In a shock transfer, the US Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) introduced an early delay of ARK Make investments’s and 21Shares Bitcoin spot ETF utility on Tuesday, September 26, which was initially scheduled to be determined by November 11. On the identical time, the regulator postponed GlobalX ETF’s utility, which was to be selected October 7.

Following the choice, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst, James Seyffart, expressed his shock on Twitter: “The SEC simply got here out SUPER early and delayed the ARK Make investments / 21Shares Bitcoin ETF submitting… This will put the hammer down for any hopes of an ETF approval this 12 months? In the event that they went on Ark/21 shares already, we may even see delays on all the opposite filings right now too?”

With a number of purposes, together with these from BlackRock, Bitwise, VanEck, Invesco, Wisdomtree, Constancy, and Valkyrie, scheduled for mid-October, the panorama of ETF approvals appears unsure.

Bitcoin Spot ETF Odds On Trial

Seyffart didn’t hesitate to take a position on the potential influences behind the SEC’s choice. He pointed to a letter from each Republican and Democratic congressmen to SEC Chairman Gensler. Of their letter, the congressmen Mike Flood, Wiley Nickel, Tom Emmer, and Ritchie Torres confused the significance of “instantly” approving spot Bitcoin ETFs, emphasizing that such regulated funding avenues would improve investor safety by guaranteeing extra clear and safe entry to Bitcoin.

Referencing the courtroom choice within the case between Grayscale and the SEC, their letter acknowledged: “Congress has an obligation to make sure that the SEC approves funding merchandise that meet the necessities set out by Congress. To that finish, we urge you to approve the itemizing of spot Bitcoin ETPs instantly.”

Delving additional into the chances of a Bitcoin spot ETF approval, Seyffart referenced his earlier predictions: “We had been at 75% earlier than this. Possible happening on the again of this.” Nevertheless, he indicated that the Grayscale GBTC courtroom case stays a major issue figuring out these odds. “The principle catalyst for 2023 has all the time been what occurs subsequent with the GBTC courtroom case,” Seyffart talked about.

Earlier this 12 months, Bloomberg consultants Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart had estimated a 75% probability for a Bitcoin spot ETF approval in 2023 and 95% by the tip of 2024, particularly after Grayscale’s authorized victory over the SEC.

On being probed concerning the GBTC courtroom case timeline, Seyffart responded: “Unknown. Which is why issues have been so up within the air. We must always have a greater concept of subsequent steps by 10/13 on the newest.” The SEC’s window to enchantment Grayscale’s August courtroom victory closes on Oct. 13, a date keenly watched by many as a possible turning level.

One other business perspective came from Nate Geraci, President of the ETF Retailer and host of the ETF Prime podcast, who hinted at a broader contextual subject: “Authorities shutdown might probably influence spot Bitcoin ETF selections due in October… After 10+yrs, what’s one other few months at this level.”

This authorities shutdown Geraci mentions is on the horizon and will probably trigger additional delay. As Reuters reported yesterday, the US Senate lately handed a bipartisan initiative to avert the shutdown, however the end result is open. Remarkably, the looming shutdown provides complexity to an already difficult regulatory panorama.

At press time, the Bitcoin worth was unfazed by the information, buying and selling at $26,278.

Featured picture from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com