The largest Bitcoin (BTC) institutional investment vehicle is coming under suspicion as it trades at a record discount. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) is the latest Bitcoin industry entity to feel the heat from the debacle over defunct exchange FTX. FTX woes see Coinbase pledge trust in GBTC owner With contagion and fears over a deeper market rout everywhere in Bitcoin and altcoins at present, misgivings are impacting even the best-known — and trusted — crypto industry names. In recent days, it was the turn of GBTC, the long-embattled Bitcoin investment fund, amid problems at a related crypto firm, Genesis …

Cryptocurrency investment product provider Grayscale Investments has refused to provide on-chain proof of reserves or wallet addresses to show the underlying assets of its digital currency products citing “security concerns.” In a Nov. 18 Twitter thread addressing investor concerns, Grayscale laid out information regarding the security and storage of its crypto holdings and said all crypto underlying its investment products are stored with Coinbase’s custody service, stopping short of revealing the wallet addresses. 6) Coinbase frequently performs on-chain validation. Due to security concerns, we do not make such on-chain wallet information and confirmation information publicly available through a cryptographic Proof-of-Reserve, …

Bitcoin (BTC) fell to intraday lows after the Nov. 16 Wall Street open as the FTX scandal appeared to claim another victim. Genesis Trading liquidity "exceeded" Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD trading around $16,400 at the time of writing. Downside had entered again for the pair amid news that Genesis Global Capital, the crypto lending arm of Genesis Trading, had paused withdrawals over liquidity problems. In a series of tweets on the day, Digital Currency Group (DCG), the parent company which counts Genesis Trading among its subsidiaries, attributed the decision directly to the FTX debacle. “Today …

According to a new tweet by Genesis Global on Nov. 16, the institutional crypto lender says it will "temporarily suspend redemptions and new loan originations in the lending business." In explaining the decision, the firm cited "unprecedented market turmoil" related to the collapse of troubled cryptocurrency exchange FTX, resulting in "abnormal" levels of withdrawals that Genesis Global claims to exceed its current liquidity. The firm also added that its current liquidity was negatively impacted by the collapse of hedge fund Three Arrows Capital in June. As part of bankruptcy proceedings, the brokerage has filed a $1.2 billion claim against Three …

Following the FTX bank run, which accelerated by Nov. 7, Bitcoin (BTC) price started to buckle and, by press time, lost 21% in five days. Among the victims of the swift market meltdown is the world’s largest institutional Bitcoin fund, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). On Nov. 9, the GBTC closed at a record discount of 41%, with a price per share standing at $8.76. Overall, the GBTC has been gradually declining for almost a year since its peak position of $51.47 per share on Nov. 12, 2021. A structural problem of GBTC lies in the fact that it’s an …

Perhaps one of the most captivating signs of the industry’s maturity is the increasing amount of court cases in which crypto companies fight back against perceived regulatory abuses. Last week saw some major advancements in that direction. Digital asset manager Grayscale has filed its opening brief against the United States Securities Exchange Commission to challenge its decision denying Grayscale’s application to convert the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) to a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). According to Grayscale, the SEC must submit its brief by Nov. 9. A U.S.-based crypto policy advocacy group, Coin Center has followed through with its intention …

U.S. investors have been waiting for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval since May 2014 when the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust filed an amendment request at the Securities and Exchange (SEC). Over the years, the SEC has rejected every applicant and the latest denial was issued to WisdomTree’s application for a spot Bitcoin ETF on Oct. 11. The SEC concluded that the offer did not have the ability “to obtain information necessary to detect, investigate, and deter fraud and market manipulation, as well as violations of exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws and rules.” Bitcoin investment trust vehicles have existed …

Digital asset manager Grayscale has filed its opening brief against the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) to challenge its decision denying Grayscale’s application to convert the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) to a spot Bitcoin ETF. The world’s largest digital asset management firm filed its opening legal brief on Oct. 11 in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit, in which it claimed the SEC’s knockback to be “arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory.” Grayscale argued that the SEC treats spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) with “special harshness” and is doing so “in excess of its statutory authority.” Attorneys …

Grayscale Investments announced on Oct. 6 the formation of Grayscale Digital Infrastructure Opportunities LLC ("GDIO"), a co-investment opportunity focused on Bitcoin mining hardware. By leveraging its affiliated staking infrastructure firm, Foundry, the company plans to acquire mining equipment at reduced prices during the crypto winter. The company said the new entity will be available to individuals and institutional accredited investors at a minimum investment of $25.000. The funding is expected to be completed before the end of this year and will offer liquidity similar to private equity or infrastructure assets that have a three-to-five-year investment horizon, as Bloombergreports. Investors who …

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), a cryptocurrency fund that currently holds 3.12% of the total Bitcoin (BTC) supply, or over 640,000 BTC, is trading at a record discount compared to the value of its underlying assets. Institutional interest in Grayscale dries up On Sep. 23, the $12.55 billion closed-end trust was trading at a 35.18% discount, according to the latest data. To investors, GBTC has long served as a great alternative to gain exposure in the Bitcoin market despite its 2% annual management fee. This is primarily because GBTC is easier to hold for institutional investors because it can be managed …

In the world of crypto, there’s no such thing as “too big to fail.” Three Arrows Capital, once the most recognizable hedge fund in the industry, has essentially gone belly-up after its founders believed their own hype and decided to go full-degen mode during the worst macro climate of a generation. Since the proverbial shit hit the fan last month, founders Kyle Davies and Su Zhu have kept a very low profile. So low, in fact, that their whereabouts remain a mystery, according to court documents. This week’s Crypto Biz chronicles the latest developments surrounding Three Arrows Capital and explores …

Asset management firms continue to fight for a spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States as regulators remain skeptical of the idea. Craig Salm, chief legal officer at asset manager Grayscale, discussed the firm’s lawsuit with the United States Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) regarding the conversion of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot Bitcoin ETF. Salm explained the basis for Grayscale’s argument against the SEC while answering the most-asked questions regarding the lawsuit. According to the legal officer, the SEC’s denial of the spot Bitcoin ETF separates futures and spot trading for Bitcoin ETFs …