It has been reported that Nasdaq will be listing Bitcoin Futures from next year.

The UK’s Daily Express newspaper broke the news this morning, confirming recent rumours which had been circulating about the New York-based stock exchange.

The news should herald a wider acceptance of the cryptocurrency throughout the world, and is a huge step towards mass adoption.

According to the Express’s article, a Nasdaq’s spokesman confirmed “Bitcoin Futures will be listed and it should launch in the first half of next year”.

The spokesman added that Nasdaq were awaiting the green light from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), but suggested that was virtually signed and sealed.

It’s happening

“We’re doing this, and it’s happening,” he stressed, adding the current volatility in the market would have no bearing whatsoever on the decision to press ahead with the listing.

The move has been welcomed by market analysts the world over.

David Cheetham of London’s XTB described the news as a “game changer”.

“It sounds like Nasdaq have obviously been working on it for quite some time, which means this isn’t a knee-jerk reaction or jumping on the bandwagon – this is a serious plan,” he told the Daily Express.

The IG Group‘s Chief Market Analyst – Chris Beauchamp – said the announcement would be greeted warmly by brokers and traders alike, adding: “It will also bring more visibility and transparency to a market which has no regulation.”

Mainstream future

Stateside, the news has been met with excitement, with many claiming the Nasdaq listing will now pave the way for Bitcoin’s mainstream future.

“This is it – this is the tipping point that people will look back upon in years to come and say that’s where cryptocurrency came into its own,” said New York-based observer John Wintnerbusch.

“Once Bitcoin is listed on Nasdaq’s boards, there’ll be no stopping the march towards cryptocurrency as the future of finance.”