SEC Engages in Discussions on Bitcoin ETFs with Asset Managers Amidst Market Anticipation
In November, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held separate meetings with representatives from BlackRock and Grayscale to discuss their proposed spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Recent reports indicate that the SEC is actively engaged in discussions with asset managers regarding the technical aspects of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
As of a December 7 Reuters report, industry insiders revealed that the SEC and specific asset managers are deliberating "key technical details" related to the potential listing of shares of a spot Bitcoin ETF on U.S. exchanges. Notably, the SEC has yet to grant approval for any spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded product, consistently postponing decisions on applications for the maximum allowable time.
SEC memos from November disclosed separate meetings with representatives of BlackRock and Grayscale. Asset managers, including Hashdex, ARK 21Shares, Invesco Galaxy, VanEck, and Fidelity, have submitted filings for spot BTC or Ether ETF listings.
The anticipated approval of the ETF is seen as positive news for the crypto market, with potential for significant growth, according to Mercuryo senior legal counsel Adam Berker. He emphasized that the green light for ETFs would provide a simplified entry for a broader range of traditional finance (TradFi) investors into crypto assets. The endorsement of this product by major entities such as Fidelity and BlackRock is expected to attract substantial institutional capital to the market.
The SEC's final decision on approving a spot Bitcoin ETF remains uncertain. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart speculates that if the commission decides to support one, it may proceed with simultaneous approvals of funds from multiple firms in January.
Criticism has been directed at SEC Chair Gary Gensler for his treatment of certain tokens as securities, with ongoing lawsuits against Terraform Labs, Ripple, Coinbase, and Binance adding complexity to the regulatory landscape within and outside the crypto space.