According to PANews, Australia is set to launch a Bitcoin ETF, following in the footsteps of the United States and Hong Kong. Insiders have revealed that the largest securities exchange in Australia, ASX Ltd., is expected to approve the first batch of Bitcoin spot ETFs listed on the main board by the end of 2024. It is reported that ASX handles about three-quarters of Australia's stock trading.

A spokesperson for BetaShares, based in Sydney, stated in an interview that the company is working on launching a cryptocurrency ETF on the Australian Securities Exchange. Justin Arzadon, the head of digital assets at BetaShares, said that the company has reserved ASX stock codes for Bitcoin spot ETFs and Ethereum spot ETFs.

Another local company, DigitalX Ltd., stated in its semi-annual performance report in February this year that it has submitted an application for a Bitcoin ETF. VanEck also resubmitted an application in February this year. A spokesperson for ASX said that the exchange 'continues to engage with some issuers interested in launching crypto ETFs,' but did not confirm a timetable.

According to BlockBeats, despite the impending Bitcoin halving, the top five Bitcoin mining companies have not sold their Bitcoin. A report by Bitwise on April 10 revealed that the total number of Bitcoins sold by the top five mining companies in the first quarter of 2024 dropped to about 2000, reaching a two-year low. Currently, Bitcoin miners worldwide hold over 700,000 Bitcoins, accounting for 3.4% of the total Bitcoin supply.

The last time the top five mining companies sold less than 2000 Bitcoins was in the first quarter of 2022. In contrast, in the fourth quarter of 2023, these companies collectively sold over 7000 Bitcoins. Among the top five mining companies, Marathon Digital produced the most Bitcoins, with each costing $22,249. The company produced over 2500 Bitcoins in the first quarter of 2024, a figure lower than the over 4000 Bitcoins produced in the fourth quarter of 2023.