The cryptocurrency market greeted an influential piece of news with open arms last week, causing tremors in the sector that positively affected many. A federal judge ruled favorably for Grayscale in their recent SEC legal disputes, leading to Coinbase stocks taking a notable surge on Aug. 29. In the wear of the trading day and post-victory euphoria, COIN (Coinbase shares) rested at $85.13 a share, a 15% increase from the previous day’s close.
This legal victory, which undoubtedly caught the attention of many, was greeted with optimism by investors as it could be the harbinger of good times for the sector. The investors’ contentment was deemed by many to be a direct result of this verdict that sparked hopes for a Bitcoin ETF’s arrival. The news further boosted the excitement in the market as Coinbase, a major player in the crypto industry, was chosen as a potential custodian and partner for sharing surveillance data. It also gave rise to the idea of sharing data related to trading, clearing operations, and customer identification aimed at mitigating market manipulation risks.
However, there is still a significant gap to be filled in this optimistic scenario. Despite this verdict, a Bitcoin spot ETF remains conspicuously absent in the U.S. This is attributed to the SEC’s reluctance in granting approval. Currently, the U.S. market only supports cryptocurrency ETFs linked to futures contracts, enabling investors to speculate on future digital asset prices. This gap is glaring as investors are yearning for an investment instrument that exposes them directly to Bitcoin.
Among the many interested parties paying close attention to this market anomaly, BlackRock stood out, following their application for SEC approval in June. Many are aware that BlackRock isn’t merely another name in the industry; it is the world’s largest asset manager, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed. The CEO, Larry Fink, expressed an undeniable fact – a strong demand from clients for cryptocurrency exposure.
It seems the cryptocurrency market has responded positively as Bitcoin stood at $27,982 per coin, a 7% increase within the past 24 hours. However, in comparison to Bitcoin’s peak in November 2021, the cryptocurrency is down nearly 60%. Despite this shortfall, the avid investor could view this as not a downtrend, but a potential buying opportunity. While Grayscale and Coinbase may have won this legal battle, the market’s bigger picture paints a landscape that is much more complex, intricate, and unpredictable than it initially seems. The introduction of a Bitcoin ETF might be perceived as a victory for some, but the cryptocurrency world is known to be a long road full of unexpected turns.
Source: Cointelegraph
