In light of repeated delays from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the decision regarding Ark Investment Management’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, both Ark Invest and 21Shares have moved ahead, proposing an investment vehicle primed with Ether exposure. These two firms have chosen Coinbase as the custodian for the proposed investment and plan for its performance to be measured based on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange CF Ether-Dollar Reference Rate.
Their proposal is now amongst several spot crypto ETFs awaiting scrutiny by the SEC. Given Grayscale’s recent success in persuading the SEC to reconsider the listing of its Bitcoin Trust, they have sparked a wave of optimism for other companies seeking regulatory approval.
However, the path to SEC approval hasn’t been smooth sailing for other organizations. The SEC recently announced a delay in their decision regarding the approval or denial of spot Bitcoin ETF applications from 7 other firms, including BlackRock. These firms now have their gaze set on the November 11 deadline, hoping for a call in their favor.
This development carries substantial implications for the crypto market. It appears that Ark Invest and 21Shares’s proposition could be their third attempt since 2021 to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF. However, the resulting excitement proved beneficial for Ether whose price experienced a surge following the announcement of the ETF filing.
In comparison, ETFs linked to crypto futures have had more success with SEC approvals. This has sparked an ongoing dialogue within the cryptocurrency community about the potential favorable treatment of crypto futures ETFs over their spot Bitcoin counterparts. The implications suggest a latent optimistic sentiment within the crypto markets that may be underestimated.
Despite these advances, there lingers the question of potential regulatory backlash from the SEC. This uncertainty keeps a healthy level of skepticism balanced against the overall bullish projections of the digital currency industry. It pieces together an exciting narrative, one of progress and innovation laced with pending obstacles and milestones. As we keep our eyes peeled for the SEC’s verdict come November, the world of cryptocurrency remains poised at the edge of its seat.
Source: Cointelegraph