Bitcoin ETF Integration in Retirement Plans: A New Era for French Investors
VanEck, a prominent Bitcoin ETF issuer, has partnered with Inter Invest, an asset manager, to launch the first Bitcoin offering within French retirement savings plans. This initiative is powered by VanEck’s VBTC Bitcoin ETF, which recently launched on Australia’s leading exchange. With a total value of $407 million, VBTC aims to provide French Pension Savings Plan (PER) investors access to digital assets as part of their retirement portfolio.
A New Way to Invest in Bitcoin
VBTC is fully collateralized and tracks the MarketVector Bitcoin VWAP Close Index, measuring the performance of a digital asset portfolio invested directly in Bitcoin. The ETF carries a 1% total expense ratio, offering investors a regulated way to gain exposure to the leading cryptocurrency. This move echoes the recent approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the US, a development that signifies a growing acceptance of crypto assets in traditional finance.
VanEck CEO Martijn Rozemuller expressed the company’s confidence in Bitcoin as a long-term innovative asset. However, he acknowledged the recent price volatility, attributing it to the typical value-seeking phase of emerging assets. Jean-Baptiste de Pascal, Deputy CEO of Inter Invest, emphasized the company’s commitment to democratizing innovative financial assets. He believes integrating crypto assets into retirement savings plans addresses the increasing demand for diversification into digital assets.
Bitcoin ETFs Gain Momentum
The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs into French pension plans follows the approval of the first crypto ETF listings on the London Stock Exchange in Q2, opening doors for professional investors to access this asset class. Despite some skepticism, with the European Central Bank (ECB) comparing the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs by the Securities and Exchange Commission to “the naked emperor’s new clothes,” the market continues to thrive.
Recent data shows that the newly licensed US Bitcoin ETF market is flourishing. On Monday, US Bitcoin ETFs saw a substantial net inflow of $301 million, marking seven consecutive days of net inflows. BlackRock’s IBIT and Ark Invest ETFs, along with 21Shares’ ARKB ETF, each witnessed significant net inflows of $117 million. Bloomberg expert Eric Balchunas noted that Bitcoin ETFs are making progress, surpassing the $16 billion milestone year-to-date.
