Today, moderators of the mailing list for Bitcoin developers, Ruben Somsen, Bryan Bishop, and Warren Togami, announced the migration of the mailing list to Google Groups.

“The bitcoin-dev mailing list has migrated from Sourceforge.net where it was originally hosted, to Linux Foundation, to OSUOSL, and now it is migrating to Google Groups,” said Bitcoin developer Bryan Bishop.

Subscribers to the existing mailing list are urged to take action promptly, as emails to the old list will no longer be accepted as of February 2024. Invitations to join the new Google Groups platform will be sent out to all current subscribers, enabling seamless transition to the updated system. The new mailing list location will be accessible here.

For those who missed the invitation or prefer to subscribe manually, alternative options are provided, including email subscription or online interface registration using a Google account. “If you missed the invite and want to subscribe manually you have two options,” the email stated. “You can send an email to [email protected] and then send a reply to the automated email you’ll receive (check your spam folder). Alternatively, you can also subscribe through the online interface at https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev, using a Google account (not the same as gmail – you can create a Google account with any email address you like).”

The announcement also emphasized the importance of staying opted in to receive all messages, to facilitate active participation and maintain continuity in conversations to ensure that replies are threaded together properly.

Furthermore, the migration ensures the preservation and accessibility of archived mailing list contents (no Google account required) with backups available externally, where the old mailing list can be viewed. It is important to note that the moderators “aren’t relying on Google for anything critical here and are merely using them as a conduit for information that is already meant to be public.”

The mailing list moderators also want to remind participants to make sure posts are relevant to everyone in order to maintain a good signal-to-noise ratio. A list of the mailing list rules, which remain unchanged, can be be found here. Moderators can be reached at [email protected].

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Robinhood, the popular commission-free trading platform, has recently announced its plans to list spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) as soon as possible. This move is seen as a significant step towards mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies and could potentially revolutionize the way investors interact with digital assets.

Understanding Robinhood’s Move

Robinhood’s decision to list spot Bitcoin ETFs is a strategic move aimed at capitalizing on the growing interest in cryptocurrencies. The platform has been a pioneer in democratizing finance for all by offering commission-free trading, and this new development is expected to further enhance its appeal among young and tech-savvy investors.

What are Spot Bitcoin ETFs?

Before delving into the implications of Robinhood’s decision, it’s essential to understand what spot Bitcoin ETFs are. A Bitcoin ETF is a fund that tracks the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy shares of the fund instead of purchasing Bitcoin directly. A spot ETF, on the other hand, holds the actual asset (in this case, Bitcoin) instead of futures contracts.

• Spot Bitcoin ETFs offer a more direct exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements.

• They eliminate the need for investors to manage digital wallets or worry about private keys, making the investment process simpler and more accessible.

Why is Robinhood’s Decision Significant?

Robinhood’s plan to list spot Bitcoin ETFs is significant for several reasons:

• It signals a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies among traditional financial institutions.

• It could potentially attract more retail investors to the crypto market.

• It provides a safer and more regulated way for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin.

Impact on the Crypto Market

Robinhood’s decision could have a profound impact on the crypto market. By listing spot Bitcoin ETFs, the platform is essentially providing a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto world. This could potentially lead to increased liquidity in the crypto market, more stable prices, and reduced volatility.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the potential benefits, Robinhood’s plan to list spot Bitcoin ETFs is not without challenges. Regulatory hurdles are the most significant obstacle. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been cautious about approving Bitcoin ETFs due to concerns about market manipulation and investor protection. However, the recent approval of Bitcoin futures ETFs suggests that the regulatory environment may be changing.

Conclusion: A Game-Changing Move

In conclusion, Robinhood’s plan to list spot Bitcoin ETFs could be a game-changing move for the crypto market. It signals a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies among traditional financial institutions and could potentially attract more retail investors to the crypto market. However, regulatory hurdles remain a significant challenge. Regardless, the move is a clear indication of the growing intersection between traditional finance and the crypto world, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

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Robinhood, the popular commission-free trading platform, has recently announced its plans to list spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) as soon as possible. This move is seen as a significant step towards mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies and could potentially revolutionize the way investors interact with digital assets.

Understanding Robinhood’s Move

Robinhood’s decision to list spot Bitcoin ETFs is a strategic move aimed at capitalizing on the growing interest in cryptocurrencies. The platform has been a pioneer in democratizing finance for all by offering commission-free trading, and this new development is expected to further enhance its appeal among young and tech-savvy investors.

What are Spot Bitcoin ETFs?

Before delving into the implications of Robinhood’s decision, it’s essential to understand what spot Bitcoin ETFs are. A Bitcoin ETF is a fund that tracks the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy shares of the fund instead of purchasing Bitcoin directly. A spot ETF, on the other hand, holds the actual asset (in this case, Bitcoin) instead of futures contracts.

• Spot Bitcoin ETFs offer a more direct exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements.

