Bitcoin fair value still zero despite ETF inclusion: ECB Blogpost

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Bitcoin is still a pernicious phenomenon with no intrinsic value despite its US approval as an asset for inclusion in Exchange-Traded Funds, two European Central Bank staff members wrote.

The blogpost on Thursday by Ulrich Bindseil, the Frankfurt institution's market infrastructure and payments director general, and Juergen Schaaf, an adviser, reiterates their long-held view that the digital currency presents risks to both society and the environment.

«For disciples, the formal approval confirms that Bitcoin investments are safe and the preceding rally is proof of an unstoppable triumph,» the officials said. «We disagree with both claims and reiterate that the fair value of Bitcoin is still zero.»

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first US spot Bitcoin ETFs in January in the wake of a court defeat last year. The group of 10 portfolios has attracted a net inflow of $5.2 billion since going live. The price of Bitcoin itself has soared, an increase Bindseil and Schaff said could prove short-lived. «Without any cash flow or other returns, the fair value of an asset is zero,» they wrote. «Detached from economic fundamentals every price is equally (im)plausible — a fantastic condition for snake oil salesmen.»

Did you Know?

The world of cryptocurrencies is very dynamic. Prices can go up or down in a matter of seconds. Thus, having reliable answers to such questions is crucial for investors.

The authors cited three reasons for Bitcoin's resilience: «the ongoing manipulation of the 'price'