SEC Extends Review of Bitcoin ETF Options on NYSE

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States has delayed its decision on the New York Stock Exchange’s proposal to offer option trading on spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).

This move will directly impact the trading strategies that involve the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, and any other trusts that hold Bitcoin listed on the NYSE.

Options Trading on Bitcoin ETFs Decision

On April 8, 2024, the SEC announced the extension of its review period for the proposed rule change to allow options trading on Bitcoin ETFs. This determination embodies the requirement that the regulator have enough time to carefully weigh the consequences and specifics of the proposed amendment. 

Decision on whether or not to allow options on the spot #Bitcoin ETFs has been delayed by SEC. pic.twitter.com/8brzSaw32c

— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) April 8, 2024

The next due date for the SEC to decide – approve, deny, or postpone the rule change proposed on the NYSE – has been scheduled for May 29, 2024. This delay is consistent with a similar determination made last month in relation to a petition from Nasdaq, which asked for permission to have options trading on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust.

Proposal and Its Background

The proposal in question would modify Rule 915 to allow options on particular Bitcoin ETFs, such as the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, to be listed and traded. Options are financial derivatives that give investors the opportunity to bet on the direction of movement of the underlying assets, allowing for leverage and hedging strategies.

The proposal was first submitted to the SEC on February 9, 2024, and was subsequently published for public comment. The SEC’s declaration to prolong the evaluation period points to a careful attitude toward the supervision of advanced financial instruments linked to cryptocurrencies.

Industry Reaction and Anticipation

The possibility of Bitcoin ETF options trading is a much-discussed topic in both the financial and crypto communities. Acceptance of such a proposal would be a breakthrough in the process of integration of digital assets into classical financial markets and proper tools for risk management and reflection of market views.

Concurrently, in his letter to the SEC, Grayscale’s CEO, Michael Sonnenshein, argued for the natural evolution of the consideration of options on spot Bitcoin ETFs, mentioning the approval of Bitcoin futures ETFs and spot Bitcoin ETFs as a precedent.

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