The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yet again deferred the decision on spot Bitcoin ETF applications from leading financial giants BlackRock, Valkyrie, and Bitwise.
This extension, signifying a prudent regulatory approach, reflects the mounting deliberation on intertwining traditional finance and cryptocurrencies.
SEC Delays BlackRock Spot Bitcoin ETF, And More
The SEC’s decision sprung from concerns about potential fraudulent and manipulative practices. Subsequently spotlighting the call for a deeper review of the legal and policy implications enveloped in these applications.
The agency, inviting more commentary from the public, posed queries on the robustness of the Bitcoin market’s liquidity. It also questioned transparency, alongside the effectiveness of a proposed surveillance-sharing agreement with Coinbase in curbing fraud.
Read more: SEC Postpones ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF Decision Until 2024
This narrative mirrors the cautious optimism within the traditional financial spectrum toward Bitcoin. BlackRock, a towering entity with a $98 billion asset under management, embodies this shift. Its CEO, Larry Fink, who once relegated Bitcoin to a Ponzi scheme status, now heralds it as a competitor to fiat currencies.
“If you look at the value of the US dollar, how much it depreciated over the last two months, and how much it appreciated over the last five years… An international crypto product can really transcend that,” Fink said.
A roundtable discussion led by Rob Nelson unveiled this evolving acceptance, indicating a broader institutional shift. Co-panelist David Zell spotlighted notable transformations like Michael Saylor’s journey from a Bitcoin skeptic to a staunch proponent.
The ripple effect of such endorsements, as analyzed by Grant McCarty of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, alleviates reservations among average investors. This is especially important when traditional investment behemoths like BlackRock and Fidelity venture into Bitcoin ETFs, signaling a growing acceptance.
“There’s a growing recognition that Bitcoin holds a distinct position, separating itself from the myriad of tokens and ecosystems,” McCarty said.
The discourse takes a futuristic turn as analysts like Crypto Rover project a bullish surge in Bitcoin’s value if BlackRock’s ETF application gains a regulatory nod. Indeed, Rover sees Bitcoin rocketing to over $200,000.
Read more: Why the Crypto Market Has Yet to Realize the Bullish Potential of Spot Bitcoin ETFs
This, among other facets, epitomizes the confidence vested in BlackRock. This is an entity once sought for counsel during the 2008 financial crisis by the US government.