The recent court victory for Grayscale Investments against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) not only turned the tables on the SEC’s standing against crypto-based Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF), but also underlined the changing tide in the regulatory landscape. Notably, Grayscale’s proposition for a Bitcoin ETF was found “materially similar” to Bitcoin futures exchange-traded products, which had previously gained approval for trading by the SEC.
Despite appeared as a slap on the wrist for the SEC’s resistance to spot cryptocurrency ETFs, the court ruling, however, doesn’t automatically lead to a green light for the inception of the first spot BTC ETF in the U.S. From BlackRock to Invesco, WisdomTree to Fidelity, many applications are under review. Thanks to the ability to keep postponing the final decision, the SEC still has an upper hand to maintain their scrutiny until March 2024 at the latest.
With Bitcoin price rally coinciding with the court’s decision, crypto enthusiasts interpret this as a confidence vote for investment vehicles related to Bitcoin. It adds muscle to the argument that it is high time for regulatory bodies to foster innovation by allowing investment products related to Bitcoin. The risk, if they remain on the defensive, is the U.S. falling behind burgeoning global powers that have been quicker in leveraging the cryptocurrency advantage.
While the repercussion of the Grayscale victory may prompt the SEC to take a second look at its stance on spot crypto ETFs, the quagmire involves the tricky issue of legitimacy amidst concerns of fraudulent and manipulative practices. Moreover, the trajectory for Grayscale remains fuzzy, as they could amend their application to resemble a Bitcoin futures-linked ETF.
The case now opens the doors for a wider spectrum of investors eyeing a spot BTC vehicle in the U.S. It is giving rise to an optimistic view that spot Bitcoins ETFs are inching closer to potential launch. However, swinging between hesitation and optimism, the next step from either party, whether Grayscale moving forward with its application or the SEC appealing the decision, is still a riddle.
Irrespective of the uncertainties that shroud the future of crypto ETFs in the U.S., the legal battle represents a classic example of the active effort in making crypto accessible for mass consumption on one end and on the other, the daunting task to safeguard public interest amid a landscape caught in the widespread web of fraud and scams. The once distant dream of mainstreaming crypto investments is becoming a reality, albeit at a snail’s pace.
Source: Cointelegraph
