Dogecoin ETF pushes crypto industry to embrace speculation

The first US Dogecoin ETF sparks debate over whether it’s a milestone for adoption or the institutionalization of speculation.

The first US Dogecoin (DOGE) exchange-traded fund (ETF) is set to launch Thursday, dividing industry voices between those calling it a breakthrough for crypto’s community-driven legitimacy and those dismissing it as speculation in a new wrapper.

Unlike Bitcoin ETFs approved under the Securities Act of 1933, the Rex-Osprey Dogecoin ETF (DOJE) won approval under the Investment Company Act of 1940, a framework typically used for mutual funds and diversified ETFs.

BlackRock’s spot crypto fund, for instance, simply holds Bitcoin (BTC) in Coinbase custody. DOJE instead gains exposure through a Cayman Islands subsidiary and derivatives since the 1940 act requires diversification and restricts single-asset concentration.

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