ETF Express Newsletter 24.01.25

Keeping it active and digital

This week we bring you our second Global digital assets column, produced in partnership with CoinDesk and Trackinsight and written by CoinDesk Research Lead, Joshua de Vos. We know that 2024 has been an extraordinary year for ETFs generally and specifically for crypto ETFs.
De Vos writes: "Bitcoin was one of the standout performers of 2024. According to the XBX reference rate, Bitcoin recorded a 121 per cent price increase, closing the year at USD93,412.18. This performance coincided with USD68 billion in total inflows into bitcoin-related ETFs and ETPs, where bitcoin maintained an 81 per cent market share among single-asset indices for the top four digital assets: BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP, according to data from Trackinsight.
We have a Partner Feature with ICONOMI this week, with its CEO, Peter Curk, writing that the firm’s origins lie back in 2026. "We were one of the first platforms to let people invest and manage their crypto investments without needing to be experts," he says. "Our mission remains to make digital asset investments and management simple, secure, and transparent for retail and institutional users."
We also brought you a lengthy chat with Serge Weyland, CEO at ALFI, who talked to us about Luxembourg’s decision before Christmas to cancel its subscription tax for active ETFs. ETFs are increasingly viewed as a distribution channel in the domicile. "There is a clear potential going forward to distribute actively managed funds," Weyland says. "Using the strong development of platforms such as Trade Republic or Revolut which are popular with the younger generations we see changing dynamics from sales and distribution professionals and that was the motivation of what we could do in Luxembourg."
If you haven’t had a chance yet, take a look at our esteemed panel of ETF selectors from around the world and their views on how the industry might look over 2025. Follow this link for the Global Outlook, brought to you in partnership with Harbor Capital Advisers.
Finally! Get your nominations in now for service providers in the European ETF space – nominations close today, 24th January, and voting opens for issuers and service providers in Europe on Monday 27th. Good luck to everyone!

Beverly Chandler, Managing Editor
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