CFB Talks Digital Assets

Hong Kong’s listed digital asset product market has been on a steady path of growth since the first spot crypto ETFs were launched there around 18 months ago, but one asset manager, stands out: MicroBit Capital Management . Especially because it’s one of the newest operating in the region and specifically focused on digital assets. The firm’s MicroBit Bitcoin Spot ETF (SEHK tickers: 3430, 9430) wa...

A lot of the excitement following approval of Generic Listing Standards centers on anticipation that specialist crypto ETF firms which have carved out a niche managing altcoin funds, now have an edge. Among these, 21Shares stands out. Founded in Zurich in 2018, the group has since grown into a $10 billion AuM multinational, driven by products like its ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) . It also list...

From a standing start less than a decade ago, Bitwise Asset Management, one of just a handful of US-based digital asset-focused investment firms, recently reached the milestone of $15 billion in AuM. It's a testament to their unique franchise as an established multinational institution, combined with an unmatched track record of crypto investment expertise, capped with a roster of in-demand voices...

The digital asset industry is growing at breakneck speed. A surge in crypto IPOs, the rise of corporate digital asset treasuries, and an expanding pipeline of deals are reshaping the market. Now, with the Clarity Act promising regulatory certainty, the pace of institutional engagement is accelerating like never before. In this episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets, we’re joined by John Todaro, Manag...

Recorded July 15, 2025. We're just past the half way mark of one of the most geopolitically and politically volatile years for decades - yet key digital assets are continuing to set new highs. On the face of it, it's a classic set-up for a significant pullback, maybe exacerbated by simmering inflation and questionable growth, combined with rising skepticism on earnings, amid lofty valuations. Stil...

The recent debut of Evolve's XRP ETF (XRP), and Evolve Solana ETF (SOLA), show the firm remains at the cutting edge. Forward-thinking investment management has been key, and that's been consistently supplied by Evolve's CIO, Elliot Johnson. Join us to hear how Elliot navigates the unique opportunities and challenges of managing listed crypto investments in Canada. Just a few of many conversation h...

North America's true spot crypto ETF pioneers are Canadian! The first physical Bitcoin funds listed on Toronto's TSX in early-2021. Now, Canadian issuers are leading crypto's integration into mainstream markets again, with the region's first Solana ETFs - and - the first to incorporate staking. Among these, 3iQ's Solana Staking ETF (tickers: SOLQ.U. SOLQ) is gathering assets fastest to date, and t...

With a notional $1 trillion-plus in CME Bitcoin and Ether futures settled by CF Benchmarks indices since their launch, our partnership is one of the most pivotal in crypto. Meanwhile, after the Solana futures debut in March, and with the launch of XRP futures coming next week, the leading derivatives marketplace continues to play a critical and growing role in the evolution of the digital asset cl...

As markets contemplate what the next 100 days hold in store, we're stoked to have another dose of exclusive insights from FalconX's Head of Research, David Lawant, from his vantage point serving the biggest investors in the world. A small sample of topics you really don't want to miss: Meet Bitcoin's decoupling from alts, with institutions playing a bigger role via ETF flows One crucial difference...

In this episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets , we break down CFB Research's Q2 2025 Market Outlook , “The New Equilibrium: Unraveling Economic Tension & Thematic Tailwinds." From stubborn inflation and global growth uncertainty to proactive regulatory shifts and strengthening structural themes, the quarter ahead is defined by both tension and opportunity. We explore how digital assets are being...

We’re delighted to welcome one of the most esteemed and authoritative institutional crypto practitioners back to the CFB Talks Digital Assets podcast - Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer of Bitwise Asset Management. As well as informed insights on recent market volatility, we’re also fortunate to get Matt’s take on critical regulatory and political developments impacting the space so far this y...

Recorded March 11, 2025. Time for the Q1 market review edition of our CFB Talks Digital Assets podcast - where the CF Benchmarks research team, Gabe Selby and Mark Pilipczuk, put that complex first quarter under the microscope. Key themes: ■ How sharp does a crypto market tumble need to be to constitute a correction? And when does a crypto correction become a bear? Get our analysts’ take on the eq...

Following Franklin Templeton’s recent launch of Franklin Crypto ETF, ticker EZPZ, the asset management giant now has three digital asset ETPs in its roster. But if you thought Franklin’s crypto journey only began with the Bitcoin and Ether ETFs it listed last year, you’re probably unaware of just how significant and longstanding its digital asset footprint actually is ... not to mention the laser...

