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European Regulators Consider Including Cryptocurrencies in the €12 Trillion Investment Market
European Regulators Consider Including Cryptocurrencies in the €12 Trillion Investment Market
The European Union’s security watchdog, ESMA, is actively exploring the possibility of integrating cryptocurrencies into the vast €12 trillion investment products market. In an effort to gather information, ESMA contacted industry experts to ask for their opinion on whether undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) could incorporate various asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, commodities, structured loans, emission quotas, catastrophe activities. bonds and unlisted shares.
UCITS are investment funds designed to simplify and safeguard investment transactions, which include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and money market funds. Although these funds are governed by EU regulations, non-EU investors can also participate in them. Unlike spot BTC ETFs focused exclusively on cryptocurrencies, UCITS investments include a variety of fund types, each with its own asset allocation based on risk profiles. If approved, it is unlikely that there will be standalone UCITS funds with a 100% cryptocurrency stake. Instead, more UCITS funds would likely feature a percentage allocation to crypto assets.
This move by ESMA coincides with recent approvals of Bitcoin spot exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the US and Hong Kong. It appears that regulators around the world are gradually becoming more receptive to incorporating cryptocurrency exposure into traditional investment avenues.
Stakeholders involved in UCITS had until 7 August to submit their feedback. If approved, the inclusion of cryptocurrencies within UCITS would mark a significant milestone, potentially making them one of the largest mainstream investment vehicles with exposure to cryptocurrencies.