Hong Kong-Based Asset Manager VSFG and Value Partners Apply for Spot Bitcoin ETF

CoinDeskPolicyPublished on 2024-03-26Last updated on 2024-03-27

Abstract

In January, Harvest Global Investments, a major asset-management company in China, purportedly became the first to apply for a spot-bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the...

Asset manager VSFG, together with its partner, Value Partners, have applied for a spot-bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), its Head of Investment & Products Brian Chan told CoinDesk on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, a report from Bloomberg Intelligence said the SFC is likely to allow in-kind creations and redemptions for spot bitcoin ETFs in the second quarter of this year.

In December 2023, less than two weeks after nearly a dozen applicants won approval for spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S., Hong Kong regulators said they were ready to consider applications for spot crypto ETFs.

Advertisement
Advertisement

In January, Harvest Global Investments, a major asset-management company in China, purportedly became the first to apply for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the SFC. As many as 10 financial institutions have planned to apply to launch bitcoin ETFs in Hong Kong, local reports have previously said.

Hong Kong firm Venture Smart Financial Holdings has also said it will file a spot bitcoin ETF application, according to Bloomberg.

Hong Kong’s regulators have been attempting to loosen their grip on crypto in an attempt to become a global hub for the sector.

Edited by



Related Reads

The Hunter Becomes the Hunted: The Most Profitable MEV Bot Gets Hacked

A well-known and highly profitable Ethereum MEV Bot, Jaredfromsubway.eth, suffered a sophisticated on-chain attack this Saturday, losing over $7.5 million. Analysis by Blockaid and others reveals this was not a conventional phishing or smart contract exploit, but a targeted "counter-MEV honeypot attack." The attacker meticulously laid a trap over several weeks, deploying 66 fake token contracts and liquidity pools disguised as major assets like WETH and USDC. These pools created the illusion of arbitrage opportunities. The MEV Bot's automated system detected these signals, executed trades, and in the process, granted approval permissions to attacker-controlled contracts. These approvals were not revoked, creating a persistent vulnerability. The attacker then exploited this in a single transaction, draining the bot's ETH, USDC, and USDT holdings. Jaredfromsubway.eth is notorious as one of Ethereum's most active and profitable MEV Bots, primarily known for executing "sandwich attacks" to profit from transaction slippage. Estimates suggest it has earned tens of millions in MEV revenue. The incident highlights escalating crypto security threats, demonstrating that even top-tier automated "predators" are vulnerable to novel, logic-based attacks designed to exploit their own operational rules. Following the hack, an unverified X account impersonating Jaredfromsubway.eth emerged, falsely offering a bounty for the return of funds, prompting developer warnings for users to stay vigilant.

marsbit26m ago

The Hunter Becomes the Hunted: The Most Profitable MEV Bot Gets Hacked

marsbit26m ago

The Reality of Payments in Latin America Is Not What You Think

The payment landscape in Latin America is undergoing a fundamental shift, driven by on-the-ground realities that challenge common perceptions. Based on over 500 hours of field research across the region, key insights emerge. Firstly, QR code payments, like Brazil's Pix, are becoming the dominant payment method in most emerging markets, overtaking cards. However, these domestic instant payment systems lack international interoperability, creating a significant gap for cross-border users. Secondly, the narrative around crypto cards is often misunderstood; their primary volume comes from high-net-worth professionals using them for salary conversions (e.g., USDT to local currency via Pix), not retail micro-payments. Competition in payments is shifting from customer acquisition to controlling the settlement layer, leading fintechs to acquire banking licenses for efficiency. Thirdly, treating "Latin America" as a single market is a mistake. Countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico have distinct economic realities, user segments, and regulatory approaches. Brazil alone has at least five distinct user segments with different financial flows. Overlooked markets like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador (the "forgotten five") offer high remittance volumes with lower competitive density. Finally, regulation in Latin America is often ahead of the US, with clearer frameworks for digital assets and a pragmatic approach from regulators focused on safety rather than obstruction. The margin on stablecoin forex is rapidly compressing toward zero, meaning future winners will be those building value-added services on top of the infrastructure, not just the cheapest exchange.

marsbit41m ago

The Reality of Payments in Latin America Is Not What You Think

marsbit41m ago

Making Music in a Bear Market: The Survival Experiment of a Bitcoin Band

"Orange Pill Jam: A Bitcoin Band's Survival in the Bear Market" Orange Pill Jam is a musical group exploring themes of financial sovereignty and privacy, born from the Bitcoin community. Formed after singer Mermaid performed her song "Dollar Apocalypse" at a 2022 conference, the band creates music intended for both Bitcoin enthusiasts and general audiences. Their creative process involves Mermaid writing lyrics and melodies, which producer/multi-instrumentalist Michi then shapes with a precise, rhythm-focused approach, often demanding numerous retakes to achieve his unique standard of timing. Their songs, like "Cypherpunks' Manifesto" and "Fire of Freedom," tackle concepts of digital privacy, the pitfalls of "free" services, and personal sovereignty, influenced by experiences in places like El Salvador. Despite operating in a crypto bear market with a Copyleft model (offering music for free sharing/remixing and accepting optional Bitcoin donations), they face practical challenges. Their growth is slow on platforms like YouTube and Spotify, which aren't optimized for their niche content. The band also navigates the rise of AI-generated music. While acknowledging AI's efficiency for certain tasks, they believe human creativity occupies a unique space that algorithms cannot replicate—the ability to create new genres and capture intangible rhythmic feeling. For Orange Pill Jam, the core argument for both Bitcoin in a downturn and human artistry in the AI age lies in this irreplaceable, intentional, and imperfectly human creative process. Their project persists as an anti-algorithm experiment, valuing the unquantifiable impact of music over scalable metrics.

marsbit48m ago

Making Music in a Bear Market: The Survival Experiment of a Bitcoin Band

marsbit48m ago

Trading

Spot
Futures
活动图片