Australia prepares to launch a Bitcoin ETF on ASX alongside major industry players, with an eye towards a $2.3 trillion pension market.
TakeAway Points:
- Australia is preparing for the launch of Bitcoin ETFs, with companies like Van Eck and BetaShares spearheading the initiative, in response to the $53 billion success of the US launch.
- In order to capitalise on Australia’s $2.3 trillion pension market potential, ASX Ltd. anticipates approving the first spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds before the end of 2024.
- A wider ASX platform and demand from self-managed super funds are the main focus of the latest Australian spot-Bitcoin ETF plans, which had mostly unsuccessful previous attempts.
Australians Watch the Bitcoin ETF Wave
Van Eck Associates Corp. and BetaShares Holdings Pty are among the industry heavyweights planning for an ASX Ltd. listing as Australia gets ready for a big push into the Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) space.
With regard to the growing acceptance and integration of digital assets into conventional financial markets, this action is in line with the global trend initiated by the United States and Hong Kong. By the end of 2024, the ASX, which controls around four-fifths of the Australian equity trading industry, is anticipated to approve the first spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The significant market interest for such products is demonstrated by the substantial $53 billion that US Bitcoin ETFs have acquired this year alone, adding to the anticipation.
Electronic Resources “Always Here”
The drive to introduce Bitcoin ETFs in Australia is supported by a strong conviction in the durability and stability of digital assets and is not merely a speculative endeavour. According to Justin Arzadon, head of digital assets at BetaShares, the significant inflows into US digital asset funds are evidence of the durability of cryptocurrencies.
In an indication of their strong faith in the potential of cryptocurrency investments, BetaShares and other issuers like as DigitalX Ltd. and VanEck are aggressively seeking to bring these products to the Australian market. A further testament to the seriousness of BetaShares’ ambitions is the reserved ASX tickers for their spot-Bitcoin and spot-Ether ETFs.
Possible Motivators for the Market
The enormous $2.3 trillion pension market in Australia may be a major factor in spot-crypto funds’ performance. There is a sizable potential investor base for these ETFs, since self-directed superannuation programmes control around 25% of the nation’s retirement assets.
Financial advisers, brokers, and self-managed super funds offer a significant market opportunity, as noted by Jamie Hannah, deputy head of investments and capital markets at VanEck Australia. This large and varied investor base may provide the ETFs the boost they need to reach critical mass when they first launch.
Past Efforts and Upcoming Opportunities
There have been setbacks along the way in Australia’s quest to create a profitable spot-Bitcoin exchange fund; prior attempts to do so were shut down for lack of adequate funds. But the continued existence of issuers such as BetaShares and the fresh ETF applications that have been filed on the ASX and CBOE Australia suggest a newfound sense of hope.
Lessons from previous experiences are highlighted by the emphasis on tackling important operational aspects like token custody.
Further evidence of the growing acceptance of digital assets as respectable investment vehicles comes from DigitalX Chief Executive Officer Lisa Wade’s suggestion that Australians may devote up to 10% of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies.
