Hedera HBAR ETP Expands DeFi Access for European Markets

Valour Digital Securities Limited (VDSL) and The Hashgraph Group (THG) have unveiled a new investment product: the Hedera HBAR ETP, now listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

This move provides European investors with unprecedented access to Hedera’s native token, HBAR, further integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) into traditional financial (TradFi) markets.

HBAR ETP Launches In Amsterdam

The HBAR ETP is the first physically backed Hedera exchange-traded product (ETP) under VDSL’s base prospectus. This distinguishes it from the earlier iteration listed on Börse Frankfurt. The new listing offers both retail and institutional investors a transparent, regulated avenue to invest in HBAR.

“This listing broadens opportunities for institutional and retail investors to participate in Hedera’s robust, sustainable network,” said Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of Valour overseer, DeFi Technologies.

The Hashgraph Group, a Swiss-based venture capital and technology company, has been instrumental in developing and funding the Hedera HBAR ETP. The expansion to Euronext Amsterdam reflects the commitment to advancing institutional-grade digital assets.

Meanwhile, Valour’s novel approach aligns with a growing trend in financial markets to integrate decentralized technologies. It also adds to the transformative growth witnessed within the broader crypto investment space.

Even as altcoin ETPs gain traction in Europe, the regulatory playing field in the US remains broadly disconcerted. For example, in the US, only Canary Capital has filed for the first-ever Hedera HBAR ETF with the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). This reflects a potentially budding institutional interest in HBAR as a viable asset class in the US.

According to Eric Balchunas, a prominent ETF analyst, HBAR’s regulatory clarity positions it ahead of assets like XRP and Solana (SOL) for potential ETF approval. This sentiment comes from the fact that HBAR is not classified as a security measure.

“We expect a wave of cryptocurrency ETFs next year, albeit not all at once. First out is likely the BTC + ETH combo ETFs, then probably Litecoin (because its fork of BTC = commodity), then HBAR (because [it is] not labeled security), and then XRP/Solana (which have been labeled securities in pending lawsuits,” Balchunas noted.

Of note is that XRP’s status remains uncertain amid the ongoing legal tussle with the US SEC over its non-security status. Meanwhile, Solana ETFs received a direct rejection from the SEC in December.

Ultimately, the approval odds of an HBAR ETF or any other altcoin-based financial instrument in the US remain slim now. Investors eye the Trump administration for a better regulatory environment under Paul Atkins.