- Ethereum price has acquired momentum to outperform Bitcoin price in both hourly and daily gains.
- The surge comes as rumors of an ETH futures ETF approval beating a spot BTC ETF continue to grow.
- The approval would be a big win for firms looking to offer the product, including ProShares, and VanEck, among others.
Ethereum (ETH) price has gained momentum, showing more strength than Bitcoin price despite BTC’s influence in driving altcoins in the crypto market. The outpacing comes as more traders are betting on ETH, following growing speculation of an Ethereum Futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) coming ahead of a spot BTC ETF.
ETH/USDT 1-day chart, BTC/USDT 1-day chart
Ethereum futures ETF likely to get an approval
The ETF mania continues to hold out, although with a different candidate- ETH futures. With numerous asset managers having submitted their prospectuses, chatter indicates that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is likely to grant approval, with experts forecasting an October decision.
The debut of a pioneering US-listed Ether strategy has seen Ethereum price outperform that of BTC.
BTC vs ETH CoinMarketCap
This anticipation has inspired multiple requests from firms looking to offer the futures-based ETF, with the likes of Volatility Shares, Bitwise, Roundhill, and ProShares taking the front-row seats among three other companies that have filed applications to launch cryptocurrency futures ETFs.
It is worth noting that the SEC is reviewing the applications. The approval would be a big win for firms looking to offer the product, including ProShares, VanEck, Roundhill, Volatility Shares, Direxion, Bitwise, and Valkyrie.
Bloomberg noted that “the endorsement of the US official is virtually certain,” citing unnamed sources. According to Ron Geffner, partner at Sadis & Goldberg, “The SEC sources indicate that the government may allow several ETH futures exchange-traded funds to launch in October,” adding that:
If the ETFs launch, they would be the first U.S.-listed ETFs tied to Ether, the second most valuable cryptocurrency by market cap.
An ETF specialist, Eric Balchunas, has corroborated this speculation.
This not surprising to us, we had said they would approve Ether Futures early on in race. Nice to be validated. Now what does it mean for spot? Hard to say beyond it shows that their views/policy/tolerance can change. https://t.co/JXCxNUpj2U
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) August 17, 2023
To reiterate, if the regulator does approve an ETH futures ETF, it would mark a watershed moment for Ether (ETH), considering it would be the first time such a product goes live in the US.
The allure of spot BTC ETF despite stronger hope for ETH futures ETF approval
Meanwhile, even the spot BTC ETF camp also continues to hold out hope for approval. Renowned firms like BlackRock and Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest tow this chain, with experts predicting that a “yes” from the financial regulator could provide the impulse needed to catalyze a strong bullish momentum.
Also Read: Could spot ETF trigger BTC rally to $50,000?
More broadly, an approval of this demeanor would clear the path for investors, despite their tuff, to participate in the crypto market without having to deal through a crypto exchange.
Nevertheless, regulatory uncertainty continues to hold the market hostage, particularly where disruptive innovations are concerned. Despite this standing, industry sleuths still stand in awe, trying to understand why the SEC has shown this much in incoherence where crypto ETFs are concerned. With some questioning the logic behind the regulator’s decision, the SEC’s legal standoff with industry powerhouses likes Binance, Coinbase, and Ripple Labs continues to influence the market. For the case of Binance, BNB is taking the heat and pressure, falling 7% in losses over the last week.
Regardless, traders remain bullish acknowledging the interest of traditional finance players and institutional money into the cryptocurrency industry. Specifically, BlackRock, an asset manager with over $9.1 trillion in AUM (assets under management) points to a growing intimacy between the two sectors in the financial market.
Also Read: SEC could approve multiple Ether ETFs soon while delaying Bitcoin spot ETFs
Cryptocurrency prices FAQs
How do new token launches or listings affect cryptocurrency prices?
Token launches like Arbitrum’s ARB airdrop and Optimism OP influence demand and adoption among market participants. Listings on crypto exchanges deepen the liquidity for an asset and add new participants to an asset’s network. This is typically bullish for a digital asset.
How do hacks affect cryptocurrency prices?
A hack is an event in which an attacker captures a large volume of the asset from a DeFi bridge or hot wallet of an exchange or any other crypto platform via exploits, bugs or other methods. The exploiter then transfers these tokens out of the exchange platforms to ultimately sell or swap the assets for other cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. Such events often involve an en masse panic triggering a sell-off in the affected assets.
How do macroeconomic releases and events affect cryptocurrency prices?
Macroeconomic events like the US Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates influence risk assets like Bitcoin, mainly through the direct impact they have on the US Dollar. An increase in interest rate typically negatively influences Bitcoin and altcoin prices, and vice versa. If the US Dollar index declines, risk assets and associated leverage for trading gets cheaper, in turn driving crypto prices higher.
How do major crypto upgrades like halvings, hard forks affect cryptocurrency prices?
Halvings are typically considered bullish events as they slash the block reward in half for miners, constricting the supply of the asset. At consistent demand if the supply reduces, the asset’s price climbs. This has been observed in Bitcoin and Litecoin.
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