The crypto world is buzzing with anticipation, and for good reason. BitMEX Research has revealed groundbreaking insights: the cryptocurrency exchange-traded product (ETP) landscape, home to approximately 150 products valued at a staggering $50.3 billion, is facing transformative change.

If the information is to be believed, the impending debut of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. could dwarf the entire valuation of the existing crypto-related ETF market. What could this mean for you? Read on!

Understanding the Crypto ETP Landscape

At present, the global market for crypto ETPs, which includes both spot and futures funds, is dominated by products that track the performance of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust, which is in the process of converting into a spot ETF product, stands as the largest ETP in this category.

All Eyes on the SEC

All eyes are trained on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with speculations rife about the green signal for a spot Bitcoin ETF, potentially as soon as January 10. The forecast is optimistic. Bitwise analysts believe that these spot Bitcoin ETFs might command a whopping $72 billion in assets within the next 5 years, marking a 2x surge from present figures. However, Van Eck, a prominent global fund manager, offers a conservative perspective, foreseeing around $2.4 billion flowing into these products in the first quarter of 2024.

While the U.S. is yet to approve a spot Bitcoin ETF, such products are not novel in the global market. Countries like Canada, Australia, and Germany already offer investors the opportunity to invest in spot Bitcoin ETFs. The growing institutional interest in crypto investment products is evident from the $1.6 billion year-to-date net inflows into crypto ETFs worldwide, with a significant surge in November 2023.

What are the Investor Favorites?

Among the 150 crypto funds, a select 20 ETFs have attracted the most investment, with $1.3 billion flowing into them over 2023. Notably, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), which launched during a crypto bull market in October 2021, experienced the largest individual inflows, adding $278.7 million in 2023.