• They eliminate the need for investors to manage digital wallets or worry about private keys, making the investment process simpler and more accessible.

Why is Robinhood’s Decision Significant?

Robinhood’s plan to list spot Bitcoin ETFs is significant for several reasons:

• It signals a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies among traditional financial institutions.

• It could potentially attract more retail investors to the crypto market.

• It provides a safer and more regulated way for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin.

Impact on the Crypto Market

Robinhood’s decision could have a profound impact on the crypto market. By listing spot Bitcoin ETFs, the platform is essentially providing a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto world. This could potentially lead to increased liquidity in the crypto market, more stable prices, and reduced volatility.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the potential benefits, Robinhood’s plan to list spot Bitcoin ETFs is not without challenges. Regulatory hurdles are the most significant obstacle. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been cautious about approving Bitcoin ETFs due to concerns about market manipulation and investor protection. However, the recent approval of Bitcoin futures ETFs suggests that the regulatory environment may be changing.

Conclusion: A Game-Changing Move

In conclusion, Robinhood’s plan to list spot Bitcoin ETFs could be a game-changing move for the crypto market. It signals a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies among traditional financial institutions and could potentially attract more retail investors to the crypto market. However, regulatory hurdles remain a significant challenge. Regardless, the move is a clear indication of the growing intersection between traditional finance and the crypto world, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

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Indeed, in advance of the January 10 deadline, anticipation is high, with over 12 applicants ranging from disruptive Bitcoin companies to some of the most well-known names in global finance.

The prize is the potential to provide investors with a regulated and accessible vehicle to the world’s leading cryptocurrency. 

Unlike traditional investment routes, such as direct ownership or futures trading, a Bitcoin ETF simplifies the process, allowing a broader range of investors, both institutional and retail, to participate in the crypto market.

This article delves into the intense competition among prominent players in the financial industry as they seek approval for the first Bitcoin spot ETF in the U.S.

Grayscale 

TICKER: $GBTC

A subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (DCG), a global enterprise that invests in and develops businesses focused on blockchains and cryptocurrencies, Grayscale offers investment products that provide exposure to various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others.

Since 2013, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) is a financial product offered by Grayscale Investments that has been one of the only ways for institutions to invest in Bitcoin.

GBTC is a publicly traded trust that holds Bitcoin, and its shares are traded on over-the-counter (OTC) markets. The trust provides a way for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without having to buy and store the cryptocurrency directly.

Among its owners are Ark Invest, a fellow ETF applicant.

21Shares

TICKER: TBD

21Shares is a Swiss-based company that specializes in providing investment products focused on digital assets. 

Formerly known as Amun AG, the company rebranded to 21Shares in February 2021. Amun was founded in 2018 by a team of financial professionals, including Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder, and it is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland.

Since then it has operated a series of exchange-traded products tracking various cryptocurrencies. These ETPs are traded on traditional stock exchanges, providing investors with a convenient way to gain exposure to digital assets.

21Shares offers a range of ETPs, including Bitcoin (ABTC), Ethereum (AETH), Ripple (AXRP), and the 21Shares Crypto Basket Index ETP, offering exposure to a diversified portfolio of cryptos.

21Shares’ ETPs are listed on various traditional stock exchanges, making them accessible to a broader range of investors through regular brokerage accounts. 

Ark Invest

TICKER: $ARKB

ARK Invest is an investment management firm known for its active and innovative approach to investing in disruptive technologies.

Founded by Cathie Wood in 2014, ARK Invest has since gained widespread recognition for its focus on disruptive innovation and thematic investing. It remains a notable early backer of both Bitcoin and Tesla, wildly successful contrarian bets.

ARK Invest was founded by Wood in 2014 and manages a series of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that align with its unique approach. 

Some of the flagship ETFs include ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG), and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW).

ARK Invest actively manages its portfolios, making strategic investment decisions based on its research and analysis of disruptive trends. 

Notably, its funds were some of the first to offer exposure to GBTC when it in 2015 it was available on OTC exchanges.

Wood, in particular, is on the record as predicting Bitcoin will come to be worth over $1 million over the coming decade.

BlackRock

TICKER: $IBIT

BlackRock is the world’s largest investment management firm with trillions of dollars under management. 

Founded in 1988 as a risk management and fixed income outfit, it has since evolved into a global investment management giant with a comprehensive suite of financial services for institutional investors, financial professionals, and individual investors.

BlackRock is primarily known for its asset management business, offering a wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and institutional separate accounts. The firm covers various asset classes, from equities and fixed income to alternatives and multi-asset strategies.

Notably, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has been dismissive of Bitcoin in the past, criticizing the nascent technology and its links to dark market-based criminal activity. 

However, this only made the news it would launch a Bitcoin ETF in 2023 more impactful, with Fink making clear he believes the only decentralized cryptocurrency has stood the test of time.  

Bitwise

TICKER: $BITB

Bitwise Asset Management is a cryptocurrency investment firm that specializes in crypto-based investment funds. 

