10.
On Friday 12 Jan 2024, investors started trading ETFs, and approval of ETFs is a watershed moment in the crypto market. ETFs will bring more stability to the price of bitcoin and liquidity risks will be reduced over time.
First, let’s start with what is Bitcoin ETF?
Bitcoin ETFs are instruments that are traded publicly on a stock exchange that enable investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without actually owning it. An ETF is an investment fund that tracks the performance of underlying assets and moves up and down depending on asset value.
When you invest in a bitcoin ETF, you are not directly purchasing it but instead buying units in a mutual fund that holds bitcoin. Since ETFs are regulated, it is easier for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin’s price movement, the complexity of digital currency and wallets, and the security and risk associated with it. Even without opening an account on a crypto exchange or setting up digital wallets like Trust Wallet, Binance, and Metamask for asset storage, which is a complex process,
So if we look at the ETF definition, it is simply bringing centralization to a decentralized world. That is right and much needed for the security of assets and avoiding fraud in the crypto market. But I don’t know why crypto investors are so hyped about it. ETFs are good for regulators and governments because now they can control the price of ETFs and have tighter AML/KYC rules to avoid fraudulent transactions and money laundering in the economy. ETFs are going to solve that KYC/AML issue, and now Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies that will have ETFs in the future will be more stable and will become one of the asset classes like gold.
