Nov 18 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs ( GS ) is exploring

options to spin out its technology platform housed under its

digital assets business, a source familiar with the matter said

on Monday.

The bank's digital assets business, since its inception, has

aided the adoption of blockchain technology and crypto-linked

trading products.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange

Commission approved spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Bitcoin,

the world's largest cryptocurrency, has more than doubled its

value so far in 2024.

Plans for the new company are in the early stages, but

Goldman aims to execute the spin-out within the next 12 to 18

months, Mathew McDermott, the bank's global head of digital

assets, said, according to a Bloomberg News report.