With the eventual opening of the Spot Ethereum ETF door, Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick suggested that other cryptocurrencies like Solana (SOL) and Ripple (XRP) could receive approval by 2025. This development marks a significant moment in the cryptocurrency market, indicating the financial arena’s rapid evolution towards crypto assets.
Change in SEC’s Approach
Kendrick, who conducts research on forex and crypto assets at Standard Chartered, emphasized a shift in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approach to these assets with the approval of ETH ETFs. This approval indicates that ETH and potentially other similar cryptocurrencies are not seen as securities, setting a precedent for other digital assets like SOL and XRP.
The classification of cryptocurrencies is a fundamental issue in the regulatory environment. Especially XRP was involved in a significant lawsuit regarding its security status in 2023. Kendrick argued that considering the technological similarities between ETH and other cryptocurrencies, it would be challenging for the SEC to classify ETH-like assets as securities while maintaining its stance on ETH. This approach suggested a near future with broader acceptance and a definitive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies.
Bipartisan Support Was Crucial
Kendrick also highlighted the bipartisan political support for cryptocurrencies in the United States, calling it a “real turning point.” This political support is expected to facilitate more regulatory changes, now seen as inevitable rather than speculative. The analyst predicted that such changes would pave the way for more crypto ETFs, offering diversified options to investors and potentially significant inflows into these assets.
Regarding market dynamics, Kendrick forecasted that Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) would continue to dominate the crypto market, especially in the context of investment performance metrics like the Sharpe ratio. He suggested that leveraging the established reliability of BTC and ETH, some cryptocurrencies would emerge as significant competitors.
Spot Ethereum ETFs Could Be Available in June
Kendrick predicted that the approval of spot Ethereum ETFs would lead to significant investments in ETH by the end of the year. He also believed that the combined use of BTC and ETH in investment portfolios would become increasingly attractive, supported by the SEC’s recent decisions. This could further legitimize the cryptocurrency industry, leading to significant inflows.
Specifically for ETH ETFs, Kendrick estimated that trading activity would begin next month, with potential inflows ranging from $15 billion to $45 billion within the first year. Reiterating his prediction that ETH could reach a price of $8,000 by the end of the year, he underscored strong investor interest and the expected performance of these assets.
