The potential addition of options features for Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US is creating a buzz in the market. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart believes that these features might be included in the fourth quarter. However, there is a possibility that this offering could kick off as early as the third quarter, with the final decision deadline from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) set for around September 21st.
It is crucial to note that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) must also give their approval for the inclusion of options features in Bitcoin ETFs. Seyffart highlighted that there are currently 20 ETFs related to Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) that already offer options, including leveraged products. Despite the optimism surrounding the inclusion of these features, three smaller exchanges recently withdrew their applications to list spot Bitcoin ETF options. Nonetheless, major players like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) still have active applications in place.
In addition to Bitcoin ETFs, Nasdaq and BlackRock recently filed to add a spot Ethereum ETF called iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) to their lineup. The SEC is expected to provide comments within 21 days, with a final deadline projected to be around April 9, 2025. Nasdaq cited other commodity ETFs with listed options on its platform, such as BlackRock’s iShares COMEX Gold Trust and the iShares Silver Trust.
Despite facing two consecutive days of outflows, Bitcoin ETFs saw a significant $45 million in inflows on August 7th. This influx of funds came as a surprise to many, especially with Grayscale’s GBTC experiencing outflows of $30.7 million. On the other hand, BlackRock’s IBIT received a substantial $52.5 million in cash. Bloomberg’s ETF analyst, Eric Balchunas, expressed his astonishment at the unexpected inflows as he initially anticipated continued outflows until Bitcoin ETFs had reduced their assets under management (AUM) by 2% to 3%. However, the actual decrease was only 0.5%, despite Bitcoin’s price falling by 21% on a weekly basis.
Overall, the future of Bitcoin ETFs in the US market appears promising, with the potential addition of options features opening up new opportunities for investors. As regulatory approvals and market trends continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these developments shape the landscape of cryptocurrency investments.
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