In a first for the Middle East's, bitcoin fund was launched on the Dubai bourse, with Canadian digital asset manager 3iQ Corp aiming to raise nearly $200 million in the offering, a statement said Wednesday.
"3iQ Corp., Canada's largest digital asset investment fund manager... today officially listed The Bitcoin Fund on Nasdaq Dubai, the region's international exchange," the bourse said in the statement.
It said that "this fund is the world's first regulated major Bitcoin fund to be listed on the capital markets in the Middle East North Africa region".
"Bitcoin trades 24 hours a day around the world, and in Canada we trade around North American market times and Dubai is almost perfectly opposite of (those) trading hours," 3iQ Corp chief executive Fred Pye told Bloomberg Television.
"We think if the market holds up for the next few months while we get the listing going, we expect to probably be quite far north of ($200 million)."
Created in 2008 as an alternative to traditional currencies, bitcoin is the world's most popular virtual unit, but its price has slumped recently due to fresh moves from China to crack down on cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin fell under $30,000 on Tuesday for the first time in five months, hit by concerns over China's ongoing crackdown.
The unit had recovered some lost ground by 1040 GMT on Wednesday, punctuating a rollercoaster month of trading, standing at $34,104 a piece.
Chinese mines power nearly 80 percent of the global trade in cryptocurrencies despite a domestic trading ban since 2017.
But in recent months several provinces have ordered mines to close as Beijing puts the industry under the regulatory microscope.
The 3iQ fund finished up 10.38 percent at $38.30 following Wednesday trading, according to the Nasdaq Dubai website.
The fund's prospectus says that it seeks to invest in long-term holdings of bitcoin as a less volatile alternative to direct investments in unpredictable cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are minted by solving puzzles using powerful computers that consume enormous amounts of electricity.
US tech giant is considering to build regional hub in Southeast Asian city-state
Donald Lu reaffirms US's commitment to bolster ties with Pakistan
Here's a billionaires guide to getting rich through stocks
Finance minister reiterates Islamabad's commitment to support local, foreign investors in meeting with DFC CEO
A 111-year-old Marks and Spencer store in south London to close down in July
Consumers will get Rs4.12 per unit reduction in May electricity bills in terms of fuel cost adjustment
