March 21, 2019

FTSE Russell to launch indicative Digital Assets Index

  • New indicative index designed to test and evaluate a benchmark for Digital Assets Market
  • Will help increase awareness and transparency of Digital Assets Market
  • VWAP pricing available on 100 most actively traded digital assets. Only vetted digital exchanges used and pricing quality screens applied
  • Index produced in association with DAR Data Services (DAR)

FTSE Russell in association with DAR Data Services (DAR), have announced their intention to launch a new indicative FTSE Digital Assets Index. The indicative index will be used to evaluate and test a benchmark for the most actively traded digital assets. It will also help assist in the establishment of new industry standards for the digital assets market, in consultation with market participants.

The indicative index, which will be available to registered users, will be calculated every 15 seconds, 24x7 with data sourced from selected digital exchanges vetted and approved by DAR. FTSE Russell will also provide a Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) for all 100 constituent digital assets. The VWAPs will be calculated by DAR, taking raw prices from the vetted exchanges and quality screened to remove erroneous and outlying prices prior to publication.

Mark Makepeace, Non-Executive Chairman, Information Services Division, London Stock Exchange Group said:
“Digital assets are a fast-growing segment of the market and we are delighted to be working with DAR. The new indicative FTSE Digital Assets Index will help the market evaluate a benchmark and assist in the creation of industry standards. It will also offer much needed transparency and create greater awareness for investors interested in this new asset class.”

Doug Schwenk, Chairman of DAR Data Services commented:
“DAR is a recognised expert in this new and rapidly evolving market. The FTSE DDS Digital Assets Reference Price takes trade prices from select vetted digital exchanges worldwide. Using data science and a robust methodology, we can create a clean price for potential future use by participants of this market.”

The Digital Assets Market includes exchanges and trading venues that trade cryptocurrencies, digital tokens and coins. We will establish an Advisory Group to help define assets eligible for index inclusion and publish these in due course. The FTSE Russell Digital Asset Index will be designed to capture the essence of this dynamic market and will provide a framework for much greater research and understanding of this new asset class.

For further information:
Lucie Holloway

+44 (0)20 7797 1222

Tim Benedict

+1 917 582 0641
newsroom@lseg.com

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. 

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $16 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives. 

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance and embraces the IOSCO Principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and customer partnerships as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering. 

FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. 

For more information, visit FTSE-Russell site.

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