Although the possibility of approval for a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. has generated significant interest, experts argue that due to various issues including the unregulated nature of cryptocurrency exchanges and ongoing legal problems, it is unlikely that approval will be granted in the short term. While some remain optimistic, there is considerable uncertainty regarding when approval will be granted for a spot Bitcoin ETF.
Experts Do Not Expect SEC to Approve a Spot Bitcoin ETF
The expectation that spot Bitcoin ETFs will be approved in the U.S., particularly following the application by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company, for a spot Bitcoin ETF, has become one of the most talked-about topics in the crypto world. The fact that such a significant institution has entered the race for a spot Bitcoin ETF has increased hopes that the U.S. will approve its first spot Bitcoin ETF. However, experts argue that it may take some time for this to happen.
BlackRock’s application for a spot Bitcoin ETF was followed by multiple spot Bitcoin ETF applications from various institutions, including WisdomTree, which stated that they will enter into a surveillance-sharing agreement with Coinbase with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This has led to a market sentiment that the SEC will have difficulty rejecting an application from a financial giant like BlackRock. Bitwise Asset Management has also re-applied for its spot Bitcoin ETF, which was previously rejected by the SEC.
Analysts at leading asset management company Bernstein expressed their optimism about the possibility of the SEC approving a spot Bitcoin ETF, which further increased expectations. However, some experts, such as Octavio Marenzi, CEO and founder of Opimas LLC, believe that the chances of approval for spot Bitcoin ETF applications are low due to the selection of exchanges that the SEC claims operate illegally as custodians in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF application.
Stuart Barton, Chief Investment Officer of Volatility Shares, said that one of the main reasons for the delay in approving ETFs is the unregulated nature of cryptocurrency exchanges. According to him, the lack of regulations for cryptocurrency exchanges is preventing the SEC from approving ETFs.
Experts, including James Koutoulas, a hedge fund manager who sued Coinbase, and Jai Waterman, CEO of Blockstation, expressed doubts about the U.S. approving a spot Bitcoin ETF in the short term. They stated that the SEC is under political pressure and that due to ongoing lawsuits, especially against Coinbase, there will be no approval for a spot Bitcoin ETF in the short term.
BlackRock CEO Awaits Approval for Spot Bitcoin ETF
Despite all the uncertainty, Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, who caused the wave of spot Bitcoin ETFs, expects the SEC to approve a spot Bitcoin ETF.
Fink, in various television programs, has painted a positive picture on this issue but acknowledged that working with regulators and getting the application approved may take time.
