Bitcoin (BTC) is the leading cryptocurrency that aims to offer an alternative to the traditional financial system, free from centralized control and censorship. However, the increasing interest of institutional investors and asset managers in Bitcoin could pose a serious challenge to its core principles and values. One of the most anticipated developments in this regard is the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
A spot Bitcoin ETF is a type of investment product that tracks the price of Bitcoin and allows investors to buy and sell shares of the fund on a regulated exchange. Unlike futures or options contracts, spot Bitcoin ETFs would hold actual Bitcoin in custody and provide exposure to the underlying asset without the need to deal with the technical aspects of buying, storing, and securing Bitcoin.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs are seen as a potential catalyst for the mainstream adoption of Bitcoin, as they would lower the barriers to entry and increase the liquidity and transparency of the market. Moreover, they would attract more institutional investors and asset managers, such as BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm with assets totaling over several trillion dollars, which has applied for a spot Bitcoin ETF and is awaiting a decision from the SEC.
How could spot Bitcoin ETFs harm Bitcoin?
While spot Bitcoin ETFs may seem like a positive development for the Bitcoin ecosystem, some experts and enthusiasts have expressed concerns about their possible negative impact on the cryptocurrency. One of them is Arthur Hayes, the co-founder of BitMEX, a popular cryptocurrency derivatives exchange. In a recent blog post, Hayes warned that spot Bitcoin ETFs could “completely destroy” Bitcoin if they are too successful.
Hayes explained that Bitcoin has value because “it moves”, meaning that it is used as a medium of exchange and a store of value by its users, who have direct control over their funds and can transact with anyone, anywhere, anytime, without intermediaries. However, if spot Bitcoin ETFs become the dominant way of investing in Bitcoin, the ownership and usage of Bitcoin would shift from individuals to funds, which would reduce the demand and supply of Bitcoin on the actual network and make it less secure and decentralized.
“You can’t actually use Bitcoin. It’s a financial asset. It’s not the actual Bitcoin itself,” Hayes noted, adding that spot Bitcoin ETFs would essentially turn Bitcoin into a “paper tiger” that is vulnerable to manipulation and regulation by the traditional financial system.
Hayes also pointed out that the SEC’s role in approving spot Bitcoin ETFs is crucial, as the regulator has the power to influence the direction and development of the Bitcoin market. He argued that the SEC may have ulterior motives in delaying or rejecting spot Bitcoin ETFs, such as protecting the interests of the incumbent financial institutions or creating a favorable environment for its own digital currency.
What are the alternatives to spot Bitcoin ETFs?
Hayes suggested that instead of relying on spot Bitcoin ETFs, investors and users should seek other ways of accessing and utilizing Bitcoin that are more aligned with its original vision and ethos. For instance, he recommended using decentralized exchanges (DEXs), peer-to-peer platforms, and self-custody solutions that allow users to trade and store Bitcoin without intermediaries or third parties.
He also advocated for the development and adoption of technologies that enhance the privacy, scalability, and functionality of Bitcoin, such as the Lightning Network, Taproot, and Schnorr signatures. These innovations would enable faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions, as well as new use cases and applications for Bitcoin.
Hayes concluded that the future of Bitcoin depends on the choices and actions of its community, and urged them to resist the temptation of spot Bitcoin ETFs and embrace the true spirit of Bitcoin.
