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SEC to Review New Cryptocurrency ETF Application. Will It Get the Green Light?

Fri, 05/10/2019 - 16:03
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Alex Dovbnya
As the US regulator is gradually warming up to crypto, one shouldn’t rule out the prospect of the SEC approving a crypto ETF
SEC to Review New Cryptocurrency ETF Application. Will It Get the Green Light?
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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received a new application for a cryptocurrency ETF license. A registration statement on Form S-1, which the regulatory watchdog published on May 9, was filed by Crescent Crypto Index Services.  

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A multi-crypto ETF

The USCF Crescent Crypto Index Fund (“XBET”) is composed of a portfolio of two digital assets – Bitcoin and Ethereum, the biggest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

As reported by U.Today, the SEC concluded that both Bitcoin and Ethereum are not securities, which makes them tradable as ETFs. XBET will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

“Shares of XBET are expected to trade on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XBET” and will be bought and sold throughout the trading day at bid and ask prices like other publicly traded securities,” the filing states.

The issuers claim that investing in these ‘emerging assets’ incurs a significant risk since they are volatile and largely unregulated.

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Three pending applications   

Apart XBET, the SEC is currently reviewing two Bitcoin ETF applications from Bitwise Asset Management and VanEck/SolidX. The SEC was supposed to announce its verdict on the Bitwise ETF back in March, but the deadline has been postponed.    

The chances that this application will get approved by the SEC are rather gleam. Not a single crypto ETF has been launched in the US so far since the first unsuccessful attempt that took place in 2017.

Back in February, the regulator requested Reality Shares to withdraw its filing.  

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About the author

Alex Dovbnya (aka AlexMorris) is a cryptocurrency expert, trader and journalist with extensive experience of covering everything related to the burgeoning industry — from price analysis to Blockchain disruption. Alex authored more than 1,000 stories for U.Today, CryptoComes and other fintech media outlets. He’s particularly interested in regulatory trends around the globe that are shaping the future of digital assets, can be contacted at alex.dovbnya@u.today.