The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finally granted approval for Ethereum ETFs, bringing some much-anticipated development to the crypto market. This regulatory decision not only adds fuel to the market but also validates Ethereum’s status and instills confidence among investors.
The approval of Spot Ethereum ETFs signifies a significant milestone, with Coinbase Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, stating that Ethereum is now officially considered a commodity rather than a security. This distinction positions Coinbase uniquely to benefit from these regulatory advancements, as the approval of the 19b-4 filings specifically mentions Coinbase’s compliance and its ability to navigate complex regulations.
This approval follows the earlier approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs at the beginning of 2024, which generated much excitement and anticipation. With the approval of Spot Ethereum ETFs, Ethereum joins Bitcoin as the only available crypto ETFs in the market, potentially paving the way for more ETFs in the future.
Despite the approval, the price of Ethereum remains relatively unchanged, with the price graph showing no significant movement. However, this does not diminish the importance of the regulatory milestone.
While the 19b-4 forms for Ethereum ETFs have been approved, issuers still need to wait for the approval of their S-1 forms. This step is crucial for offering new securities publicly and commencing asset trading. Based on the history of Bitcoin ETFs, this process could take several weeks or even months.
In other news, the Central Bank of Ireland has granted approval to Ramp Network as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, highlighting the growing recognition and acceptance of virtual assets in the financial industry.