UBS Will Let Some Customers Trade Bitcoin ETFs, Contrary to Rumors: Source

UBS, the Zürich-based banking giant, will let some clients who desire to trade bitcoin ETFs do so, subject to some conditions, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The conditions, according to the person close to UBS who asked to not be named, include: UBS cannot solicit the trades and accounts with a lower risk tolerance won’t be able to buy them.

A UBS spokesperson declined to comment.

Bitcoin ETFs debuted to enormous excitement on Thursday, with billions of dollars worth traded on the first day they were available.

Vanguard, the large U.S.-based investment firm, said Thursday that it would not let its customers trade them. There were unconfirmed rumors earlier in the day that UBS might join Vanguard in not offering them.

Some of the largest names in finance are offering bitcoin ETFs, including BlackRock, Fidelity and Invesco. And Charles Schwab, the large U.S. brokerage, confirmed to CoinDesk on Thursday that it will let clients trade them.

Optimists believe bitcoin ETFs will dramatically broaden the investor base for bitcoin, since buying ETFs is easier than purchasing bitcoin itself.