ETC Group Launches First Bitcoin ETP In UK

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ETC Group Launches First Bitcoin ETP In UK | ETC Group

The BTCE will be available to trade on Aquis Exchange starting June 7th

  • ETC Group’s BTCE - ETC Group Physical Bitcoin (BTCE) is the first cryptocurrency exchange traded product (ETP) to be traded on a UK exchange / Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF)
  • UK Launch follows successful listings on Deutsche Börse’s XETRA platform and SIX Swiss Exchange
  • CCP Clearing of the cryptocurrency ETP will be provided by SIX x-clear as the sole CCP

London, 1 June 2021 — ETC Group (etc-group.com), the specialist provider of innovative, digital asset-backed securities, announces that its BTCE Bitcoin product will be available to trade as of 7 June via the Aquis Exchange MTFs in London and Paris. This is the first time a cryptocurrency exchange traded product (ETP) has been available for trading on any UK market or any European MTF. Trading will take place in GBP, CHF, Euro and USD, while clearing will be carried out by SIX x-clear as the sole CCP providing central clearing.

ETC Group’s own research shows 53% of European professional investors prefer to trade Bitcoin via an ETP [1] and by being available to trade on Aquis, BTCE will be reaching a wider group of investors and benefitting from Aquis’ unique and innovative trading features. ETC Group’s BTCE - ETC Group Physical Bitcoin (BTCE) held its debut as the world’s first centrally cleared Bitcoin ETP on Deutsche Börse’s XETRA platform in June 2020, and then listed on SIX Swiss Exchange in January 2021. In 2021 it has been the top bitcoin exchange traded product (ETP) performer in Europe; inflows in Q1 hit $459.66 million – around 41% of total inflows into the eight Bitcoin ETPs during the period – while daily turnover at $51.158 million was nearly double its nearest rival [2].

Bradley Duke, CEO of ETC Group said:

We have seen many investors recognise the benefits of including secure crypto ETPs like BTCE in their portfolios as an effective hedge against inflation. ETC Group provides exposure to bitcoin, ether, and litecoin through our 100 % physically backed cryptocurrency ETPs, and bringing our flagship bitcoin product to Aquis Exchange was a logical step as institutional demand for exposure to crypto grows around the world.

Alasdair Haynes, CEO of Aquis Exchange commented:

Investors are increasingly accepting digital assets as a bona fide asset class and giving them a place in balanced investment portfolios. Aquis has a history of innovation and is responding to client demand for these assets in an agile way allowing traders to access them in a liquid, regulated environment.

Marcus Harreus, Head SIX x-clear said:

We are extremely proud to be chosen as the sole CCP to carry out the clearing services of this innovative initiative. Our strategy is to extend SIX x-clear across Europe as a leading CCP whilst recognising the importance of a robust oversight framework in order to deliver the best-in-class service for our clients.

ETC Group selected Aquis due to its status as one of Europe’s largest regulated exchanges (by value traded) trading over 1,700 securities from across 15 European markets, with venues in both the UK and France. Aquis operates an innovative and cost-effective subscription model and does not allow non-client aggressive proprietary trading, which means its large liquidity pool is less subject to negative market impact. Aquis also has a particularly innovative Market At Close order type that allows users to get the mid-point price from the closing auctions. SIX x-clear was selected as the sole CCP for this innovative asset class given its robust risk modelling and mitigation processes to support this product in a cleared environment.

BTCE is supported by a network of world class Authorised Participants (APs) and Market Makers, experienced in cryptocurrency markets as well as the ETP markets. The APs ensure on-exchange liquidity and tight spreads, enabling traders to purchase in all sizes without having to worry about market impact. This latest BTCE listing is set against an investment backdrop where investors are recognising BTCE’s quality, as the most traded cryptocurrency ETP in Europe, which frequently in Q1 2021 displaced major ETFs in terms of top trading volumes on Deutsche Börse’s XETRA.

BTCE will be available on Aquis Exchange for professional investors only. It is issued by ETC Group and distributed by HANetf. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and your capital is at risk.

[2]Source: Bloomberg as of 31.03.21. Data taken from Bloomberg for the relevant exchanges in Stockholm, Frankfurt and Zurich.

Important information:

This article does not constitute investment advice, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy financial products. This article is for general informational purposes only, and there is no explicit or implicit assurance or guarantee regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. It is advised not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Please note that this article is neither investment advice nor an offer or solicitation to acquire financial products or cryptocurrencies.

Before investing in crypto ETPs, potentional investors should consider the following:

Potential investors should seek independent advice and consider relevant information contained in the base prospectus and the final terms for the ETPs, especially the risk factors mentioned therein. The invested capital is at risk, and losses up to the amount invested are possible. The product is subject to inherent counterparty risk with respect to the issuer of the ETPs and may incur losses up to a total loss if the issuer fails to fulfill its contractual obligations. The legal structure of ETPs is equivalent to that of a debt security. ETPs are treated like other securities.

About Bitwise

Bitwise is one of the world’s leading crypto specialist asset managers. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors across the globe have partnered with us to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. Since 2017, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETPs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies—spanning both the U.S. and Europe.

In Europe, for the past four years Bitwise (previously ETC Group) has developed an extensive and innovative suite of crypto ETPs, including Europe’s largest and most liquid bitcoin ETP.

This family of crypto ETPs is domiciled in Germany and approved by BaFin. We exclusively partner with reputable entities from the traditional financial industry, ensuring that 100% of the assets are securely stored offline (cold storage) through regulated custodians.

Our European products comprise a collection of carefully designed financial instruments that seamlessly integrate into any professional portfolio, providing comprehensive exposure to crypto as an asset class. Access is straightforward via major European stock exchanges, with primary listings on Xetra, the most liquid exchange for ETF trading in Europe.

Retail investors benefit from easy access through numerous DIY/online brokers, coupled with our robust and secure physical ETP structure, which includes a redemption feature.

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