Bitcoin securities trading surges as investors seek crypto exposure
Investor interest in crypto-linked exchange-traded products (ETPs) is running high. BTCetc Bitcoin Exchange Traded Crypto (BTCE) recorded average daily trading of EUR57 million on the Deutsche Bourse in the first 11 days of January, including a record of $100 on January 4. BTCE has also surpassed $375 million assets under management (AuM).
Tether’s Bank Says It Invests Customer Funds in Bitcoin
Deltec, Tether’s Bahamas-based bank, is investing customer funds in bitcoin, which raises new questions about whether the dollar-pegged USDT stablecoin, which is in theory backed by cash and “cash equivalents,” as well as “other assets and receivables made by loans,” is actually backed in any way by bitcoin. However, Deltec hasn’t divulged which clients it’s holding Bitcoin for, as Tether isn’t Deltec’s only customer. In fact, at least one other crypto company seems to use it as well, crypto derivatives exchange FTX.
Bitcoin Miners Aren’t Responsible for Recent Price Dips, Data Shows
“Miners are selling” is a popular trope used to explain bitcoin’s occasional downward price action. But on-chain data doesn’t support this narrative, according to analysts and mining pools themselves. After bitcoin’s correction earlier this week to the tune of nearly 30%, miners were a popular scapegoat. But miners have been extremely consistent in their selling habits for months, according to network data collected by Glassnode and analyzed by CoinDesk.
* The views expressed herein are those of the author and should not be attributed to the International Monetary Fund, its Executive Board or its management.
