The U.S. Securities and Change Fee (SEC) prolonged the choice interval for Invesco and Galaxy’s spot Ethereum ETF on Feb. 6.
The company’s announcement particularly considerations a proposed rule change from Cboe BZX that might enable it to checklist and commerce shares of the fund.
The SEC stated that the proposed rule change was printed for remark within the Federal Register on Nov. 8, 2023. The company then designated an extended interval for approval on Dec. 13, 2023, extending the interval throughout which it may approve, disapprove, or institute proceedings round approval or disapproval.
The company’s newest submitting signifies that it has chosen the final possibility, thereby instituting proceedings for round approval or disapproval. The proceedings request that commenters deal with fraud prevention, market manipulation, and investor protections. These points are at play for all different pending Ethereum ETF proposals and had been additionally key to the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January.
The SEC didn’t present actual deadlines at this time. It stated that feedback needs to be submitted inside 21 days of publication within the Federal Register, and that rebuttal feedback needs to be submitted inside 35 days of publication in the identical.
SEC anticipated to determine on ETH ETFs by Might
The extension doesn’t have an effect on broader approval timelines for ETH ETFs. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart acknowledged the delay, writing:
“[The] SEC simply delayed [Invesco and Galaxy’s] Ethereum ETF. [This was] 100% anticipated and extra delays will proceed to occur in coming months. The one date that issues for spot Ethereum ETFs right now is Might twenty third. Which is VanEck’s ultimate deadline date.”
It’s probably that the SEC will determine on a number of comparable proposals on the similar time, together with people who have later deadlines than VanEck’s proposal.
The SEC has delayed numerous different spot Ethereum ETFs in previous weeks. The company prolonged the choice interval on functions from Constancy on Jan. 18, BlackRock on Jan. 24, and Grayscale on Jan. 25. As soon as once more, these delays don’t have an effect on the broader Might determination deadline described by Seyffart.
It’s unclear whether or not the SEC will select to approve a spot Ethereum ETF. One Polymarket prediction market at present suggests 43% odds of approval by Might. Seyffart has recommended a 60% probability of approval by Might, whereas one JP Morgan member has recommended a 50% probability of approval. A TD Cowen analysis group believes {that a} spot Ethereum ETF won’t be accepted in Might.
