SEC Chairman Gensler’s Post Sparks Curiosity: Approval for Spot Bitcoin ETF May Be Coming!

• Gary Gensler, when asked about the possibilities of spot Bitcoin ETF approval, refrained from making any judgments, but his post on X has led to speculation that approval might be imminent.
• Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst, Eric Balchunas, acknowledged that the timing is perfect and that the SEC has done this for each section at this point.
• On November 29th, during the Healthy Markets Association conference, Gary Gensler, when asked about the possibilities of spot Bitcoin ETF approval, stated that he would not “prejudge” the matter.

A video shared on X by the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, has stirred excitement in the crypto community.

Gensler Ignites Spot Bitcoin ETF Discussions

The approval of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is not only anticipated in the crypto market but is also one of the most awaited events in the traditional financial services industry. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler refrained from commenting on the possibilities of spot Bitcoin ETF approval, but his X post sparked speculation that approval might be imminent.

The video post by SEC Chairman Gary Gensler about the SEC’s Trading and Markets Division, which is in talks with spot Bitcoin ETF issuers, has led people to speculate about an imminent approval. Surprisingly, the post came amid the SEC-BlackRock meeting and the decision by the SEC on the spot Bitcoin ETF applications of Franklin Templeton and Hashdex.

Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst, Eric Balchunas, acknowledged that the timing is perfect and that the SEC has done this for each section at this point. He said that this doesn’t carry much significance as there are other valid indicators signaling an imminent approval.

He also mentioned that BlackRock met with the SEC’s Trading and Markets Division once again and submitted a “revised” financial model design based on comments from their meetings last week. Commenting on the video, Gabor Gurbacs, a VanEck and Tether advisor, said:

“It seems unnecessary to rely on a single man’s tea leaves and tweet threads for a free, functional, or optimal capital market regulatory structure for the world’s largest market.”

Upcoming Signs of a Spot Bitcoin ETF

On November 29th, during the Healthy Markets Association conference, Gary Gensler, when asked about the possibilities of spot Bitcoin ETF approval, stated that he would not “prejudge” the matter and had previously rejected multiple spot Bitcoin ETF applications.

Grayscale, as a potential preparation for transitioning to a spot Bitcoin ETF, made several changes to the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) agreement for the first time since 2018.

The SEC provided an update on Franklin Templeton before January 1, 2023. Meanwhile, the approval odds are still at 90%, and Balchunas stated that the next update on the possibilities of spot Bitcoin ETF approval will be on January 10, 2024.