[Australian Stock Exchange ASX to List First Bitcoin ETF] An ETF that invests directly in Bitcoin will be listed on Australia's main stock market for the first time, and is expected to trigger a new wave of enthusiasm after similar products were launched in the United States and Hong Kong, China. VanEck said in a press release on Saturday that ASX Ltd., the exchange operator that handles most of the country's stock trading, has approved the VanEck Bitcoin ETF, which will be listed next Thursday. "We recognize that Bitcoin is an emerging asset class that many advisors and investors want to gain exposure to," Arian Neiron, CEO of VanEck Asia Pacific, said in the statement. He said the ETF provides Bitcoin exposure "using a regulated, transparent and familiar investment tool." Sydney BetaShares Holdings Pty and another Australian local company DigitalX Ltd. are also waiting in line to be listed on the Australian main board. Two years ago, Australia's primary exchange CBOE Australia launched the first round of Bitcoin ETFs.