CFB Talks Digital Assets

Recorded 18 April 2023.

Engineering and calculating UK Benchmarks Regulation-standard crypto indices is an intellectual capital-intensive enterprise!

Fortunately, some of the brightest index architects around work at CF Benchmarks - like Lucy Slee, a Software Engineer in our index team.

Our chat with Lucy on the latest CFB Talks Digital Assets is a rare chance to hear how we construct reliable, accurate, high-integrity price instruments. Highlights:

• Crypto Index Creation for Dummies;
• Ensuring maximum uptime - by design;
• For even more complex indices like CF Bitcoin Interest Curve (CF BIRC) and Rolling CME Bitcoin Futures Index - where on earth did we start?
• Tips for would-be financial index engineers.

Recorded 11 April 2023.

Despite the EU passing its landmark MiCA legislation this week, it remains a headache for regulated European institutions to offer listed exposure to digital assets - and U.S. regs are even more painfully a work in progress. CF Benchmarks’ CF Rolling CME Futures Index Series offers a solution. Join our Senior Product Manager, Thomas Erdösi, on the latest episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets to learn how and why these indices work. Highlights:

• How a CF Rolling CME Futures Index gives 100% exposure to a cryptoasset with no need to touch crypto;
• How our unique methodology achieves the best possible tracking;
• How we’ve all but eliminated the risk of front running;
• What other measures have we taken to prevent manipulation?
• Why CF Rolling CME Futures indices are the ideal solution for regulated institutions looking to list crypto ETFs in the US.

Recorded 28 March 2023.

In the latest episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets, Ken and Gabe dive into the roller coaster ride that has been crypto in the first quarter of 2023. Despite market shifts, unexpected events and the collapse of major financial institutions, the digital assets market has been surprisingly resilient, underpinned by the remarkable performance of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Have a listen and discover how the year has shaped up to be the perfect storm for crypto, defying the challenges faced by traditional asset classes like equities. Uncover which assets stood out in the volatile environment, and explore the widening gap between digital assets and conventional markets. Don't miss this captivating conversation as we delve into the factors influencing digital asset rallies, the broader implications of the banking crisis, and the potential future of the crypto landscape.

Recorded 9 March 2023.

Our latest CFB Talks Digital Assets features Bloomberg's Mike McGlone, one of the most read, followed and watched global macro strategists. Though a veteran of established markets like commodities and equities, Mike was also an early adopter and integrator of the digital asset class. This means his perspective on the intersection of crypto, macro and ‘Wall Street’ is highly developed and quite unique.

Highlights include:

• Why crypto prices remain structurally so strong despite the Fed, SVB, Signature, etc.;
• The importance of "widely disseminated" ETFs that track high-quality indices like the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR);
• How the current 'supply trough' amid still-tightening financial conditions sets the stage for another leg lower, led by digital assets;
• Why dollar-pegged stablecoins may turn out to be the most important digital asset class;
• The SEC vs. GBTC - what to watch.

Recorded 23 February 2023.Recent crypto counterparty implosions achieved one thing at least - they highlighted the need for credible, high-integrity digital asset interest rates! That need and demand is among the key reasons why CF Benchmarks developed the CF Bitcoin Interest Rate Curve (CF BIRC), the first comprehensive BTC lending rate. And the CF BIRC is the focus of the latest CFB Talks Digital Assets, with our guest Ghando, CFB's Head of Product.

Recorded 23 January 2023.

Time for CFB Talks Digital Assets 2023 Outlook Edition! Hear our Big ‘Three Rs’ for 2023: ‘Relief’ - ‘Regulation’ - ‘Recovery’:

• With markets off to a strong start, the ‘Relief’ part is on. But does the CF Broad Cap Index’s biggest year-to-date outperformance vs. global equities since 2021 herald a sustainable ‘Recovery’?
• Why the 'Regulatory' outlook remains uncertain even as regulators swing into action;
• Why DeFi, which was so resilient to 2022's storms, could be key;
• Also ’Samcoins’ (?) … What you need to know.

Recorded 13 December 2022.A reminder of how much of a - genuinely - positive year it's been for blockchain technology, institutional and broader crypto adoption is well overdue, and one of the experts best-placed to deliver it is Marcelo Sampaio, co-founder and CEO of Hashdex...Which is why we're stoked to have Marcelo as our first investment management guest on CFB Talks Digital Assets.

• Tune in to hear why long-term solutions to many problems in the space are staring us in the face;
• Why, shorter term, one of the few positives from recent failures will inevitably be stronger enforcement and greater transparency;
• Plus Marcelo and Gabe Selby, CFA discuss the specific digital asset themes likely to be in the spotlight in 2023.

Recorded 8 December 2022.In the latest episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets we review yet another tumultuous quarter of deleveraging triggered by yet another big counterparty collapse. Still, as Lead Research Analyst Gabe Selby points out, despite all digital asset categories remaining in the red throughout the quarter, as reflected by negative returns for our regulated crypto portfolio indices, scaling protocols were relatively defensive.

• Listen to find out which one fared best.
• What that has to do with the definitive DeFi milestone for JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the quarter.
• And why fading Ether dominance of the BTC/ETH ratio helps set up the best conditions we’ve got (for now) for more constructive price action in the current quarter.

Recorded 22 November 2022.Following CF Benchmarks CEO Sui Chung's widely circulated comments arguing that FTX-SBF might actually accelerate the next wave of institutional crypto adoption - not impede it - Head of Content Ken Odeulga and Lead Research Analyst Gabe Selby were pleased to be joined by Sui for the latest episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets.Highlights include:

• Why there's little that crypto-specific regulations could have done to prevent FTX-Alameda malfeasance.
• Should some crypto service providers be regulated more like banks?
• Why a 'Crypto Glass-Steagall Act' could be coming.
• Plus, potential escape routes for DCG’s Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, as the discount to NAV holds above 40%

Recorded 15 November 2022.

Unfortunately, there’s no getting away from the FTX debacle right now... Ken Odeluga and Gabe Selby, CFA do a quick recap in the latest CFB Talks Digital Assets podcast, and talk about what it all might mean for the industry and consumers going forward.

Plus, as if FTX’s implosion wasn’t enough, we look into the after effects on other providers - AKA contagion.

Beyond contagion, fallout is making existing hurts worse: we ask what’s next for GBTC, as the discount to NAV hits 40%-plus.

Meanwhile, institutional players are strongly pushing up open interest on regulated CME Group Bitcoin Futures. Gabe explains why this might be a positive sign.

Join us for the second episode of CFB Talks Digital Assets, with Head of Content Ken Odeluga and Lead Research Analyst Gabe Selby.