Can retail investors trade Bitcoin ETFs through delegated trading? Financial Supervisory Commission hints: Under evaluation

The Financial Supervisory Commission has allowed professional investors to trade overseas virtual asset ETFs through omnibus trust for over a year, and the market is paying attention to when retail investors can participate further. Deputy Director Huang Zhonghao of the Securities and Futures Bureau stated yesterday (23rd) that he has asked the Securities Association to compile the business execution situation over the past year and the international development overview, and to submit a report. It is expected that “it will be received soon,” and at that time, the content of the report will be used to assess whether to open participation to general investors.
14 brokerages handle, trading scale nearly NT$10 billion
The Financial Supervisory Commission opened securities firms to trade foreign virtual asset ETFs through entrusted trading in October 2024, but due to system adjustments required by brokerages, the business only gradually started in early 2025. Currently, 14 brokerages offer professional investors to invest in virtual asset ETFs through omnibus trust, including UBS Securities, Union Securities, China Trust Securities, Pocket Securities, Mega Securities, Taishin Securities (including merged Yuanta Securities), Kanghe Securities, E.SUN Securities, Cathay Securities, KGI Securities, Fubon Securities, and E.SUN FHC Securities.
According to statistics from the Securities and Futures Bureau, as of the end of March this year, the stock amount of foreign virtual asset ETFs traded by professional investors through omnibus trust was about NT$1.2B, accounting for only 0.06% of the total omnibus trust market; the total trading amount was approximately NT$9.899 billion.
High threshold for professional investors, retail investors not yet open
Currently, the opening target is limited to “professional investors,” including professional institutional investors, high-net-worth investment corporations, high-asset clients, legal persons or funds classified as professional investors, and natural persons with certain financial capacity and experience. The FSC initially considered that virtual assets are complex in nature and highly volatile, and ETF investment risks are relatively high, so it was first opened to professional investors.
Brokerages suggest opening to general investors, FSC cautious assessment
According to comprehensive media reports, some brokerages recently suggested further opening to general investors to trade virtual asset ETFs through omnibus trust. Huang Zhonghao stated that he has asked the Securities Association to compile statistics on business execution during this period, and to review whether disputes have arisen during actual operation, investors’ understanding of the products, and the regulatory laws of related products in overseas markets.