The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially begun evaluating Grayscale’s exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications for XRP and Dogecoin, fueling speculation regarding the potential approval of altcoin ETFs.
While the review is part of the agency’s routine process, analysts suggest that it signals a changing attitude towards altcoin ETF approvals.
“This is a good sign for these altcoins, which have been told to pull back immediately after filing in the past, as it slightly increases our already pretty good odds of approval,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Eric Balchunas said in a commentary on X.
The SEC quickly rejected similar applications under former Chairman Gary Gensler, but the latest decision signals a potential shift in regulatory approach, likely influenced by Donald Trump’s election victory and his promise to ease crypto regulations.
This year, ETF issuers have flooded the SEC with applications for altcoins like XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, and Litecoin.
Often considered the first altcoin, Litecoin was launched in 2011 when there were only eight altcoins. Due to its structural similarity to Bitcoin, analysts believe it has a higher chance of gaining regulatory approval.
Balchunas and Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart estimate the probability of Litecoin gaining ETF approval at 90%, while prediction marketplace Polymarket pegs the probability at 87% for 2025. Balchunas explained that Litecoin’s classification as a commodity rather than a security likely simplifies its regulatory path compared to other altcoins like Solana.
*This is not investment advice.
