The recent decision of the Federal Court, marking a setback for The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has left it in a precarious position as the agency must grapple once again with the issue of bitcoin spot ETFs. Following a court victory by Grayscale Investments, the crypto community assumes that it might be the end of the SEC’s particular roadblock against cryptocurrency.
Many from the industry are now advocating for SEC’s acceptance rather than putting up resistance. This arises from the understanding that for the SEC to deny Grayscale’s bitcoin ETF again, they’d have to articulate some novel reasons. However, still, there remains a conspicuous air of ambivalence around what SEC’s Chair, Gary Gensler, might decide, as he has been known to be skeptical of the crypto sphere and its potential risks to investors.
SEC has four clear options ahead: either appeal the decision, grant Grayscale’s application to list its bitcoin spot ETF, let it be automatically accepted by inaction or initiate a new effort to dissuade the application based on new animadversions. A notable tilt towards approving Grayscale’s application might be seen as the clever move post their court loss.
Interestingly, despite the victory, Grayscale’s fate still hangs in the balance. Regardless, industry insiders see the court ruling as an indication of future victories for other ETF projects. It’s anticipated if the SEC adopts an approval strategy for projects with sound surveillance plans, it could be considered a triumphant move in the realm of consumer protection.
Crypto enthusiasts are hopeful that the doors will be opened to new investors via the bitcoin ETF, but the concerns of SEC that such an investment product might become too risky cannot be ignored. Many still support SEC’s vigilance, highlighting that the Bitcoin market is prone to fraud and manipulation, and so ETF poses a serious threat to investors.
In this light, SEC’s cautious stance could be understood. But it is also argued that court victories like this are bringing regulatory clarity which the SEC has been reluctant to provide.
Hence, the impending task for SEC now is to identify the fine line between accepting cryptocurrency with appropriate safeguards and becoming overly protective to the extent of stifling innovation. This court decision has decisively pushed the matter back in the SEC’s court, and only time will reveal how the agency might choose to serve.
Source: Coindesk
