The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has opted to defer its verdict on the application submitted by the Global X Bitcoin Trust, which sought approval for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). The delay, revealed yesterday, underscores the persistent uncertainty surrounding the nascent landscape of spot bitcoin ETFs.
The Global X Bitcoin Trust's primary objective is to provide investors with exposure to bitcoin (BTC) via an ETF structure, a strategic move aimed at widening the crypto asset's appeal to a broader investor base. Originally filed on August 4, 2023, by the Cboe BZX Exchange, the proposal seeks to list and trade shares of the trust under the exchange's rules governing commodity-based trust shares.
The SEC, in its formal statement justifying the deferral, outlined the necessity for additional scrutiny to determine whether the proposed ETF aligns with the mandates outlined in the Securities Exchange Act. The regulator is particularly focused on ensuring the proposal's consistency with the Act's provisions aimed at preventing fraudulent and manipulative activities while safeguarding the interests of investors and the public.
Central to the SEC's reservations are concerns regarding the liquidity and transparency of the BTC market, with a specific emphasis on its susceptibility to manipulation. The SEC's procedural steps include providing an avenue for extended public input and conducting a comprehensive evaluation of these concerns. "Do commenters align with the exchange's assertions regarding the resilience of the bitcoin market against price manipulation?" the SEC queried the public in its official order.
A pivotal aspect of the SEC's in-depth review centers on the adequacy of the exchange's supporting statements for the proposal, coupled with an examination of the overall structure and protective measures embedded within the proposed Trust. The Trust's fundamental objective is to replicate the performance of bitcoin's price, net of operational expenses, with its primary assets comprising BTC held by its custodian. Scrutiny also extends to the Trust's distinctive mechanism involving "in-kind" transactions for the sale or redemption of shares.
Importantly, the SEC's decision to defer does not constitute a final disapproval. Rather, it underscores the regulator's commitment to a thorough evaluation process. The SEC actively solicits public comments on the proposal, encouraging interested parties to submit their perspectives, data, and arguments. The public will have a 35-day window to provide input before the SEC reconvenes to reevaluate the Global X filing.
