On July 9, Theblock disclosed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is advancing efforts to establish a unified listing framework for cryptocurrency ETFs, signaling a potential opening for altcoin crypto ETFs. According to crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett, the SEC is collaborating with multiple trading venues to create standardized listing criteria, which remains in preliminary development. This framework would allow issuers to bypass the traditional 19b-4 filing process by submitting an S-1 registration statement directly, reducing regulatory delays to approximately 75 days before trading can commence. This streamlined procedure aims to minimize administrative burdens for both issuers and the SEC, expediting market access.
While the exact parameters of the universal listing standards are still under review, industry speculation suggests that factors such as market capitalization, trading volume, and liquidity will be critical determinants. Bloomberg Industry Research ETF analyst James Seyffart anticipates the draft framework’s release within the month, with implementation targeted for the fall. This regulatory shift could facilitate a surge in approvals for a broader range of asset-backed ETFs.
Furthermore, analyst Eric Balchunas projects a high likelihood of SEC approval for ETFs tracking major altcoins like SOL, XRP, and LTC, estimating a 95% approval probability. Other prominent cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin, Cardano, and Polkadot are also expected to receive favorable consideration, with approval chances near 90%, reflecting growing institutional acceptance within the crypto ETF landscape.