The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given the green light to Nasdaq, CBOE, and NYSE to list exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the price of ether. This significant approval could allow these ETFs to start trading later this year.
Although the ETF issuers must still obtain final approval before launching their products, Thursday’s decision marks a surprising victory for these firms and the broader cryptocurrency industry, which had anticipated a rejection from the SEC as recently as Monday.
Nine issuers, including VanEck, ARK Investments/21Shares, and BlackRock, are aiming to launch ETFs linked to ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency. This follows the SEC’s approval of bitcoin ETFs in January, a landmark event for the industry.
“This is an exciting moment for the industry at large,” remarked Andrew Jacobson, vice president and head of legal at 21Shares, highlighting it as “a significant step” towards bringing these products to market.
Thursday marked the SEC’s deadline to decide on VanEck’s filing. Market participants were anticipating a rejection, as the SEC had not communicated with them regarding the applications.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, SEC officials requested the exchanges on Monday to swiftly refine the filings, leading to a scramble to complete weeks of work in just days, according to sources. ViperaTech could not determine the reason behind the SEC’s apparent change of stance.
“The introduction of spot bitcoin ETFs has already shown considerable benefits for the digital assets and ETF market, and we believe that spot ether ETFs will offer similar protections for U.S. investors,” stated Rob Marrocco, global head of ETP listings at Cboe Global Markets.
Both Nasdaq and NYSE chose not to comment.
When SEC Chair Gary Gensler, known for his critical stance on cryptocurrency, was asked about the ether ETFs at an industry event earlier on Thursday, he declined to comment. An SEC spokesperson, in an email announcing the approval, also stated that the agency would not provide further comments.
The exchange applications requested SEC approval for a rule change necessary to list new products. However, the issuers still need the SEC to approve their ETF registration statements, which include investor disclosures, before these products can begin trading.
Unlike the exchange filings, there is no fixed timeline for the SEC to decide on the registration statements for the ETFs. Industry participants are uncertain about the duration of this process. According to two sources familiar with the situation, many issuers are prepared to launch, but the SEC’s corporate finance division is expected to request changes and updates in the coming days and weeks.
The SEC had rejected spot bitcoin ETFs for over a decade due to concerns about market manipulation but was compelled to approve them following Grayscale Investments’ court victory last year. Sui Chung, CEO of CF Benchmarks, the index provider for several bitcoin and ether ETFs, noted that ether’s complexity compared to bitcoin might extend the SEC’s review process. However, since the bitcoin ETFs have established a template, “there’s only so much slow rolling” the SEC can do, he remarked.
An array of investors, including hedge funds, wealth advisors, and retail investors, have invested over $30 billion in crypto ETFs. Thursday’s decision marks another positive development for the cryptocurrency industry’s efforts to integrate with mainstream finance. Additionally, this week, the UK regulator approved listed cryptocurrency products, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a landmark bill aimed at providing regulatory clarity for cryptocurrencies. While the bill still needs Senate approval, its strong bipartisan support represents a significant endorsement for the industry.
