News of the CME and the CBOE both launching Futures and Options Products has dominated the headlines over the past few weeks, and for good reason.

This marks a serious milestone in the history of Bitcoin.

What started (possibly) in someone's basement is now looking to become a bonafide asset class that is backed by Wall Street.

That is a ride not many asset classes ever make.

Now, the bitcoin market waits with baited breath for Dec. 10th and the 18th. Dates when both the CBOE and CME will launch their futures products respectively.

The big question on everyone's mind, what will this mean for the price?

There is one side of the camp that says this will open the door to many institutional investors that wanted some exposure to bitcoin but simply couldn't because of the lack of regulations in the markets bitcoin currently trades in.

Now that there is a regulated market, money will flood in.

This flood of money will push bitcoin to many multiples of even where it is trading today ($11,800).

Then, on there other side, there is the camp that says bitcoin was never really able to be shorted before, at least not in any meaningful way, and now there is a whole group of predators entering the fold that will be able to bet against prices and benefit from them dropping if they are right.

Not to mention they will likely use any tools available to them in order to make prices go down and thereby realize a profit.

Which side will ultimately win?

We won't know for sure for a few more weeks, at the earliest.

I have my own suspicions but I won't say them here as I want to hear some thoughts from the community.

Let me know what you think the introduction of futures markets mean for the price of bitcoin in the comments section below. 

Will it make prices continue to make new highs as new money continues to enter the space, or will it cause bitcoin to be shorted into the ground by the players who would love to see it killed?

Let me know your thoughts.

Stay informed my friends.

Image Sources:

http://www.crossfitsligo.ie/?p=938

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/02/two-major-companies-decided-use-arm-wrestling-match-instead-lawsuits-resolve-dispute/

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