ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood stated that the sudden approval of key documents for proposed ether ETFs indicates that crypto has become a U.S. election issue. She noted that the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act's passage in the House and former President Trump's acceptance of crypto donations have highlighted crypto's political significance. Wood emphasized ARK's commitment to making bitcoin accessible and supporting Bitcoin developers, while expressing a strong preference for bitcoin over ether.
As a key deadline for an ether ETF approaches, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler remains non-committal on whether the agency will approve or deny the application.
Crypto investors are preparing for a significant quarter with the upcoming Bitcoin halving, updates on ether ETFs, and the possibility of rate cuts. The market is expected to experience increased volatility as these events unfold, and investors are closely monitoring the developments to make informed decisions.
Bitcoin and ether remain steady in Asia as the discounts on Grayscale Bitcoin Trust narrow and anticipation for the approval of spot bitcoin and ether ETFs grows. Investor inflows into the crypto market have surpassed $1 billion this year. The U.S. economic data and Federal Reserve communications expected this week are likely to impact crypto market trends. The discount on the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust has shrunk to levels not seen since July 2021. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated discussions with Grayscale Investments about converting the trust to a spot bitcoin ETF. BlackRock's announcement of an ether-based ETF has boosted market sentiment, with ETH outperforming bitcoin. Trading activity on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) is at a six-month high as traders shift from altcoins to ether in anticipation of ETF approvals.
Stocks, including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, fell as Treasury yields surged, breaking their winning streaks. Disney shares surged after reporting better-than-expected earnings, driven by growth in its streaming service, Disney+. Blackrock may be considering an Ether ETF, causing the price of Ether to jump. Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the central bank is prepared to raise rates if necessary. AstraZeneca announced a deal for an experimental weight-loss drug and raised its guidance. Arm Holdings' ADRs tumbled after its first earnings report since going public. Media stocks rose as a deal was reached to end the actors' strike. Affirm, Disney, and Li Auto saw gains in premarket trading, while Arm Holdings, Lyft, and Instacart experienced losses. Stock futures were higher as yields ticked up.