One of Ethereum’s newest and most exciting Layer-2s is of course Ink, unleashed by Kraken on the Optimism Superchain in December - so we’re thrilled to welcome Andrew Koller, Ink’s founder, to the CFB Talks Digital Assets podcast. With deep on-chain expertise, Andrew dives into some of the most critical topics shaping the future of Ethereum, institutional participation, and how the network scales...

Recorded 29 January 2025. We’re beyond stoked to welcome Marco Santori as our guest on the CFB Talks Digital Assets podcast. Marco was Kraken’s Chief Legal Officer for, quite possibly, 5 of the most pivotal years crypto will see for some time, and he remains a senior Kraken advisor. Widely thought of as ‘Crypto’s Attorney’, Marco has been the driving force behind several initiatives in the US - ma...

Recorded 17 January 2025. The potential for factor-based investing to one day be applied to digital assets, has long been a tantalizing prospect. But it’s not been possible - till now. CF Benchmarks’ recent report - ‘A Factor Model for Digital Assets’ - demonstrated the existence of ‘classic’ asset market behaviour patterns (factors), like Momentum, Liquidity, Value and others, within the crypto a...

Recorded 7 January 2025. Digital assets have a high bar to beat in 2025, after a stonking 2024! But with a new pro-crypto US administration waiting in the wings, this year promises to be just as consequential. Markets-wise, January is off to a less than sure-footed start. As CF Benchmarks Head of Research Gabe Selby, CFA, and Research Analyst, Mark Pilipczuk point out in our first podcast of 2025,...

Recorded 19 December 2024. The final CF Benchmarks podcast episode of the year is the perfect companion for exploration of our research team’s 2025 Market Outlook Report, which is picking up a lot of well-deserved media attention right now! Join Head of Research Gabe Selby, CFA, and Research Analyst Mark Pilipczuk, as they unpack the highlights with Head of Content, Ken Odeluga. Get our analysts’...

Recorded 10 December 2024. After one of the most consequential crypto quarters for years, join CF Benchmarks' Head of Research Gabe Selby, CFA, and Research Analyst Mark Pilipczuk on the latest CFB Talks Digital Assets podcast, as they talk through the major global market, on-chain, macro and blockchain economic drivers spotlighted in their Q4 Quarterly Attribution Report! Start with an informed r...

Recorded 26 November 2024. As crypto’s banner year draws to a close, we’re stoked to welcome two of the most insightful experts in the capital markets space to CFB Talks Digital Assets: FalconX’s Head of Research, David Lawant, and their ETF Business Development Manager, Nello Cafcules. FalconX is the world’s leading crypto prime brokerage, so who better to talk through the recent debut of options...

Recorded 18 October 2024. CF Benchmarks’ recently launched quarterly market outlook series is on tap for an extra special episode of the CFB Talks Digital Assets podcast! The first report in the series, for Q4 2024, landed in the run-up to the hotly anticipated U.S. election. Join our Head of Research, Gabe Selby, CFA, Research Analyst, Mark Pilipczuk, and Head of Content, Ken Odeluga, as they tal...

Recorded July 26, 2024. For the latest episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets we sat down with Nuno Serafim, Managing Partner at Lisbon-based 3 Comma Capital, who recently launched their Global Crypto Fund, deploying our regulated CF Ultra Cap 5 EUR index as its benchmark. It was a rare opportunity to look over the shoulder of and hear granular insights from a veteran portfolio manager of traditional...

Spot Ether ETFs are finally here! Just like for Bitcoin ETFs though, the path to approval has been full of suspense and drama. Whether it was SEC chair Gary Gensler’s previous view that Ether was a security; the controversy over staking (note: no spot Ether ETFs include staking) or regulatory actions against non-ETF platforms ... the process often felt like it was one plot twist away from complete...

Recorded 20 June 2024. With Bitcoin’s realised volatility still regularly touching 50%, the multibillion dollar launch of US spot Bitcoin ETFs this year underlines institutions’ need for more efficient ways of managing crypto risk. This makes the new CF Bitcoin Volatility Index (BVXS), the only direct measure of CME BTC implied volatility, a timely addition to our roster of regulated benchmarks. B...

Recorded 13 June 2024. 2024 is already crystallised as one of the most consequential years ever for digital asset adoption, but unfortunately, the recent quarter saw asset prices mostly consolidating - at best. As CF Benchmarks’ Head of Research, Gabe Selby, CFA, notes in his latest Quarterly Attribution Report (QAR), “price action was primarily driven by opposing forces”. Gabe sat down with CFB’s...