Robinhood to add support for spot Bitcoin ETFs 'as soon as possible'

Online fintech brokerage firm Robinhood is about to join the Bitcoin ETF craze, saying the ETF approval is a key factor in advancing the integration of crypto with traditional finance.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev announced the company’s plans in a thread on X on Jan. 11, stating the broker aims to list all approved spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds “as soon as possible.”

Exciting update from Washington today! As a pioneer in offering spot crypto trading, Robinhood is thrilled about the @SECGov‘s decision to approve spot Bitcoin ETFs. We’ve been ahead of the curve in crypto access, and we plan to list these ETFs on @Robinhoodapp as soon as…
— Vlad Tenev (@vladtenev) January 10, 2024

Although Tenev did not provide a specific timeframe, he emphasized that the approval of spot crypto ETFs not only brings clarity but also paves the way for sophisticated risk management tools.

“It [the approval] not only offers clarity but also opens avenues for sophisticated risk management tools that benefit our customers in managing their digital asset investments.”
Vlad Tenev

In addition to stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies, Robinhood also offers trading with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as Invesco Nasdaq-100 ETF, Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF, iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF, and many others.

Analysts anticipate that the approval of a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, serving as a means for investors to buy the cryptocurrency through traditional brokerage accounts, could be advantageous for Robinhood.

Dan Dolev, a senior analyst at Mizuho Securities, said in December 2023 that the approval could be particularly beneficial for Robinhood, given that its primary revenue sources come from stock trading. Competing exchanges may see reduced volumes as users opt to transact Bitcoin directly on platforms like Robinhood, the analyst emphasized.

With the recent approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, attention is now turning to the upcoming Bitcoin halving, which is expected to occur in April, and the inflows into traditional finance investment vehicles linked to BTC. While financial giants like JPMorgan anticipate a gradual increase in capital interest, crypto-focused entities such as Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital foresee significant price surges, with projections reaching as high as 74%.

Source: https://crypto.news/robinhood-to-add-support-for-spot-bitcoin-etfs-as-soon-as-possible/