Hashdex and Franklin Templeton received regulatory approval to launch the first exchange-traded funds combining bitcoin and ether exposure, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing released Thursday.
The Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF will trade on Nasdaq, while Franklin Templeton’s Crypto Index ETF will list on the Cboe BZX Exchange, with both products holding a mix of spot bitcoin and ether weighted by their market capitalizations, according to the SEC filing.
Ether is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain network, a digital ledger system that powers smart contracts and decentralized applications.
The new funds arrive during a transformative period for cryptocurrency investing, as bitcoin trades near record highs and Wall Street continues to roll out regulated crypto investment products.
These combination ETFs mark the latest evolution in crypto investing, following the SEC’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in January that have drawn over $36 billion in assets, and subsequent Ethereum approvals in July.
The ETFs will hold bitcoin and either, with allocations based on the cryptocurrencies’ free-float market capitalization, according to the regulatory filing. Both funds will provide intraday pricing updates every 15 seconds during regular trading hours.
Nate Geraci, president of The ETF Store, expects strong interest in the combined products.
“Advisors LOVE diversification. Especially in an emerging asset class such as crypto,” Geraci wrote in an X post.
The SEC moved quickly on Franklin’s application, granting accelerated approval after the firm’s Dec. 18 amendment aligned its structure with existing cryptocurrency ETF frameworks, the filing shows.
The SEC determined both proposals met Exchange Act requirements, including rules designed to prevent fraudulent practices, protect investors, and ensure fair and orderly markets.
In the broader crypto markets, bitcoin traded around $97,243 Friday afternoon, down over 10% from its record high of $108,268 reached earlier this week, according to CoinMarketCap data. Ether has declined nearly 3% for the day, trading at around $3,428.
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Source: finance.yahoo.com