The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved Blackrock’s application for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). The move shows that the regulator is preparing to consider a bitcoin ETF seriously. This could finally pave the way for more people to buy and use crypto assets and products.
SEC reviews BlackRock Bitcoin ETF
The U.S. securities regulator has approved Blackrock’s request for a spot bitcoin ETF. Once it’s in the Federal Register, the SEC will give the public 21 days to comment on the plan, and those comments will be posted on its website. The application was added to the SEC’s docket on Thursday. This is the start of a lengthy review process that the crypto community and businesses will closely watch.
Blackrock is the biggest asset management company in the world, and the way the SEC handles its bitcoin ETF sends a message about the future of crypto-based investment goods in the U.S.
Blackrock submitted its application in mid-June as the SEC continued investigating crypto platforms for suspected violations of American securities laws by marketing digital assets that the agency views as unregistered securities.
The asset manager chose the top U.S. crypto exchange Coinbase, one of the targets, to serve as custodian for its Ishares Bitcoin Trust, a fund with a sizable bitcoin holding. A surveillance-sharing arrangement between Blackrock and Coinbase is included in their petition.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has repeatedly declined to approve a bitcoin ETF, citing issues such as the potential for market manipulation and a lack of investor protection.
In addition to Blackrock, Bitwise, Wisdom Tree, Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust, Vaneck, Invesco, and Fidelity have all applied to launch spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. As of earlier this week, Bitwise’s application had also been approved.
Several applications and Blackrock’s standing in the financial world have bolstered crypto enthusiasts’ hopes that the United States will follow Canada and other countries in approving a Bitcoin ETF.
According to a Financial Times article published on Thursday, the first bitcoin ETF is expected to launch in Europe by the month’s end. Jacobi Asset Management has approved the product in the Channel Island jurisdiction of Guernsey to sidestep EU regulations, delaying the product’s public listing by a year.
Why will a spot Bitcoin ETF change the game?
Simply put, a Spot is a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) that facilitates investors’ acquisition of Bitcoin (BTC). In finance, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are products that mirror the price movements of an underlying asset or basket of assets.
In contrast to Bitcoin futures and other derivative products, “spot” indicates that the ETF trades in Bitcoin immediately. That’s right, rather than owning contracts or symbols showing its worth, the fund has Bitcoin in its possession.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs allow investors to acquire exposure to Bitcoin price changes without purchasing and holding Bitcoin. The ETF provider handles Bitcoin purchases, storage, and security on the client’s behalf.
This ETF will be tradable on regular stock exchanges as soon as approved, acting as a bridge between cryptos and traditional financial markets.
SEC Bitcoin ETF approval marks a crypto investment paradigm shift
This is a watershed moment for the crypto industry due to the SEC’s approval of these applications. An exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the price of Bitcoin in real-time has been one of the most sought-after developments in the industry for some time, as it has the potential to appeal to a wider variety of investors and increase the accessibility of digital assets.
The SEC’s evaluation of numerous spot Bitcoin ETF applications allows for evaluating various strategies and addressing any potential hazards associated with these financial products. For the crypto business, the competition among companies seeking certification is seen as a positive development because the variety of applications gives the SEC a complete picture of this developing market.
Even though the SEC has not yet approved a spot Bitcoin ETF in the United States, Canada has adopted a more progressive stance. Notably, three important funds—CI Galaxy Bitcoin, 3iQ CoinShares, and Purpose Bitcoin—have already received regulatory clearance in Canada.
