According to reports and interviews released over the weekend, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), depending on the approval process of forms 19b-4 and S-1, might approve spot Bitcoin ETFs in the coming days, and the entire market appears ready for this decision. Large asset management companies that have been working on this issue for months seem focused on the anticipated outcome.
Bitcoin ETF Approval
As reported by Bloomberg, the U.S. SEC is expected to vote on the 19b-4 forms within the next few days (before January 11). There is an expectation that companies applying for an ETF must complete the S-1 form by 8 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024 (U.S. time).
Previously, Bloomberg analysts had made several statements regarding the matter. According to Bloomberg analysts, considering the recent meetings between SEC officials and representatives of the firms seeking approval, the chance of the ETF being rejected has decreased to as low as 5%. The report included the following statement:
If the SEC grants both necessary approvals, the ETFs could start trading from the next business day.
In light of all this, ETFs are expected to undergo a significant vote in the coming days, which could be a harbinger of the anticipated approval. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs could play a crucial role in the standardized transfer of funds collected on the institutional side into the crypto market.
Large Bitcoin investor companies like MicroStrategy ($MSTR) continue to invest in accumulating BTC, thereby taking a significant risk regarding Bitcoin’s (BTC) future price.
Throughout 2023, there has been increased activity in the stock prices of companies investing in cryptocurrencies. The stock price of Microstrategy (MSTR) and Coinbase (COIN) has seen notable increases in recent months, parallel to the approximately 3x rise in Bitcoin (BTC) price and in anticipation of a possible Bitcoin ETF approval.
ETF Launch Date
Rumors suggest that spot Bitcoin ETF products from major companies like Blackrock, Fidelity, Van Eck, Valkyrie, Bitwise, and Grayscale could start trading on the exchange from January 11, 2024.
The January 11 date is based on the deadline of January 10 mentioned by U.S. SEC officials in the Ark 21Shares spot Bitcoin ETF filing.
While all this is happening, the price of Bitcoin continues to trade below the $44,000 level. As of the time of writing, Bitcoin’s 24-hour trading volume has increased by 51% and risen to $24 billion. The overall market volume has seen a 0.33% decrease, standing at $860 billion.
