Today in crypto: Matt Huang of Paradigm said crypto is at a mainstream tipping point due to the emergence of regulated investment products, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued guidance on tokenized collateral in derivatives markets, and BlackRock filed for regulatory approval to launch a staked Ether exchange-traded fund in the US.
Crypto nears its “Netscape moment” as industry approaches inflection point
The cryptocurrency industry is approaching its “Netscape moment,” as steady progress in blockchain infrastructure and the rise of regulated investment products drive a new wave of institutional adoption, according to Paradigm co-founder Matt Huang.
The crypto sector is “facing its ‘Netscape’ or ‘iPhone’ moment,” Huang wrote Sunday in a post on X. “It’s working bigger than ever before, far beyond our wildest dreams. Both the institutional parts and the cypherpunk parts.”
Netscape launched the first easy-to-use web browser for mainstream users in 1994 before going public with a successful initial public offering (IPO) in August 1995, marking the first building block that triggered the internet’s mass adoption.
However, Microsoft saw the large-scale interest and capitalized on it on it by freely bundling Internet Explorer as a pre-installed component of the Windows operating system, outcompeting Netscape to become the most widely used internet browser.
In the crypto world, Bitcoin’s (BTC) peer-to-peer model and decentralized finance (DeFi) have enabled a new vision of an open, programmable financial system that cuts out intermediaries.
At the same time, centralized platforms and traditional investment vehicles are attracting a growing share of new capital because they are easier to use and fit within familiar regulatory frameworks.
About 200 crypto-based exchange-traded products (ETPs) could launch on the market in the next year, with 155 awaiting approval as of Oct. 22, according to Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst, Eric Balchunas.
CFTC pilot opens path for crypto as collateral in derivative markets
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued updated guidance for tokenized collateral in derivatives markets, paving the way for a pilot program to test how cryptocurrencies can be used as collateral in derivatives markets.
Collateral in derivatives markets serves as a security deposit, acting as a guarantee to ensure that a trader can cover any potential losses.
The digital asset pilot, announced by CFTC acting chairman Caroline Pham on Monday, will allow futures commission merchants (FCM) — a company that facilitates futures trades for clients — to accept Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Circle’s stablecoin USDC (USDC) for margin collateral.
The CFTC pilot is another step toward integrating crypto into regulated markets, and Circle CEO Heath Tarbert said it will also protect customers, reduce settlement frictions and assist with risk reduction.
Pham said that the pilot program “establishes clear guardrails to protect customer assets and provides enhanced CFTC monitoring and reporting.”
As part of the pilot, participating FCMs will be subject to strict reporting criteria, which require weekly reports on total customer holdings and any significant issues that may affect the use of crypto as collateral.
BlackRock files for listing staked Ether ETF
US-based asset management company BlackRock has applied to list and trade shares of an investment vehicle tied to staked Ether, following its offering of other cryptocurrency products.
In a Friday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, BlackRock filed a Form S-1 registration statement for its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust exchange-traded fund. The filing is part of the SEC’s process for companies to list investment vehicles such as ETFs, but does not guarantee approval.
Shares of the staked Ether (ETH) fund, which BlackRock intends to list and trade on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker ETHB, could be one of the first offerings tied to staked cryptocurrencies. Grayscale Investments added staking functionality to its previously approved spot ETH and mini ETH trusts in October.
The regulator has not greenlighted many crypto staking funds since initially approving spot Ether ETFs in May 2024. However, Canary Capital made a similar SEC filing for a staked Injective (INJ) product in July, and Grayscale and Bitwise launched separate staking products tied to Solana (SOL) in October.
BlackRock manages the largest spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund, the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, which is listed under the ticker symbol IBIT.
