The world’s second-largest stock exchange in the world, the NASdaq exchange, has officially confirmed its plans to launch Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) futures in 2019. Late last week, unofficial reports surfaced of the exchange launching these plans, first reported by Bloomberg.

Joseph Christinat, VP of NASdaq’s media team, spoke to the UK’s daily tabloid The Express yesterday and confirmed the plans. The VP states that these futures will be listed and launched in the first half of 2019—no official date has been given at this time.

NASdaq Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) Futures

The launch still remains subject to approval from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Christinat told The Express:

“We’ve put a hell of a lot of money and energy into delivering the ability to do this and we’ve been all over it for a long time—way before the market went into turmoil, and that will not affect the timing of this in any way. No. Period. We’re doing this no matter what.”

This is a positive announcement for crypto enthusiasts. Most crypto-related projects that sprouted up in 2017 were knee-jerk reactions to what was hot in the market. This, however, seems like a thoroughly thought out plan that has been brewing for a while.

Joseph Christinat’s interview did not confirm whETHer NASdaq’s Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) futures will be cash-backed or physically settled. Bakkt will be launching the first physically delivered Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) futures in this coming January. Cash-settled Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) futures came into the market in December of 2017 by the CBOE and CME Group.