Former chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Jay Clayton, remains optimistic about the eventual approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), despite recent delays in decision-making.
In a recent interview with CNBC on September 1st, Clayton noted that the backing of major financial institutions in the realm of spot Bitcoin investments signals a notable shift in providing retail investors with access to cryptocurrency exposure.
The SEC’s recent move to extend the review period for various spot BTC ETF applications from prominent entities such as BlackRock, WisdomTree, VanEck, Invesco Galaxy, Bitwise, Valkyrie, and Fidelity, was observed on August 31st.
This extension grants the commission an additional 45 days, following the notice’s publication in the Federal Register, to either approve, reject, or further delay the ETF applications from these influential firms.
Clayton expressed his belief in the forward momentum of these efforts, indicating that progress can be expected as the process unfolds.
The SEC retains the flexibility to extend the application deadlines until March 2024.
READ MORE: Bitwise Surprises Market by Withdrawing Bitcoin and Ether ETF Application Amid SEC Delays
Clayton emphasized that he envisions an “inevitable” approval for spot Bitcoin ETFs, highlighting the disparity between futures products and cash products, and asserting that this divergence cannot persist indefinitely.
Notably, Clayton’s viewpoint resonates with that of U.S. Court of Appeals Circuit Judge Neomi Rao.
In a recent ruling, Rao and two other judges directed the SEC to reevaluate the application of asset manager Grayscale, seeking to transform its Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot Bitcoin ETF.
Rao highlighted that the SEC had previously greenlit BTC futures ETFs, implying a similarity between Grayscale’s proposition and the approved futures products.
The sequence of ETF application delays took place in rapid succession on August 31st, just prior to the Labor Day holiday weekend in the United States.
The following key deadline for the assessment of significant spot BTC applications is scheduled for October 7th, at which point the commission is expected to provide updates regarding the proposed offering from fund manager Global X.
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