SEC Delays Decision on Grayscale’s Spot Ethereum ETF Until January 2024
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision on Grayscale‘s application for its spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF), extending the review period with a new deadline set for January 2024.
According to the SEC’s latest filing, the commission has now designated Jan. 25, 2024, as the new deadline to replace the previous due date of Dec. 11, 2023. The filing stated that this postponement is to allow a longer period for comprehensive consideration of the proposed rule change and the issues it entails.
In their explanation, the SEC wrote, “The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change and the issues raised therein.”
By Jan. 25, the SEC “the Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove” Grayscale’s proposed spot Ethereum ETF application.
The ongoing scrutiny by the SEC over crypto-based ETFs, including both Ethereum and Bitcoin, underscores the cautious stance of the regulatory body towards integrating these digital assets into mainstream financial products. This extended deadline for Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF is a continuation of the SEC’s pattern of diligently assessing the viability and impact of such investment choices in the U.S. market.
The SEC has been holding meetings with major financial institutions that have filed for their crypto ETFs, including Grayscale and BlackRock. A memorandum published by the SEC indicated that officials from the agency’s Division of Trading and Markets met with Grayscale Investments on Nov. 29 to consider the proposed conversion of Grayscale’s listed Bitcoin
