The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has met with officials from major exchanges to discuss spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Sources close to the proceedings say the securities regulator could begin notifying issuers of spot bitcoin ETF approval on Friday and trading could begin as early as next week. “SEC is giving final comments as we speak,” a Bloomberg analyst described, adding that this is “as close to ‘done’ as we’ve been.”
SEC Meeting With Exchanges to Discuss Spot Bitcoin ETFs
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s staff attorneys from the Division of Trading and Markets reportedly held meetings with officials from major exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, and Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), on Wednesday. Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett shared on social media platform X:
The SEC is holding meetings today with the exchanges (Nasdaq, CBOE, NYSE) to finalize comments on the 19b-4s submitted by the BTC spot ETF issuers.
The securities regulator specifically asked the exchanges to “revise and finalize” their 19b-4 filings, which they submitted on behalf of spot bitcoin ETF issuers, Fox Business conveyed, adding that these filings “must receive SEC clearance before the ETF can be sold to the public.”
While noting that the final decision has not been made, the news outlet reported: “Sources close to the proceedings say the SEC could begin notifying issuers of approval on Friday with trading beginning as early as next week.”
On Thursday, Techcrunch reporter Jacquelyn Melinek shared on X:
Heard from sources extremely close to the matter that the bitcoin spot ETF is going to be approved by the SEC for *multiple* firms’ applications … expecting something tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart believes that the SEC will make an announcement regarding spot bitcoin ETF approval early next week. “January 8th – January 10th has been the window I’m watching and will remain the window I’m focused on,” he detailed on X Wednesday.
Moreover, the number of spot bitcoin ETF applicants filing to register their funds as securities (8-A filings) with the SEC has surged. While noting that “8-A forms don’t equal approval,” Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas emphasized on X: “They are part of the normal prep process so that’s good.” Commenting on whether a spot bitcoin ETF approval is imminent, he said:
Pretty much imminent yes.
“SEC is giving final comments as we speak, then issuers will submit final 19b-4s and S-1s soon after. So I mean this is def as close to ‘done’ as we’ve been but no official approval as far as I know,” Balchunas added on Thursday.
Do you think the SEC will approve spot bitcoin ETFs soon? Let us know in the comments section below.