Bitcoin (BTC) spot price exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been a topic of interest among crypto enthusiasts, with many keeping a close eye on the prospects of the world’s first spot ETF in the United States. Trading firm QCP Capital recently expressed its view that the likelihood of a Bitcoin spot ETF seeing the light of day soon is low. This comes despite BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, applying to list a U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF – a move that has resulted in more than 20% gains in the BTC price.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has so far rejected all spot ETF applications. With Gary Gensler as the current SEC Chair, under whose leadership legal actions have been taken against major crypto exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, QCP Capital remains skeptical about a spot ETF approval in the near future.
However, they note that there is a significant place for institutional BTC and ETH in the asset management world, and they expect to see further steps in that direction in the upcoming months and years. Despite BlackRock’s track record of only one SEC rejection out of 576 applications, the approval of a spot ETF remains a challenge.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) has been showing remarkable recovery, with its discount to the BTC spot – also known as discount to net asset value (NAV) – reaching its smallest levels of 2023 at 33.45% (according to CoinGlass data). QCP Capital recognizes GBTC’s recent performance as its ‘sharpest’ recovery since late 2020 when BTC broke above its prior all-time highs from 2017.
While the potential for a Bitcoin spot ETF may not materialize as hoped-for in the near term, it continues to spark discussion among the crypto community and industry players. An approval would provide a major boost for crypto markets and expand institutional involvement in the space. However, the current regulatory environment and SEC leadership present roadblocks that could hinder the chances of such an approval happening soon.
Source: Cointelegraph
