ARK submitted its original application in April 2023.
This week, however, it has made significant amendments.
Bitcoin ETF
When the
world's largest fund manager, BlackRock, decided to apply for the creation of a
spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) two weeks ago, nobody expected it
to trigger a new fever in the cryptocurrency market.
The BTC
price reached new highs for the year, and other Wall Street giants began to
join BlackRock. Among them were Invesco, WisdomTree, Fidelity, and ARK
Investment Management (ARK Invest), owned by popular investor Cathie Wood.
ARK Invest Updates its
Bitcoin ETF Application
Although
BlackRock sparked a wave of new applications to register a Bitcoin ETF, ARK
Invest was the first to submit such an application this year. Cathie Wood's
firm already filed an application in April to create an instrument that
tracks the price of 'physical' cryptocurrency.
As the
topic has become a hot item in the media and is elevating the prices of major digital assets,
ARK has decided to refresh its application. As can be seen from the amendment filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday (Wednesday), the
company made changes in its original application to make it similar to the one
filed by BlackRock.
The most
important updates include a contract to share oversight with the futures market
run by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and a cryptocurrency exchange.
This is most likely going to be Coinbase.
The
decision on the cryptocurrency ETF from ARK Invest, which it applied for with
21Shares, is first in line with the SEC. According to the current schedule,
this should be decided by 13 August.
Bitcoin Prices Soar amid ETF Fever
At the time
of BlackRock's announcement about applying for the creation of a spot Bitcoin
ETF, one BTC cost less than $25,000. The cryptocurrency price was then testing at a three-month low.
Wall Street giants' interest in the market caused a dynamic increase in
the crypto price. It rose by over 26% in a week and tested the $31,000 level,
setting new highs for the year.
Bitcoin price. Source: CoinMarketCap
However,
the on-chain data suggest that the upward movements were not due to greater
network activity, but pure speculation and an influx of more cash into
regulated cryptocurrency instruments. Although a spot Bitcoin ETF is not yet
available, investors can take advantage of ETFs tracking the prices of BTC
futures contracts, options or futures themselves.
When the
world's largest fund manager, BlackRock, decided to apply for the creation of a
spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) two weeks ago, nobody expected it
to trigger a new fever in the cryptocurrency market.
The BTC
price reached new highs for the year, and other Wall Street giants began to
join BlackRock. Among them were Invesco, WisdomTree, Fidelity, and ARK
Investment Management (ARK Invest), owned by popular investor Cathie Wood.
ARK Invest Updates its
Bitcoin ETF Application
Although
BlackRock sparked a wave of new applications to register a Bitcoin ETF, ARK
Invest was the first to submit such an application this year. Cathie Wood's
firm already filed an application in April to create an instrument that
tracks the price of 'physical' cryptocurrency.
As the
topic has become a hot item in the media and is elevating the prices of major digital assets,
ARK has decided to refresh its application. As can be seen from the amendment filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday (Wednesday), the
company made changes in its original application to make it similar to the one
filed by BlackRock.
The most
important updates include a contract to share oversight with the futures market
run by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and a cryptocurrency exchange.
This is most likely going to be Coinbase.
The
decision on the cryptocurrency ETF from ARK Invest, which it applied for with
21Shares, is first in line with the SEC. According to the current schedule,
this should be decided by 13 August.
Bitcoin Prices Soar amid ETF Fever
At the time
of BlackRock's announcement about applying for the creation of a spot Bitcoin
ETF, one BTC cost less than $25,000. The cryptocurrency price was then testing at a three-month low.
Wall Street giants' interest in the market caused a dynamic increase in
the crypto price. It rose by over 26% in a week and tested the $31,000 level,
setting new highs for the year.
Bitcoin price. Source: CoinMarketCap
However,
the on-chain data suggest that the upward movements were not due to greater
network activity, but pure speculation and an influx of more cash into
regulated cryptocurrency instruments. Although a spot Bitcoin ETF is not yet
available, investors can take advantage of ETFs tracking the prices of BTC
futures contracts, options or futures themselves.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
