Asset management titan Fidelity recently resubmitted its application for a spot BTC ETF, the Wise Bitcoin Trust. This development follows in the wake of a similar application from BlackRock’s iShares unit for their proposed iShares Bitcoin Trust. In effect, both organizations seek SEC’s green light for a spot BTC ETF. The cryptocurrency market continues to attract institutional interest as demonstrated by companies such as Invesco and WisdomTree who have also embarked on this venture.
However, the road to SEC approval is far from straightforward. Recalling Fidelity’s initial attempt in 2021, the SEC spurned its bid for a spot BTC ETF just last year. And presently, the SEC is yet to pass a judgment on the new applications swirling around its desk.
BlackRock’s application is stealing the limelight with a myriad of spectators anticipating its approval. An endorsement would be nothing new for the investment management company, which has historically secured SEC’s nod on all but one of its 575 ETF applications.
But brewing beneath the surface of expectancy is a wave of skepticism. One particular skittish voice stands out; CoinShares’ chief product officer Townsend Lansing who—while appearing on a recent podcast—expressed a dismal 10% chance of BlackRock’s application securing approval. Lansing’s rationale hinges on the SEC’s probable preference for majority of BTC trading to occur on a U.S. crypto exchange.
BTC prices remain rather nonplussed about these ETF ado, hovering at around $30,500. In the end, perhaps the watchdog’s decision will either catalyze an uptake in the price of BTC, or reinforce lingering doubts about how green the crypto-field really is for large institutional players—an ambiguity which continues to make the cryptocurrency market an excitingly unpredictable sphere.
Regardless of the outcomes, these applications signify the commitment of key financial players to embracing this disruptive technology—a significant consideration for crypto enthusiasts. Certainly, the verdict that will be rendered by the SEC will be not only a momentous decision for these financial giants, but also will undoubtedly shape the landscape of cryptocurrency regulation in the foreseeable future.
Source: Coindesk
