Switzerland approves first Bitcoin ETF for retail investors

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Switzerland’s financial regulator, FINMA, has approved the country’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests directly in Bitcoin and is available to retail investors.

FINMA announced the decision on Tuesday, citing growing interest in crypto investments, particularly Bitcoin. It did not name the fund issuer or give a launch date, but said several providers had submitted or announced applications for Bitcoin ETFs.

The approval follows FINMA’s 2021 authorisation of a crypto fund for qualified investors that primarily invests in a basket of digital assets. The regulator has warned that Bitcoin’s volatility can lead to significant losses, including the loss of a substantial part of an investor’s capital.