SEC moves closer to spot Bitcoin ETF approval with 19b-4 amendment filings

The United States Securities and Exchange (SEC) has begun accepting filings by exchanges in a sign toward approval of listing a spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund.

On Jan. 5, 19b-4 amendments were filed for spot BTC ETF applications from asset managers BlackRock, Valkyrie, Grayscale, Bitwise, Hashdex, ARK 21Shares, Invesco Galaxy, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton and Wisdom Tree. The filings are one of the last stages in the SEC approval process, but S-1 documents must be completed in order for U.S. exchanges to begin listing shares of investment securities with direct exposure to crypto.

Some experts have speculated that final approval for the spot Bitcoin ETFs will drop before Jan. 10 — the deadline for an offering from ARK Invest and 21Shares. A potential approval could mean greater adoption of crypto in the U.S. and worldwide.

There's the first 19b-4 amendment filing! Here we go. https://t.co/dz01aborw7

— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) January 5, 2024

This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.