Cointime

Download App
iOS & Android

Galaxy Managing Director: Passage of Spot ETFs Helps Treat Cryptocurrencies as an Asset Class, Not an Investment Vehicle

Chris Rhine, the Managing Director of Galaxy, said at the Token2049 "Institutionalization of Digital Assets" roundtable in Singapore: "When communicating with many institutions, they believe that approving Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs for spot trading is a huge regulatory milestone. This almost helps to view cryptocurrencies as an asset class rather than just a potential unregulated investment tool. So most of the feedback I have heard is positive. I think from another perspective, the involvement of large institutional capital will involve time.

But to be honest, I have worked at BlackRock for more than ten years, and they are a powerful marketing machine. An area in the US market that is completely undeveloped is wealth channels. It has always been very difficult to obtain product approval for wealth channels in many large banks. Now, there will finally be a new wealth management model, which will allow investors and interested parties to gain exposure to cryptocurrency investments in a very simple and accessible way, as well as at a lower cost."

Comments

All Comments

Recommended for you

  • Crypto Daybook Americas: Turmoil Across The Pond as Bitcoin Defends $93K After $300B Wipeout

    You are viewing Crypto Daybook Americas, your new morning briefing on what happened in the crypto markets overnight and what's expected during the coming day. In the coming weeks, this daily update will replace the First Mover Americas newsletter, and arrive in your inbox at 7 a.m. ET to kickstart your morning with comprehensive insights. If you're not already subscribed, click here. You won't want to start your day without it.
  • Phala Network 2.0: First Op-Succinct Layer 2 on Ethereum

    Phala Network has taken a monumental step forward in blockchain innovation by launching the first-ever Op-Succinct Layer 2 (L2) rollup on Ethereum. This transformative achievement is the result of a strategic partnership with Succinct Labs and Conduit, combining cutting-edge rollup infrastructure with Phala's expertise in trusted computation to redefine the Ethereum scaling landscape.
  • It's still a bull market relax

    This post will cover the projects I am most interested (invested) in at the start of 2025. My primary focus is Infinex, but most of these projects are somewhat related to Infinex, so I’m dumping everything into one post.
  • Meme Index Presale Hits $2M in Two Weeks, 23 Hours Until Price Uptick

    The post-election rally is cooling off, and meme coin trading volume has dropped 52% since early December. Yet, just a year ago, the 24-hour trading volume of meme coins stood at $1.75B. Today, it’s at $11.55B – 560% higher.
  • AI Agent Platform Phala Network Launches New L2 Rollup on Ethereum

    Phala Network launches Op-Succinct rollup on Ethereum through a partnership with Succinct Labs and Conduit. Combining Optimistic Rollups and ZK proofs, Op-Succinct offers faster, cheaper transactions with strong cryptographic security. Phala also launched Phala Cloud, a secure platform designed for AI applications.
  • Volatility Kicks Back In, $100k Rejected

    Bitcoin briefly cleared the 100k mark after overcoming December’s sell pressure, though it has since pulled back to 95k. No major crypto-specific drivers are expected until after Trump’s January 20 inauguration, which could spark mild optimism if crypto plans are mentioned. Regulatory advances in 2024 set the stage for potentially game-changing developments in 2025, likely cementing digital assets in mainstream finance. Key macro data and potential liquidity injections in January may create near-term trading opportunities.
  • Bitcoin ETFs Suffer $582M Net Outflow, Second-Highest Tally Ever

    BTC and ETH ETFs saw outflows worth $582 million and $159 million on Wednesday. BTC dropped as low as $92,500 at one point.
  • Backpack Hits Back at FTX: Asserts Ownership Claim on the Cypriot Entity

    Backpack clarified that it purchased FTX EU from the “former insiders” who bought the entity from the FTX bankruptcy estate. CySEC also approved the deal last month.
  • This Megabank Doubles Down on Crypto with EU Hub Launch

    Standard Chartered has secured a digital asset custody license in Luxembourg, establishing its EU regulatory entry point under MiCA. The bank appointed former Société Générale executive Laurent Marochini as CEO of the Luxembourg entity.
  • Hong Kong launches DLT incubator for banks

    Yesterday the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) unveiled a “Supervisory Incubator for Distributed Ledger Technology”, with tokenized deposits as a major focus. The regulator says it wants to help banks to maximize the potential of DLT by minimizing the risks.