US Crypto Investing to Rise…If Regulation Gets Through: Bloomberg

Assets under management in crypto exchange traded products (ETPs) are likely to grow beyond $120 billion by 2028, even if crypto prices fail to rise, fuelled by increasing institutional demand and changes in US policy, according to a new report by research provider Bloomberg Intelligence (BI).

digital abstract background with bitcoin symbol

The report finds, unsurprisingly, that regulatory approval is a key catalyst for a spot Bitcoin ETF by the end of 2023. If this happens, BI says, there is likely to be tens of billions in assets added to crypto funds given such a move would signal regulatory clarity and approval of the digital assets space. Currently US advisors control about $26 trillion, with only a small minority of those advisors having exposure to crypto and the majority who do, allocate only 1% or less of their clients’ portfolios.

With the industry moving from a niche offering to a more established investment product, BI forecasts that exchanges such as Coinbase and FTX will see strong volume and revenue grow, while the potential for the US to launch a central bank digital currency in the coming years remains “a distinct possibility”.

According to BI’s report, institutions taking crypto positions rose to 52% last year, up from 33% in 2019, bringing further liquidity to the sector. Furthermore, growth in the number of broker-dealers in the US offering crypto products continues to support retail investor involvement in the sector, with convenience and simplicity creating a compelling incentive for entry-level investors.

“Bitcoin turns 13 years old in 2022, barrelling into its teenage years marked by greater independence in the form of decentralisation, some rebelliousness, as seen in its volatility, and formation of identity as in its store of value or medium of exchange,” says Julie Chariell, senior fintech industry analyst at BI. “With some discipline, through regulation, crypto has the potential to achieve acceptance by peers in the shape of mainstream adoption.”

BI estimates there are at least 107 cryptocurrency funds with 119 share classes listed on public exchanges globally, including ETFs, CEFs, mutual funds and trusts. These launches and this fund growth show that fund issuers see massive potential for asset growth in the crypto space, it argues. With no spot option in the US, however, BI says investors seeking crypto exposure are left with futures ETFs that incur roll costs and trusts that trade away from their underlying value.

There are 15 blockchain- or crypto-themed equity ETFs currently trading on US exchanges, up from just four in March 2021, while sector assets have levelled off at $1.9 billion. BI expects the number of funds to increase slightly alongside assets in 2022 as the SEC withholds approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs.

“The number of publicly listed cryptocurrency funds – mostly tracking Bitcoin and Ethereum – should sustain the rapid growth of the past two years through 2022 and into 2023 as more countries allow the launch of spot products and regulators get more comfortable with digital assets,” says James Seyffart, ETF strategist at BI. “In the US, regulatory concern is the top reason advisors haven’t invested in crypto assets. We believe a Bitcoin ETF approval would alleviate these concerns. The SEC has regulated the crypto industry with enforcement rather than offering regulatory clarity thus far but the industry is likely to get significantly increased clarity over the coming years from Biden’s crypto executive order and from SEC rule proposal expansions. All of which will cause the growth of crypto fund assets.”

Mike McGlone, senior commodity strategist at BI, adds, “There’s little doubt Bitcoin is the most fluid, 24/7 global trading vehicle in history and well on its way to becoming digital collateral in a world going that way.”