CME Exec: Bitcoin ETFs Signal Digital Asset Market Maturity

By July 15, 2016Bitcoin Business

CME Group’s executive director and digitization lead has called the increasing number of planned bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) a sign that the market for blockchain-based digital assets is maturing.

At the Tech Talk 5.0 conference in London this week, CME’s Sandra Ro spoke broadly about the progress being made by the derivatives marketplace provider in exploring the blockchain industry, reviewing the company’s new bitcoin benchmark and speaking in-depth how the group looks at the future of blockchain more broadly.

In response to audience questions, Ro notably said she believes the two ETF filings currently pending in the US are a sign more filings for regulated products may be on the way. Further, she said existing products and filings prove that there is enough demand for additional regulated products in the digital assets space.

Ro told the audience: "In fact, some of the most exciting areas to explore are at the intersection of digital assets and tokenized fiat and tokenized commodities." Elsewhere, Ro voiced an argument as to why her firm believes the public blockchain space could be as valuable for financial institutions to understand as private alternatives, stating that CME maintains a dual focus on digital assets and blockchain and distributed ledger technology.

Even though Ro sees bitcoin as the most mature digital asset, she is quick to note that there are many others that may or may not succeed, even referencing how the social network-based digital currency Steemit has risen sharply in total market capitalization in recent days.

An audience poll at the event suggested that those in attendance are perhaps now more familiar with bitcoin, as well. When asked if attendees had ever held any bitcoin, 23% of the audience voted ‘Yes’, while 77% reported ‘No’.

A total of 79 votes were cast. PoC strategy

Overall, Ro discussed four primary mandates that CME […]

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