Bitcoin ETF?
A Bitcoin ETF? What is next? Who knows?
All we know is that the ETF industry has democratized institutional investing and opened access to any asset class, strategy, style, etc. it to any investor. Our recommendation with any new ETF that is launched is to be patient and watch it evolve and grow before diving in with head first. We have mixed feelings about Bitcoins and are watching its evolution very closely before we would consider including it in our ETF models.
Following is the Bloomberg http://buswk.co/1joz7AB story on the Bitcoin ETF:
An exchange-traded fund started by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss to invest in the virtual currency bitcoin will be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, according to a filing today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Winklevoss twins, who claimed Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for a social-networking website to start Facebook Inc., are seeking to open the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust as the first ETF tracking a virtual asset. Their Winklevoss Capital Management LLC, based in New York, is the fund’s sponsor.
Bitcoin is a software protocol for issuing and moving money across the Internet. Proposed in 2008 by a person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto, the value of bitcoins has varied.
The digital currency has gained traction with merchants selling everything from Sacramento Kings basketball tickets to kitchen mixers on Overstock.com to illegal narcotics.
It’s also drawn scrutiny for potential abuse. The SEC issued an alert to investors yesterday about the risks of bitcoins or other virtual-currency related investments.
