Gensler hints Grayscale ruling pressured SEC to take ‘new look’ at Bitcoin ETFs

by Jeremy

U.S. Securities and Trade Fee chair Gary Gensler has hinted that the regulator has been rethinking its method to identify Bitcoin exchange-traded merchandise following a latest Grayscale court docket determination.

Talking to CNBC on Dec. 14, Gary Gensler was questioned concerning the lengthy record of pending spot Bitcoin ETF purposes. He mentioned the SEC has “between eight and a dozen filings” going by means of the method in the meanwhile.

“We had prior to now denied numerous these purposes,” he mentioned earlier than including that the courts have weighed in on that. What adopted was an announcement suggesting that the company may very well be altering its tack on Bitcoin:

“So we’re taking a brand new have a look at this primarily based upon these court docket rulings.”

Information anchor Sara Eisen requested whether or not he was referring to Grayscale. Nonetheless, Gensler evaded the query, stating that every part on the SEC is finished “inside the legal guidelines Congress has handed and the way the courts interpret them.”

In August, a federal decide overturned the SEC’s determination to disclaim an ETF providing from Grayscale Investments by means of its Bitcoin Belief.

A number of massive asset managers, together with BlackRock, Constancy, Grayscale, Invesco, VanEck, and Valkyrie, at the moment are within the race to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF. All purposes have been delayed, however analysts are assured {that a} batch approval will happen in early January.

Associated: Bitcoin ETF candidates should ‘bend the knee’ on money redemption mannequin

In a separate interview with Bloomberg’s Kailey Leinz on Dec. 14, Gensler additionally sidestepped questions concerning the variety of filings for spot Bitcoin merchandise. As an alternative, he spoke about latest adjustments to the U.S. treasury market as the main focus of the company’s priorities.

In response to this interview on XU.S. Congressman Bryan Steil commented:

“Chair Gary Gensler obfuscates on crypto with the press like he does at committee hearings. He doesn’t need to clarify his company’s aggressive regulatory method which is pushing crypto offshore.”

“Gensler very hardly ever offers clear solutions! He’s a grasp at hedging his phrases,” opined Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart.

Journal: Crypto regulation: Does SEC Chair Gary Gensler have the ultimate say?