$1.4T Asset Manager Weighs Bitcoin ETF Options for Clients

Major US financial firm LPL is considering offering Bitcoin ETFs to its clients.
The firm is currently evaluating newly approved Bitcoin spot ETFs.
LPL aims to complete its assessment within three months.

LPL Financial Holdings, a significant player in the U.S. financial market, is considering incorporating recently approved Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) into its offerings. This development was captured in a recent Bloomberg report, spotlighted by Chinese reporter Colin Wu on X.

Companies such as LPL Financial Holdings, one of the largest independent brokers in the United States, are currently reviewing recently approved Bitcoin ETFs to decide whether to offer them to the nearly 19,000 independent financial advisors who manage $1.4 trillion in assets.…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) February 4, 2024

The decision comes as the company undergoes rigorous due diligence following the U.S. SEC’s approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs. It aims to complete its evaluation of the new Bitcoin ETFs within the next three months.

According to the report, LPL Financial Holdings manages assets totaling $1.4 trillion through its network of financial advisors. This crucial assessment period will determine which newly approved funds will be available to LPL’s extensive client base.

Rob Pettman, head of wealth-management solutions at LPL, emphasized the significance of scrutinizing the functionality of these ETFs. He remarked:

We want to see how they work in the markets. LPL needs to be mindful of the products placed on the platform and ensure that they are durable over time and that there is a good investment thesis.

LPL’s approach reflects a broader trend among financial gatekeepers, balancing the allure of emerging asset classes like cryptocurrency with the imperative to shield clients from risky investments.

Some platforms like Fidelity and Charles Schwab have already embraced Bitcoin ETFs. Meanwhile, others like Vanguard remain cautious, opting to observe rather than participate. Specifically, Vanguard has blocked its users’ access to the newly licensed Bitcoin spot ETFs. It has further moved to delisting existing Bitcoin futures ETFs.

Currently, LPL advisers can access Grayscale’s GBTC ETF. On the other hand, the evaluation of other funds, including BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC, is underway.

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Source: https://coinedition.com/1-4-trillion-asset-manager-lpl-considers-adding-bitcoin-etfs-for-client-portfolios/