In January 2024, the SEC approved 11 Bitcoin ETFs, marking a significant announcement for Bitcoin and the wider crypto-market. This approval demonstrates the growing integration of traditional finance with decentralized finance. The announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with crypto experts questioning what this means for the future of tradable crypto assets. On the back of the announcement, the news that BlackRock will now be the biggest holder of Bitcoin has made the issue more complex.
Evgeniy Babitsyn, CMO of Bets.io, is an expert crypto commentator who has been closely monitoring these latest developments.
“There are pros and cons to the BTC ETF. On the one hand, it gives retail investors another avenue of access to the crypto market, allowing them to invest through a traditional finance instrument. This is important because investors not well-versed in crypto investing can find it difficult to access and invest in crypto assets,” he said. “However, the bigger point here is that BTC’s incorporation into an ETF goes against the founding principles of cryptocurrency. Its evolution is a consequence of advanced technology removing the ‘middleman’ in transactions, empowering individuals to make transactions free of bureaucratic institutions.”
When it comes to the regulation of crypto assets, Evgeniy does admit that there is a role for regulators to play. However, he advises it should not go against the fundamentals of cryptocurrencies. “While there is a role for regulation to play, having an ETF in play goes against what BTC initially set out to achieve as an alternative to traditional financial systems.”
Increased institutional involvement in crypto trading can also distort the market, posing significant questions for the future. “News is now emerging that the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, is on track to becoming the biggest holder of BTC because of the ETF,” Evgeniy said. “Coupled with this, the ongoing developments from state entities to regulate crypto assets, the question now is whether the institutional embrace of BTC marks the beginning of the end for the coin, at least in its original form.”
Bets.io is a renowned brand within the world of crypto iGaming. It was launched in 2021 and has been rapidly expanding ever since. In 2022, the brand was acclaimed as The Rising Star Operator of the Year by SiGMA Europe for its ambition, results, and potential in the online entertainment industry. As such, it has been keenly watching the developments of crypto assets unfold.
Looking to the future, Evgeniy sees big announcements on the horizon. “For now, we know that 2024 will be a monumental year for the future of BTC, cryptocurrencies, and Web3.”
