When your stock ticker is lost in translation, it may not be an error; it could just be another day in the volatile world of crypto. But this week, some not-so-casual missteps had everyone from Twitter pundits to seasoned traders scratching their heads. We’re talking about ARK Invest and 21 Shares’ yet-to-be-listed spot Bitcoin ETF, not to be confused with the briefly appearing and disappearing BlackRock iShares Spot Bitcoin ETF.
It all started with whispers. Rumours ran rife on social media that ARK Invest and 21 Shares were about to see their spot Bitcoin ETF listed on the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation’s (DTCC) website. Screenshots circulated like wildfire, courtesy of notable personalities in the crypto community, seemingly confirming the claim. But hold on, because things were not quite what they seemed.
You see, those screenshots didn’t showcase the correct ticker for the ARK 21 Shares spot Bitcoin ETF. Instead, what appeared were tickers that had more to do with futures products. It was as if someone had put the cart before the horse, and traders braced themselves for a wild ride that wasn’t to come.
As of October 25, that ride had indeed not arrived; the touted ETF didn’t make an appearance on the DTCC website. To sprinkle salt on the wound, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had already shot down the joint effort by Ark Investment Management and 21Shares to list the said ETF. That detail was conspicuously absent in the media hullabaloo that fuelled the initial rumours.
But it doesn’t end there. The SEC, perhaps enjoying its role as the ultimate gatekeeper a bit too much, announced that the decision on this ETF is on hold until January 2024. ARK and 21Shares, however, are not to be deterred. They’ve refiled to launch their ETF, perhaps hoping that persistence will pay off.
Parallel to this, the BlackRock iShares Spot Bitcoin ETF had its moment in the sun. It got listed on the DTCC website, albeit briefly, igniting a fire of enthusiasm in the crypto market. This euphoria, however, was short-lived, as the listing vanished within a few hours, creating as much confusion as it did excitement.
In response to this chaos, the DTCC spokesperson clarified that listing on their website is pretty standard practice ahead of a new ETF launch and does not constitute any form of regulatory approval. Maybe this revelation will douse some of the fire that’s been causing market temperatures to rise and fall with each tidbit of news, real or imagined.
This entire sequence of events led to significant market reactions. Bitcoin prices went on a rollercoaster, experiencing surges and dips like a ship navigating choppy waters. A simple clarification could have saved traders from seasickness, but where’s the fun in that?
So, what have we learned from this saga? The crypto market, always sensitive to news, can be set abuzz by misinformation or even a lack of complete information. A screenshot isn’t a seal of approval, and a ticker symbol might not be what it seems. The market’s eagerness for a spot Bitcoin ETF is clear, but for now, it seems everyone will have to wait a bit longer. In this high-stakes game of speculation and anticipation, always remember that not everything that glitters on a screenshot is Bitcoin.
