For newcomers, the cryptocurrency space can feel overwhelming. There are online wallets, on-ramps, exchanges and an ever-growing array of tokens. With assets such as bitcoin still in their infancy, regulations surrounding these digital tools can seem hazy, which is off-putting for investors otherwise keen to get to grips with the forefront of finance.
“Realistically, it’s not a simple process to actually buy these tokens on these regulated and unregulated crypto exchanges,” says Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO at DeFi Technologies, a company that provides regulated and secure access to decentralised finance. “Can you imagine getting your parents to take a position on a token like Solana on an unregulated exchange? It would be almost impossible.”
Financial institutions are now adapting with the introduction of exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, linked to crypto assets. As of spring 2025, more than 250 crypto-linked ETFs were on the European market, with a total net flow of more than $1bn. ETFs generally track the price of a particular asset, such as bitcoin, although this can sometimes deviate during trading. Most important, however, is the fact that all ETFs are traded on normal exchanges and bought and sold by brokers.
A bridge between old and new
In this way, crypto-linked ETFs act as a bridge between traditional trading and new financial technologies. In the process, they substantially widen the appeal and the accessibility of crypto assets. “It’s a traditional equity way of getting exposure to what is underlying the ETF,” says Starr. “It’s a derivative of a sort, but a fully hedged one. People are familiar with traditional equity markets, and I believe that if we can give people crypto assets on those exchanges, crypto will go far more mainstream.”
