The focus of the NASdaq meeting was apparently how to improve the image of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) in particular. According to Bloomberg, among the topics discussed were the implications of future regulation for cryptocurrencies, what the necessary tools are and what surveillance will be needed.  
NASdaq CEO, Adena Friedman, has been a vocal advocate of blockchain and cryptocurrencies recently, saying they will soon find utility in the real world. NASdaq is already providing surveillance services for the Gemini exchange and the Cboe’s futures markets by monitoring BTC and ETH trading for price manipulation.
There are still two other ETF proposals lodged with the SEC for approval, the VanEck-SolidX Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) ETF and a Cboe ETF. Needless to say, both companies have far more experience in setting up exchange-traded funds than the Winklevoss brothers, in particular, VanEck is an investment management firm that specializes in funds.   
SEC commissioner dissents to ETF ruling (low impact)
Interestingly, one SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce did in fact dissent from the official announcement on Friday, saying: “Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) is a new phenomenon, and its long-term viability is uncertain. It may succeed; it may fail. The Commission, however, is not well positioned to assess the likelihood of either outcome, for Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) or any other asset. Many investors have expressed an interest in gaining exposure to Bitcoin (available on Coinbase), and a subset of these investors would prefer to gain exposure without owning Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) directly.”
CME says more crypto products not likely: (medium impact)
In the lead up to the SEC’s ETF announcement the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), which launched the first Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) futures contracts, last week damped any speculation that it would launch any aLTCoin futures or other products.
CME chief executive Terry Duffy said: I will not just put products up there to see where they’re going to go. I will take a wait and see approach.”
CME, the world’s largest exchange operator, and the Chicago Board of Exchange (Cboe) introduced BTC futures at the end of last year and although trading in both has been very subdued, the Cboe’s XBT contract has more average trading volume. However, the CME contracts trade more in USD terms as the CME contract is 5 times the size of the XBT.
Crypto fundraising by hedge funds continues (Iow-medium impact)  
Former Wall St hedge fund manager-turned Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) billionaire Mike Novogratz continued his fundraising trailblazing this week by raising $52m for a crypto-lending startup through his Galaxy Digital “crypto merchant bank”.
The startup, Blockfi, is planning on launching a crypto-based USD lending platform. In June Galaxy digital invested $15m in Alphapoint, the crypto exchange software provider.
Novogratz stated: “We’re excited to partner with BlockFi and jointly lead the way for financial institutions to participate in crypto investing strategies,” adding “a robust lending market is the keystone for financial systems and BlockFi’s institutional approach and deep lending expertise were key drivers in our decision to partner with them.”
Galaxy Digital lost $134m in the first quarter this year on the back of the crypto bear market.
Crypto bullish fund manager: Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) to hit $500k in six years (low impact)
Another fund manager, Mark Yusko, whose firm Morgan Creek Capital is setting up a crypto fund this week outlined why he thinks Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) could go to $500,000 in the next six years.
Vietnamese regulator: stay away from crypto (low impact)
Vietnam’s securities watchdog has required local businesses not to engage in transactions with cryptocurrencies. The announcement follows a directive issued by the country’s prime minister earlier this year aimed at tightening what Vietnamese regulators call the management of crypto activities.
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