WisdomTree Eying US-Regulated Stablecoin Launch

Source: Finance Magnates 2020-01-14

Asset manager WisdomTree is planning to enter the lucrative market of stablecoins with the launch of an asset-pegged digital currency regulated in the United States.

Reported by the FNLondon on Monday, the firm overseeing $63 billion in client assets is considering to peg the digital currency against a basket of assets including gold, fiat currencies, and government bonds.

The company is also intending to approach the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the country and consult for regulatory needs, however, it is not clear whether talks between the asset manager and the regulator has already initiated.

A natural extension of ETF business

Headquartered in the United States, WisdomTree specializes in exchange-traded products (ETP) and is slowly moving towards the digital asset market as well. The company’s decision to dive into the stablecoin market surfaced days after its investment into blockchain startup Securrency, leading to a $17.65 million Series A financing round.

Then, the asset manager also revealed its plans to introduce decentralized technology into the ETF market and believe that this step will bring the instruments to a wide range of investors and will also improve investment experience.

Speaking to Coindesk, William Peck, WisdomTree’s corporate-strategy director, revealed that the structure and purpose of the stablecoin will be similar to an ETF.

“We absolutely see a market within the existing crypto-native community, transacting digital assets today,” he told the publication.

Last month, the company also launched a Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) and listed it on Swiss-based stock exchange SIX. The instrument will allow investors to invest in the digital currency without holding any of it.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the SEC stance on crypto is still doubtful and it is continuously delaying to decide on Bitcoin ETFs. However, on the positive side, the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) recently approved a US dollar-pegged stablecoin launched by Binance, allowing its trading within the state.

WisdomTree Eying US-Regulated Stablecoin Launch

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