ProShares’ Crypto ETF: A Farce in the World of Digital Assets? 🎭

Key Takeaways

Which cryptocurrencies will the ETF focus on?

Behold, the ETF shall dabble in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Solana-yet shun stablecoins, memecoins, and wrapped tokens as though they were the plague! 🤭

Will the ETF hold cryptocurrencies directly?

Nay, dear reader! ProShares shall conjure the index’s performance through total return swaps and derivatives, all while hiding behind a Cayman Islands subsidiary. A masterclass in legal acrobatics! 🌀

ProShares, the alchemist of Bitcoin Futures ETFs (BITO), now seeks to expand its crypto kingdom. One might say it’s chasing the pot of gold at the end of the blockchain rainbow. 🌈

Details of ProShares CoinDesk Crypto 20 ETF

In a recent SEC filing, the firm unveiled its latest scheme: the ProShares CoinDesk Crypto 20 ETF. A fund so cunning, it shall track the CoinDesk 20 Index-excluding stablecoins, memecoins, and wrapped tokens as if they were unwelcome guests at a royal feast. 🍷

Indeed, the index shall focus on the twenty largest cryptocurrencies by market cap and trading volume. Among them: Ethereum [ETH], Ripple [XRP], and Solana [SOL]. A veritable who’s who of crypto nobility! 👑

How is it different from spot ETFs?

Unlike spot ETFs, this fund shall not hold cryptocurrencies directly. Instead, it shall replicate the index’s performance synthetically-through total return swaps and derivatives. A theatrical performance, if you will! 🎭

This structure allows ProShares to sidestep the thorny issues of custody and regulation. Yet, one must wonder: what risks lie in this shadowy world of derivatives? Counterparty risk, of course! And a dash of regulatory uncertainty. 🤯

The SEC, ever the cautious bard, warns of market manipulation, volatility, and liquidity crises. A tragedy in the making, or perhaps a farce? Only time shall tell. 🕰️

Should this ETF grace the NYSE Arca stage, it shall operate via traditional cash-based creation and redemption mechanisms. A relief for institutional investors who wish to avoid the burden of managing digital wallets. 🧾

Impact on the tokens

Meanwhile, Bitcoin danced at $108,060.05, while Ethereum stumbled to $3,853.90. XRP waltzed lower to $2.40, and Solana curtsied at $184.10. A chaotic ballet of numbers! 💃

VanEck, too, filed its Solana ETF, proving that the market’s appetite for crypto diversification is as ravenous as a wolf in winter. 🐺

Yet regulatory delays linger like a bad smell. Still, inflows into Solana, Ethereum, and XRP suggest investors remain optimistic-perhaps blinded by hope or a dash of madness. 🤡

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2025-10-22 15:08