- Ark Invest has filed for a Spot Ethereum ETF, becoming the first company to do so.
- The firm had also filed for an ETH futures ETF and previously, a spot BTC ETF.
- Experts attribute the move to a last resort after the SEC’s recent streak of delayed decisions.
Ark Invest and 21Shares have filed for spot Ether Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF), barely two weeks after submitting two joint Ethereum futures ETF and just over a month after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delayed a decision on its spot Bitcoin ETF application.
Also Read: Grayscale law firm Davis Polk urges SEC to approve Bitcoin spot ETF, citing best use of resources
Ark Invest files first Spot ETH ETF
Ark Invest and 21Shares have become the first institutional players to file for a Spot Ether ETF as the race for spot crypto funds approvals continues. According to the September 6 filing, the fund is christened “ARK 21Shares Ethereum ETF,” intended to provide direct exposure to ETH. The filing also details that it will be traded on the Cboe BZX Exchange using the CME CF Ether-Dollar Reference Rate – New York Variant.
BOOM: ARK just filed for a Spot Ether ETF, the first one.. prob more coming imminent pic.twitter.com/PjK5aSNPlS
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) September 6, 2023
This is the third application Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest and 21Shares is making with the commission after the SEC delayed a decision on the firms’ spot Bitcoin ETF filing. After two deadlines, June 29 and August 13, the firm decided not to wait for the third one slated for November 11 and has since spread the bet to increase odds for an approval.
The SEC delayed a decision on ArkInvest's #Bitcoin Spot ETF last Friday.
— Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) August 14, 2023
The next (7) deadlines are all in the first week of September -- where the SEC has to comment on ETFs by BlackRock, VanEck, Fidelity & Valkyrie, among others.
What do you expect? pic.twitter.com/WUag17nXOJ
The firm had also approached the financial regulator for a joint Ethereum future ETF, meaning one would be just ETH futures, while the other would be both BTC and ETH futures.
We have two more filings for ETFs with Ethereum Futures. This pair is from the @ARKInvest/@21Shares partnership. One will be just ETH futures. The other will be both #Bitcoin& Ethereum futures.
— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) August 24, 2023
h/t @NateGeraci pic.twitter.com/mgS9QzCdPX
Amid these delays, crypto enthusiasts now have their eyes peeled for October where a series of deadlines are due with BlackRock, Bitwise, VanEck, WisdomTree, Invesco, Fidelity, and Valkyrie all hoping for a positive decision.
Meanwhile, ETF specialist Eric Balchunas says that a spot ETH ETF was worth a shot after the commission’s countless delays for the spot BTC ETF filings.
big news bc first, and long awaited, we wondered why no one did this yet, seemed worth a shot. That's why
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) September 6, 2023
Notably, the market continues to crave for impulse, with crypto prices still consolidating with crucial support levels wearing thin.
Crypto ETF FAQs
What is an ETF?
An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle or an index that tracks the price of an underlying asset. ETFs can not only track a single asset, but a group of assets and sectors. For example, a Bitcoin ETF tracks Bitcoin’s price. ETF is a tool used by investors to gain exposure to a certain asset.
Is Bitcoin futures ETF approved?
Yes. The first Bitcoin futures ETF in the US was approved by the US Securities & Exchange Commission in October 2021. A total of seven Bitcoin futures ETFs have been approved, with more than 20 still waiting for the regulator’s permission. The SEC says that the cryptocurrency industry is new and subject to manipulation, which is why it has been delaying crypto-related futures ETFs for the last few years.
Is Bitcoin spot ETF approved?
Bitcoin spot ETF has been approved outside the US, but the SEC is yet to approve one in the country. After BlackRock filed for a Bitcoin spot ETF on June 15, the interest surrounding crypto ETFs has been renewed. Grayscale – whose application for a Bitcoin spot ETF was initially rejected by the SEC – got a victory in court, forcing the US regulator to review its proposal again. The SEC’s loss in this lawsuit has fueled hopes that a Bitcoin spot ETF might be approved by the end of the year.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Celebrity meme coins controversy continues amid Pump.fun revenue dominance
Pump.fun outperformed the Ethereum blockchain on Tuesday after raking in $1.99 million. Following this achievement, a meme coin based on actress Sydney Sweeney was the subject of controversy after its developers dumped their bags on investors.
PEPE's on-chain metrics indicate potential rally after weeks of silence
PEPE has struggled to see any significant price move after reaching an all-time high in May. Increased adoption rate and low MVRV ratio indicate a bullish run may be on the horizon. A single PEPE outflow from Binance worth $14.7 million gives credence to signs of bullish expectation.
Ethereum has failed to overcome key resistance despite bullish sentiment surrounding ETH ETF
Ethereum (ETH) is down more than 1.4% on Tuesday following another ETH sale from the Ethereum Foundation. Meanwhile, crypto exchange Gemini's recent report reveals that ETH ETF could see about $5 billion in net inflows within six months of launch.
Crypto community blasts Polkadot following report of treasury spending
Polkadot reports $87 million of treasury spending during H1. Crypto community members expressed harsh feelings toward the DOT team's high spending. DOT is up more than 2% in the past 24 hours but risks correction following the report.
Bitcoin: BTC price correction could end in July, according to seasonal data
Bitcoin (BTC) price appears poised for a decline this week, influenced by slight outflows in US spot ETFs, selling activity among BTC miners, and a combined transfer of 4,690.28 BTC to centralized exchanges by the US and German governments.