Cryptocurrency exchanges in India are optimistic about more investors joining the bitcoin bandwagon with the US SEC approving US-listed ETFs to track the virtual currency.

CoinDCX co-founder Sumit Gupta said: "This is an extraordinary milestone for the crypto industry and we applaud the SEC's decision to approve bitcoin ETF. It signifies a monumental leap forward for the entire ecosystem."

"Over the past several months, major financial entities such as Blackrock, Valkyrie and Grayscale have diligently engaged with the SEC, paving the way for a new era of crypto adoption," Gupta said.

"Historic day for bitcoins with the ETF approvals. This makes bitcoin more accessible to those who have been comfortable trading in traditional financial markets. Bitcoin has entered the big leagues and we should be proud of such an accomplishment. This is the first digital asset ETF but it won't be the last," WazirX founder Nishchal Shetty posted on X.

"The US SEC approval of Bitcoin ETF marks a monumental shift in the financial world. It's a watershed moment for crypto and will bring in a new wave of investors. Now, even the most cautious funds and the titans of Wall Street can tap into bitcoin's potential," Ashish Singhal, co-founder and CEO, of Coinswitch posted on X.

The US SEC has approved 11 applications, including from Blackrock, Ark Investments/21Shares, Fidelity, Invesco and VanEck, despite warnings from some officials and investor advocates that such products carry risk.

On Thursday afternoon, Bitcoin was trading at over $46,850, up 2.8 per cent with its market cap over $917 billion.

Market analysts expect the positive momentum to extend beyond Bitcoin to other tokens.