According to Nasdaq, the exchange has launched trading of the world's first index based on the well-known cryptocurrency, bitcoin. In April, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has authorized the Bitcoin Tracker One (BTO) certificate issued by the Swedish company XBT Provider AB.
The certificate of authorization enables investment in bitcoins that implies making profit from an underlying asset in the US dollar with the lowest commission.
“We are proud to offer the world's first 'bitcoin tracker' to be traded on the regulated exchange,” Alexander Marsh, the company's CEO, said. He noted that WTO should encourage investments in bitcoin.
The certificate is to be the world's first financial tool that provides for investments into virtual currency.
Bitcoin is a decentralized virtual currency which, due to constant hash function calculation, is not issued by a single emission center. The currency may be used to purchase goods on the internet. Its rate depends on the exchange where bitcoin is traded.
Due to the currency's unregulated circulation, in 2014, Russian Finance Ministry proposed imposing a ban on the use of virtual currencies. In its turn, Russia's Central Bank noted that transactions with cryptocurrency will be considered suspicious.
