Regulators in Canada approve CI Financial's bitcoin ETF, setting stage for TSX debut

Mike Novogratz' Galaxy Digital is officially in the bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) game.

Regulators in Canada approved CI Global Asset Management's (CI GAM) offering with the crypto investment firm acting as sub-advisor. The receipt is dated March 4, public records show.

The CI Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCX) will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange Tuesday with the exchange's approval, according to an announcement. CI GAM also plans to merge its existing bitcoin fund into the ETF, according to an announcement from the firm. The CI Galaxy Bitcoin Fund manages about $172 million worth of assets.

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Canada first approved a bitcoin ETF in February of this year. CI GAM and Galaxy filed soon after the initial approval of the Purpose Bitcoin ETF. Purpose did $165 million in volume on its first day. 

Soon after filing for a bitcoin ETF, CI GAM and Galaxy submitted a prospectus for an ether-based ETF to trade on TSX. If approved, it would be a first-of-its-kind offering. Galaxy has said it plans to deepen its ETH offerings, and is planning to launch a family of ETH funds. 

CI-GAM has also filed and obtained receipts on prospectuses on mutual fund offerings for BTC and ETH.

About Author

Aislinn Keely is a reporter on The Block's policy team holding down the legal beat. She covers court decisions, bankruptcies, regulatory actions and other key moments in the legal sphere, putting them in context for the wider crypto industry. Before The Block, she lent her voice to the NPR affiliate WFUV and helmed Fordham University's student newspaper. Send tips or thoughts on all things policy and legal to [email protected] or follow her on Twitter for updates @AislinnKeely.