Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, has issued a warning that the success of traditional finance firms like BlackRock in launching a spot Bitcoin ETF could lead to Bitcoin’s downfall. In a new blog post, Hayes expresses concerns about the potential dominance of Bitcoin ETFs managed by traditional asset managers as a threat to the decentralized nature of Bitcoin.
Hayes highlights BlackRock’s strategy as indicative of the broader traditional finance approach to Bitcoin. He fears that the focus on trading ETF derivatives could undermine the actual use and purpose of the Bitcoin blockchain. He envisions a scenario where major asset managers accumulate Bitcoin, immobilizing it and leading to a stagnation of Bitcoin transactions, which could threaten the network’s sustainability and ultimately Bitcoin’s existence.
Additionally, Hayes argues that the reduced use of the Bitcoin network due to the prominence of Bitcoin ETFs could lead miners to cease operations, which would be detrimental to the network and Bitcoin as a whole.
Despite these ominous predictions, Hayes sees 2024 as a critical year for Bitcoin, with the expected approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and global political and economic factors potentially bringing significant changes to the cryptocurrency.
The historic background of this topic involves the increasing integration of cryptocurrencies into traditional finance and the continued debate over the impact of Bitcoin ETFs on the cryptocurrency market.
As of the latest data, Bitcoin’s price has slightly declined, currently trading at $43,613, with a corresponding decline in trading volume. Analysts urge caution amid potential changes in the cryptocurrency landscape.
