SEC Approves Spot-Based Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs for Institutional Investors, Set for January Launch

Dec 24, 2024, 10:01 AM

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the first dual Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from Hashdex and Franklin Templeton. These spot-based, market cap-weighted ETFs provide institutional investors with a regulated way to access the two largest digital assets, with an initial allocation of approximately 80% Bitcoin and 20% Ethereum. The ETFs will be listed on Nasdaq and Cboe BZX, with Franklin Templeton’s ETF tracking the Institutional Digital Asset Index and Hashdex’s ETF tied to the Nasdaq Crypto US Settlement Price Index. Both funds are initially focused on Bitcoin and Ethereum but Hashdex aims to expand to other digital assets like XRP in the future. The approval is seen as a milestone that could drive further institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies, with the ETFs expected to launch in January.