VanEck To Launch Ether Futures ETF

VanEck, an investment firm founded in 1955 which manages $80.8B as of August, will soon launch a futures ETF for ETH, the world's second most valuable cryptocurrency.

Ether is trading nearly 4% higher at $1,660 on the news.

The ETF will hold Ether futures contracts — as opposed to the asset itself — and will trade on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, which is the largest exchange for futures and options in the U.S. VanEck already offers a Bitcoin futures ETF.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has been aggressive towards crypto companies this year, also regulates ETFs, prompting some to suggest that the agency’s stance towards digital assets may be softening.

The development isn’t necessarily bullish, however — VanEck’s Bitcoin futures ETF launched in November 2021, just days before crypto markets topped.

The news comes as a swathe of companies have filed applications with the SEC for spot Bitcoin ETFs, which, if approved, would enable retail investors to easily access exposure to the digital asset. Spot ETFs hold the underlying asset directly, which means that a spike in investor interest could exert substantial buying pressure on Bitcoin.

In other regulatory news, Coinbase, the largest American crypto exchange, has received approval from the Bermuda Monetary Authority to enable perpetual futures trading for non-U.S. customers. Coinbase launched an exchange catering to foreign users in May.