Founded in 2017 by Hunter Horsley and Hong Kim, Bitwise aims to provide institutional and individual investors with exposure to digital assets. Its flagship fund is the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund, which tracks a diverse basket of the ten largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. 

This fund offers investors a way to gain exposure to a broad range of digital assets in a single investment.

Bitwise actively manages the fund by regularly rebalancing its holdings to reflect changes in the market and ensure alignment with the fund’s investment strategy.

Bitwise is known for its research efforts, providing insights into the cryptocurrency market. Further, it has been perhaps the only Bitcoin ETF applicant to launch an ad campaign that was been wildly successful, with the company hiring the former Dos Equis spokesperson, known as “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” 

VanEck

TICKER: $XBTF

VanEck is a global investment management firm founded in 1955 by John C. van Eck in New York City. 

Initially, the firm focused on managing gold investments, but over the years, it has expanded its offerings to include a diverse range of asset classes and investment strategies.

The firm provides a variety of investment products, including mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment vehicles, but is known for specializing in commodity investing.

VanEck first filed for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in 2017, and has since been one of the most active Wall Street firms in the quest to have the investment product approved.

Wisdomtree

TICKER: $BTCW

WisdomTree Investments is a global asset management company that offers a range of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded products (ETPs), and other investment solutions. 

Founded in 2006 by Jonathan Steinberg, the goal of the company was to create innovative investment products for investors seeking exposure to various asset classes including equities, fixed income, currencies, and alternative strategies.

WisdomTree has shown interest in the cryptocurrency space, particularly Bitcoin. The company has submitted regulatory filings for Bitcoin-related exchange-traded products (ETPs).

WisdomTree’s involvement in Bitcoin ETFs is part of its broader exploration of digital assets and blockchain technology.

Invesco 

TICKER: BTCO

Invesco Ltd. is a global investment management company with a diverse range of financial products and services. 

Founded in 1935, Invesco has grown into a global investment management firm with a presence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other regions.

Invesco provides a wide array of investment products and services, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), separately managed accounts, and institutional strategies.

Since 2021, Invesco has offered Invesco Physical Bitcoin, a physically backed ETP out of Switzerland, and is currently vying to launch a Bitcoin ETF.

For the Bitcoin ETF in the US, it has notably teamed with Galaxy Digital Holdings, a publicly listed financial services and investment management firm focused on cryptocurrency. 

Founded by former hedge fund manager Mike Novogratz, Galaxy Digital aims to be a bridge between traditional finance and the emerging world of digital assets. 

Galaxy’s research firm has estimated the addressable market for the ETF in the billions.

Fidelity

TICKER: $FBTC

Fidelity Investments is a leading financial services company based in the United States, and one of the largest privately owned and operated firms on Wall Street. 

Fidelity was founded in 1946, and is known for its focus on investment management, retirement planning, wealth management, life insurance, and other financial services.

However, the company is best known for mutual fund offerings, offering a wide range of funds covering various asset classes, investment styles, and strategies.

Fidelity has been interested in the digital asset space since 2013, when its R&D divisions began mining Bitcoin, its CEO Abigail Johnson saying famously in 2017 that she “loves” Bitcoin. 

Since then, the company has been active in the industry. Fidelity Digital Assets provides secure custody solutions for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, catering to institutional clients looking to include digital assets in their portfolios.

Valkyrie

TICKER: $BTF

Valkyrie Investments is a financial services firm specializing in investment management in the digital asset space.

Founded in 2020 and based in the United States, the company has created funds and vehicles that provide exposure to digital assets, such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Valkyrie Investments has submitted proposals for a Bitcoin ETF, awaiting approval from the SEC. 

Global X

TICKER: $BITS

Global X ETFs is a well-known provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with a focus on thematic investing. 

Thematic ETFs are designed to track specific investment themes or trends, providing investors with targeted exposure to particular sectors or industries. 

Global X ETFs covers a wide range of themes, including AI, renewable energy, e-commerce, and more.

Hashdex 

TICKER: $DEFI

Hashdex is a crypto-focused asset management company that specializes in creating investment products centered around digital assets. 

The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Brazil. It primarily focuses on managing investment products related to cryptocurrencies. The company aims to provide investors with exposure to digital assets through regulated and structured investment vehicles.

Franklin Templeton

TICKER: N/A

Franklin Templeton is a global investment management firm with a long history and a diverse range of investment products and services. Founded in 1947, it has grown into one of the world’s leading investment management companies.

Franklin Templeton operates globally, with a presence in over 165 countries. The firm has a network of offices and investment professionals around the world.

The Wall Street giant offers a wide array of investment products, including mutual funds, closed-end funds, separately managed accounts, and more. The firm covers various asset classes, such as equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies.

One of the later entrants into the Bitcoin spot ETF race, Franklin Templeton is not particularly well-known for ETFs. As such, its inclusion in the race is widely seen as a sign of strong Wall Street appetite for a Bitcoin spot ETF product offering.

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