The recent findings by Fox reporter Eleanor Terrett have shed light on a crucial procedural aspect of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that could potentially affect the approval of the highly anticipated spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). This discovery has caught the attention of the crypto community, as it suggests that a single SEC commissioner can request a review and a full commission vote on the Bitcoin ETF, potentially causing delays in its approval process.
Terrett’s revelation, in response to a tweet by Anne Kelley, highlighted a lesser-known clause, 17 C.F.R. Section 201.431, which grants any SEC commissioner the authority to require a review of a matter that has been previously approved by the staff-delegated authority. This provision aims to enhance transparency in the SEC’s decision-making process, but it also raises concerns about potential delays in the Bitcoin ETF approval.
The news sparked a series of discussions amongst industry experts. Eric Balchunas, a senior Bloomberg ETF analyst, expressed confidence in the approval process under SEC Chair Gensler’s leadership and advised against over-complicating the situation. Balchunas pointed out that the staff’s diligent work with issuers indicated a plan for approval, implying that the procedural nuance might not significantly impact the ETF’s fate.
However, Justin Slaughter, policy director at Paradigm, highlighted the SEC’s ability to vote on matters without a formal meeting through the “seriatim” process, adding further complexity to the situation. This raised questions about whether a commissioner would request a full commission vote, potentially causing additional delays.
Terrett, in her tweets, expressed skepticism about an imminent spot Bitcoin ETF approval, drawing parallels to the timeline of the Ethereum futures approval in October 2023. She suggested that the approval process for the Bitcoin ETF might extend beyond the immediate deadline, citing vacations and work overload at the SEC as possible factors contributing to the potential delays.
Furthermore, Terrett revealed that the SEC and major exchanges such as Nasdaq, CBOE, and NYSE were holding meetings to discuss the spot Bitcoin ETF applications. These meetings offered issuers an opportunity to address any shortcomings in their applications, potentially bringing them closer to approval. However, with the January 10 deadline looming, the outcome of these meetings and the SEC’s final decision remained uncertain.
The procedural nuance regarding the SEC commissioners’ ability to request a review and a full commission vote on the spot Bitcoin ETF has introduced an element of uncertainty into the approval process. While some experts remain optimistic about the approval prospects, others raise concerns about potential delays. As the crypto community eagerly awaits the SEC’s final decision, it remains to be seen how this procedural nuance will ultimately impact the fate of the highly anticipated Bitcoin ETF.