SEC Postpones Decision on Crypto ETFs Amid Uncertainty

James Seyffart, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, reported that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its review of several cryptocurrency ETFs, possibly extending decisions until the fourth quarter of the year.

While the SEC’s decision continues to create uncertainty, institutional interest in cryptocurrencies shows resilience amid the regulatory delays.

Bloomberg’s James Seyffart highlighted that despite expectations of a more crypto-favorable SEC, the commission’s standard practice is to take the full review time for cryptocurrency ETF applications. Recent delays have impacted major crypto assets, such as XRP and Bitcoin. The Commission is gathering public opinion on proposed rule changes to certain crypto ETFs, postponing potential approvals.

Affected entities include CoinShares’ applications for Litecoin and XRP ETFs, and Fidelity’s Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. “The SEC will likely continue with delays in decision making on crypto ETFs possibly until the fourth quarter of this year,” remarked Seyffart in a recent statement. These delays may influence broader institutional adoption. President of ETF Store Inc., Nate Geraci, remains optimistic that approvals will eventually proceed.

Ongoing postponements demonstrate the SEC’s cautious stance as Seyffart notes the historical pattern of extended review periods for crypto ETFs. With filings due in 2025, the industry seeks clarity on upcoming strategic directions. Expert opinion suggests current regulatory approaches may hinder immediate market expansion, though long-term growth prospects remain favorable.