The Shiba Inu community, known as the Shib Army, has initiated a campaign to establish a dedicated exchange-traded fund (ETF) for Shiba Inu. This initiative follows recent discussions in a Shib Magazine article about the potential for Shiba Inu’s entry into the ETF market. The community has filed a petition on change.org, directed at Grayscale Investments CEO Michael Sonnenshein, urging the launch of a Shiba Inu-specific ETF. This request comes amidst growing interest in cryptocurrency ETFs, with assets like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP seeing similar developments.
The petition, launched on February 25, has garnered support, amassing over 500 signatures quickly. Lucie, the marketing lead for the Shiba Inu team, further amplified the call to action through a post on X (formerly Twitter) on February 26, encouraging broader community participation. The Shib Army’s push for an ETF is rooted in the belief that Shiba Inu’s significant search popularity in the U.S., as indicated by Google Trends data, alongside its compliance with regulatory standards as an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, make it a prime candidate for such a financial product.
Shib Army pushes for Shiba Inu ETF launch
The proposal for a SHIB ETF by Grayscale Investments is not without its challenges. Grayscale, a leading name in cryptocurrency investment, conducts regular assessments of top cryptocurrencies to identify potential offerings that meet various benchmarks. The Shib Army’s petition highlights Shiba Inu’s market demand and the positive impact a dedicated ETF could have. However, listing a new trust or launching an ETF involves complex regulatory considerations and market demand analysis.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is crucial in approving cryptocurrency ETFs. The SEC’s approval criteria include the crypto asset’s availability on regulated marketplaces, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). This requirement was notably discussed in an ETF for XRP, where a futures market on the CME was considered a key factor. Given these stringent requirements, the path to a Shiba Inu ETF faces regulatory hurdles, with experts suggesting that the approval odds are currently low.
The path forward for SHIB and cryptocurrency ETFs
The initiative by the Shib Army to petition for a Shiba Inu ETF represents a growing trend among cryptocurrency communities seeking greater integration with traditional financial markets. ETFs offer a regulated and potentially more accessible means for investors to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without requiring direct ownership or management of digital assets. The success of such petitions and campaigns hinges on community support and meeting the rigorous standards set by regulatory bodies like the SEC.
