Equal Treatment for Bitcoin ETF Applications. Grayscale Investments’ Plea to SEC

Current applications for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) present a critical decision-making opportunity for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To guarantee that all applicants receive equitable consideration, Grayscale Investments, a significant player in the cryptocurrency investing industry, has encouraged the SEC to approve all spot bitcoin ETF filings simultaneously.

Grayscale stressed the need for impartial and equitable acceptance of all applications in a statement it provided to the SEC. To prevent any undue advantages being given to particular applicants, the stated proposals—including those from Ark 21 Shares, Invesco Galaxy, iShares (BlackRock), Valkyrie, VanEck, WisdomTree, and Wise Origin (Fidelity)—should all be submitted to the same review procedure.

Grayscale noted that the ideas on this list would have a good effect, but it also questioned the applicants’ surveillance-sharing deal with cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. According to the statement, such agreements might not satisfy the SEC’s standards, especially in light of the absence of mandatory investigation authority and monitoring by a thorough market regulator.

Grayscale’s Previous Encounter with the SEC

Notably, Grayscale’s attempt to turn its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into an ETF was previously turned down by the SEC. However, a handful of bitcoin ETFs based on futures have received permission from the commission. In June of the prior year, Grayscale sued the SEC in reaction to the refusal.

The management of GBTC, the largest bitcoin fund in the world, is the responsibility of Grayscale as a division of Digital Currency Group, the parent organization of CoinDesk. Institutional investors wanting exposure to bitcoin without directly holding the asset frequently use this fund. Intriguingly, BlackRock’s proposal for a bitcoin spot ETF has helped to close the gap between the price at which GBTC now trades and the value of bitcoin as a whole.

An Appeal for Simultaneous Approval

In its statement, Grayscale emphasized the need of making choices in a fair and rational manner in order to support investor protection and issuer fairness. All proposed applications, including those that were previously rejected after careful study, should be authorized concurrently by the SEC if it decides to accept any of the spot bitcoin ETF applications.