ETF.com Live Blog: Bitcoin ETF Launch Watch

Recapping the latest on a potential launch of bitcoin ETFs.

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Reviewed by: Dan Mika
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Edited by: Dan Mika

Bitcoin’s price peaked past $60,000 on Friday, as anticipation for a bitcoin ETF is at all-time highs heading into next week. Sources tell ETF.com that the SEC will allow futures-based bitcoin ETFs to become effective as soon as next Monday.

ETF.com will keep you on top of news and filings from the space on this regularly updated page.

 

Why The Hype Now?

ProShares and Invesco both filed for a futures-based bitcoin ETF on the same date, and under the 2019 ETF Rule, their filings could become immediately effective on Monday barring a last-minute regulatory move by the SEC. At that point, the race to launch begins.

Valkyrie also has a futures-based filing that was filed days later, but industry watchers speculate that it may get a go-ahead from regulators since it is limited just to bitcoin futures, while the ProShares and Invesco funds would be able to buy foreign vehicles that directly hold the asset.

A full roundup is here.

Updates:

Friday, Oct. 15

4:45 p.m. ET: ProShares waited until after the markets closed to make its filings for the day, confirming that it intends to list on the NYSE Arca with the ticker BITO and a 0.95% expense ratio.

The NYSE and Nasdaq both require a full business day between a trader notice and a fund's listing, so the race is now on between Valkyrie and ProShares to be the first to launch early next week.

4:00 p.m. ET: Bitcoin reached an intraday high of $61,839.98 to end Wall Street hours at $61,419.93 and a sizable 6.27% gain on the day. There are no additional filings made by Valkyrie, ProShares or Invesco since Valkyrie's certification from the Nasdaq, but we'll continue to keep an eye out for new filings on Friday evening and through the weekend.

1:11 p.m. ET: Bitcoin is now trading past $61,000 and up 7.25% on the day, well past the two major stock indices. That increase is coming after Valkyrie's filings, which make it all but certain that it will list sometime next week. There's no update from ProShares or Invesco at this point to indicate they are seeking accelerated effectiveness, and they have yet to publicize their tickers and exchanges of choice. Remember, those two filings automatically become effective on Monday unless the SEC steps in.

11:10 a.m. ET: The Nasdaq files a certification for the Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF for listing, and seeks "immediate acceleration" of the fund's effective registration date. If that's granted, the Nasdaq can send out a trader notice and trigger the one-business-day waiting period before the fund can list.

10:40 a.m. ET: Bitcoin briefly broke the $60,000 mark multiple times this morning, at one point soaring $1,659 in a matter of 20 minutes. Markets in general are up, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 278 points and the S&P 500 adding 28 points as of 10:40 a.m.

Courtesy Coindesk

The record high for Bitcoin is $64,863 in mid-April of this year, which was driven by Coinbase’s IPO.

9:54 a.m. ET: James Seyffart of Bloomberg tweets that the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF is in the process of being added to the Bloomberg Terminal with the ticker BITO and an expense ratio of 0.95%.

No updates confirming those details have been submitted to the SEC yet.

9:09 a.m. ET: Valkyrie files to register shares for its futures ETF. The firm already disclosed its intention to file on the Nasdaq with the ticker BTF earlier this week, making it the first to declare its symbol and exchange.

Thursday, Oct. 14

10:00 p.m. ET: Bloomberg reports that the SEC is unlikely to block the ProShares and Invesco filings from coming into effect, citing people familiar with the matter.

4:02 p.m. ET: The SEC tweets a link to an investor bulletin from June 10 about bitcoin futures funds, sparking further speculation that an approval is imminent.

There are currently 19 applications in front of the SEC for bitcoin ETFs, according to ETF.com’s running tally. Several earlier filings were held up by the SEC because they propose directly holding bitcoin instead of bitcoin futures, or are filed under the Securities Act of 1933 and don’t qualify for the automatic relief granted by the ETF rule under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Current Bitcoin ETF Filings

FundIssuerFiling DateSEC Filing
Bitwise Bitcoin Strategy ETFBitwise9/14/21Link
AdvisorShares Managed Bitcoin ETF AdvisorShares8/20/21Link
Galaxy Bitcoin Strategy ETFGalaxy Digital8/18/2021Link

Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF

Valkyrie Funds

8/11/2021

Link

Bitcoin Strategy ETF

VanEck

8/9/2021

Link

ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF

ProShares Advisors

8/4/2021

Link

Invesco Bitcoin Strategy ETF

Invesco Capital Management

8/4/2021

Link
Global X Bitcoin TrustGlobal X Digital Assets7/21/2021Link
ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF21Shares6/28/2021Link
One River Carbon Neutral Bitcoin TrustOne River Digital Asset Management5/24/2021Link
Teucrium Bitcoin Futures FundTeucrium Trading5/20/2021Link
Galaxy Bitcoin ETFGalaxy Digital Capital Management4/12/2021Link
Kryptoin Bitcoin ETF TrustKryptoin Investment Advisors4/9/2021Link
Wise Origin Bitcoin TrustFD Funds Management 3/24/2021Link
First Trust SkyBridge Bitcoin ETF TrustFirst Trust Advisors 3/19/2021Link
WisdomTree Bitcoin TrustWisdomTree Digital Commodity Services3/11/2021Link
NYDIG Bitcoin ETFNYDIG Asset Management2/16/2021Link
Valkyrie Bitcoin FundValkyrie Digital Assets 1/22/2021Link
VanEck Bitcoin TrustVanEck Digital Assets12/30/2020Link

Dan Mika is a reporter for etf.com. He has previously covered business for the Ames Tribune and Cedar Rapids Gazette in Iowa, and BizWest Media in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dan holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Truman State University.

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