IMPORTANT POINTS:
- The US SEC has approved Ethereum futures ETFs, marking a milestone in cryptocurrency adoption in the country.
- Valkyrie Investments and VanEck are the two companies that will launch Ethereum futures ETFs.
- The approval comes ahead of the US government shutdown and as the SEC delays decisions on Bitcoin ETFs.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given the green light to the Ethereum futures ETF offering filed by both Valkyrie Investments and VanEck, marking a significant milestone in the integration of cryptocurrencies into the financial landscape.
Valkyrie Investments, a Nashville-based asset management firm, has secured SEC approval to launch its Ethereum futures ETF. This ETF will be an extension of its already existing product, the Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BTF), which is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The main novelty is that, from now on, BTF will provide investors with exposure to both Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts under the same wrapper. The ETF will be called Valkyrie Bitcoin and Ether Strategy ETF, maintaining the ticker BTF. The trading start date has been scheduled for Friday, September 29, and the name change will take effect on October 3.
Meanwhile, VanEck, a $77 billion asset management firm, is also set to launch its own Ethereum futures ETF. This product will be known as the VanEck Ethereum Futures ETF (EFUT) and will be listed on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). According to experts, EFUT is expected to be presented on Monday, October 2.
These approvals are not surprising, as the SEC had previously expressed its willingness to approve Ethereum futures ETFs. According to analysts, the rush to approve these requests is due to the imminent US government shutdown, scheduled for Saturday, September 30. This has led to nine companies submitting 15 different applications for Ethereum futures ETFs, all of which could be approved this week, creating exciting competition in the market.
Despite these approvals, the SEC continues to delay its decision on Bitcoin ETFs, including spot applications from Ark 21Shares and GlobalX. The agency is reportedly initiating additional procedures to evaluate these requests, further prolonging the final decision. Furthermore, the race for a spot on the Ethereum spot ETF has also begun, which promises to be an exciting battle in the world of cryptocurrencies.
