Argentina's local exchange awaits for regulators' OK to launch bitcoin futures: Bloomberg

Matba Rofex submitted a proposal to Argentina's securities regulator to become the first Latin American exchange to launch bitcoin (BTC-USD) futures, the company told Bloomberg last week. "We want to attract those clients from the regulated market that cannot operate on unregulated exchanges," said Ismael Caram, deputy general manager of financial markets at Matba Rofex, told Bloomberg in a phone interview. Talks began months ago, but the regulator has not yet ruled on the matter, Bloomberg notes. Argentina's regulator is considering the proposal, though it's not a top priority request; the proposal will need to be evaluated by the Economy Ministry and the Central Bank, a spokeswoman told Bloomberg. The exchange wants new futures to be operated with a cash settlement on electronic platforms. The proposal is that investors deposit a guarantee of about 30% or 40% of the contract value, Caram said. The underlying asset for the new futures