Displaying items by tag: cryptocurrencies

A skirmish over fees preceded the long-awaited SEC approval of Bitcoin ETFs, which finally arrived on January 10th. Just days before the historic green light, applicants, including BlackRock and ARK, amended their proposals, slashing or eliminating management fees to woo early investors. This sudden fee competition presents a unique opportunity, favoring those who invest in these ETFs first.

BlackRock's ETF, for instance, carries a 0.30% annual fee, preceded by a mere 0.20% introductory rate for the first year or $5 billion in assets under management (AUM). ARK amended their application, indicating they would waive their 0.25% fee during an introductory 6-month period for the first $1 billion in AUM. These pricing moves reflect the intense competition brewing in the nascent Bitcoin ETF space.

Why the sudden price drop? One answer lies in the inherent simplicity of Bitcoin ETFs. Unlike traditional, diversified index funds with hundreds of securities, these products hold primarily just one asset – Bitcoin. This reduces complexity, leaving ample room for fee compression. Consequently, fees are poised to become a differentiator, influencing investor decisions in this uncharted territory.

However, navigating this new landscape requires caution. Investors should closely scrutinize underlying investment structures and track records of issuers. Due diligence is paramount when navigating this rapidly evolving space.

Finsum: The era of cryptocurrency ETFs begins with a race to lower fees, with many initial issuers slashing fees during introductory periods.

Cryptocurrencies are no stranger to volatility but the latest fluctuations could prove terminal at least for the companies. Goldman Sachs downgraded Coinbase Global to a sell this weak as the stock tumbled by almost 10%. The new price target according to GS is $45 which is a far cry from the +$300 it traded at after it IPO’d. While bitcoin, Ethereum, and the rest of the asset class may survive the slowdown companies supported, or rather supported by, crypto might not make it. Bitcoin has lost 55% of its value which is putting lots of pressure on the revenue streams of the company forcing layoffs and other drastic measures. Just recently Coinbase cut nearly a fifth of its workforce in order to weather the brunt of the storm.

Finsum: This might not prove fatal for bitcoin but could for the companies relying on the asset, even international troubles and inflation aren’t lifting up the asset class yet.

(New York)

In a sign of just how far Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have fallen from their heights, the CBOE has just scrapped its plans to continue to offer Bitcoin futures. Creating mainstream products around Bitcoin was all the rage until recently, but Wall Street’s appetite for doing so has tumbled alongside cryptocurrencies’ prices. Godman Sachs’ plans to create a bitcoin trading desk, much discussed early last year, have yet to materialize.

FINSUM: Have cryptocurrencies reached their zenith? In terms of prices, things are way off (Bitcoin at $20,000 in December 2017 to $4,000 now), but what about in terms of their place in the financial system?

(New York)

We do not cover Bitcoin very much, but we thought it would be worthwhile to give an update today, especially as advisors may have some clients who are very interested in the area. Most are aware that the cryptocurrency has plunged from late last year, but had been enjoying a minor rally of late. That has come to end abrupt end though, capped off by another SEC rejection/delay of a Bitcoin ETF. The SEC delayed a decision on a new Bitcoin ETF until the end of September, which sent the market plunging ~8%. Bitcoin is now trading around $6,500, way down from its $20,000 peak.

FINSUM: This newest Bitcoin delay is more worrisome as it was the most promising proposal on the table. The proposal, in part from top ETF provider Van Eck, was to actually hold Bitcoin instead of Bitcoin futures, which one would think would alleviate some of the SEC’s worries. We think this will eventually make it through, and when it does, Bitcoin might become a more mainstream asset class.

(New York)

The idea of bitcoin being a 21st century version of gold, a digital value store for the next generation, has become prevalent. However, Barron’s argues, and we second, the idea that Bitcoin can never be gold. The idea comes from a new paper out of the University of Chicago. The core reason why?: It is simply not as secure. If you pay close attention to the headlines, Bitcoin is being hacked and stolen left and right. Even worse, the more valuable Bitcoin becomes, the more it is stolen. The same cannot be said for gold.

FINSUM: The paper argues that bitcoin will never play more than a “bit role” in the global financial system because of its fundamental vulnerability to theft. It sounds like the cryptocurrency needs a digital Fort Knox.