First Mover Americas: BlackRock Files for a Spot Bitcoin ETF
The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for June 16, 2023.
This article originally appeared in , CoinDesk’s daily newsletter putting the latest moves in crypto markets in context..
The iShares unit of fund management giant BlackRock (BLK) Thursday afternoon with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the formation of a spot bitcoin (BTC) ETF. To be named the iShares Bitcoin Trust, the fund's assets will "consist primarily of bitcoin held by a custodian on behalf of the Trust," according to the filing, which said that the custodian will be crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN). Though approving a number of futures-based bitcoin ETFs, the SEC has notably rejected other fund management company attempts at opening a spot bitcoin ETF, including those from Grayscale, VanEck, and WisdomTree.
Altcoins suffered losses over the last week, with the tokens in the SEC’s lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase witnessing some of the worst drops. Among them is Polygon’s MATIC which is down 19% for the week even after posting a gain early Friday. Avalanche’s AVAX lost 17% and Solana (SOL) 15%. Ether, unmentioned in the suits, held up slightly better, losing 9%. Bitcoin declined 3% for the week, though it’s higher by 2% over the past 24 hours to the current $25,500.
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is the Netherlands, after failing to persuade the Dutch regulator to issue a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license, which attests that it meets anti-money laundering (AML) guidelines. As of July 17, Dutch residents will only be able to withdraw their funds from the platform, according to a statement from the exchange. “We regret to announce that Binance is leaving the Dutch market,” Binance said on its website. “This unfortunately means that no new users residing in the Netherlands will be accepted as of today … No further purchases, trades or deposits will be possible. We encourage those users to take appropriate action by withdrawing assets from their accounts.”
Edited by Stephen Alpher.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Victim Compensation Does Not Excuse Criminal Acts, Judges Inform SBF
- Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal team faces uphill battle as appeals judges question claims of unfair trial and lack of fraud intent. - Judges dismiss defense arguments, noting SBF admitted not relying on legal advice during FTX fund transfers. - Court rejects post-trial repayment claims, emphasizing criminal liability persists despite 90% customer fund recovery. - Case sets precedent for crypto accountability, with appeals unlikely to succeed without procedural errors.

Sequoia's Change in Leadership: Will Advancements in AI Help Restore Broken Trust?
- Sequoia Capital's Roelof Botha steps down amid reputational crises, ceding leadership to Alfred Lin and Pat Grady during strategic recalibration. - The transition follows Islamophobic controversy, COO's exit, and a $200M FTX loss, prompting cultural and financial restructuring efforts. - New leaders prioritize trust restoration via a $950M AI fund targeting disruptive startups, signaling a return to U.S.-centric operations and ethical accountability. - The shift reflects industry-wide adaptation to geopo

Solana News Update: Mutuum Finance's DeFi Strategy: Balancing Stability Against Shiba Inu's Fluctuations
- Mutuum Finance (MUTM) raises $18.27M in presale with 80% completion, targeting $0.06 launch price for 400% potential gains. - Project combines Solana's utility-driven growth with SHIB's viral appeal via dual-lending model and automated risk management protocols. - CertiK audit (90/100) and $50K bug bounty address DeFi security risks, while buy-and-distribute mechanism boosts token value retention. - Whale investments and structured tokenomics (45.5% presale allocation) signal institutional confidence ahe

Bitcoin News Update: Retail Investors Panic While Institutions Accumulate as Bitcoin Challenges $106K Support Level
- Bitcoin fell below $100,000 on October 30, 2025, its first drop in six months amid heightened volatility. - ETF outflows ($488M) and institutional buying (397 BTC at $114,771) highlight retail caution vs. institutional confidence. - Analysts warn of 65%-70% drawdown risks over two years, citing weak investor understanding and panic selling cycles. - Regulatory shifts (e.g., Wyoming stablecoin plans) offer partial support but fail to offset year-to-date price swings ($67k-$124k). - Market uncertainty pers

