With the cryptocurrency market’s exponential growth and the increasing interest from institutional investors, the focus on regulatory compliance is at an all-time high. One of the main aspects of this surge in regulatory focus can be seen in the move by the exchange operator Cboe Global Markets to amend five spot Bitcoin ETFs applications to include a surveillance-sharing agreement (SSA) with Coinbase.
Cboe has chosen a path that is, on one hand, respectfulful to the regulations set by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while providing a level of security for investments in ETFs from companies including Invesco, VanEck, WisdomTree, Fidelity and the joint fund by ARK Invest and 21Shares. The intention behind these actions, it seems, is to comply with the SEC’s standards purposed with preventing fraudulent conduct and safeguarding investors.
Before gleaming in the light of compliance, consider the other side of the coin. Coinbase, despite its involvement with Bitcoin ETF applications, is in litigation with the SEC over alleged offering of unregistered securities. Clearly, the world of cryptocurrencies is still a minefield of regulatory challenges, with established players being required to navigate careful interactions with regulators.
Coinbase’s share price has nevertheless jumped nearly 10% with these recent SSA-related filing amendments. The interest of the market in these amendments is apparent, and so the high-risk high-reward wager continues. However, the investment community should tread carefully, staying informed of the ever-changing regulations, market conditions, and potential impacts of these factors on their investments.
More broadly, the introduction of regulatory measures such as the SSA between Coinbase and Cboe can be viewed as a stepping stone towards the legitimisation and mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies. However, the lingering regulatory hurdles remind us that the road to acceptance is still rocky. For the time being, investors will have to maintain a careful balance between the promises of the new digital frontier and its potential pitfalls.
Source: Cointelegraph
