The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a memorandum about the meeting which Commissioner Roisman and his counsels Dean Conway, Matthew Estabrook, and Christina Thomas held with representatives of SolidX, VanEck, and CBOE on October 9.
The parties discussed an application to list an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that is currently pending with the Commission.
VanEck, which received a postponement of its ETF application in August, outlined five reasons for VanEck SolidX Bitcoin Trust approval noting that issues identified in disapproval order were resolved:
- There now exists a significant regulated derivatives market for bitcoin
- Relevant markets – Cboe, bitcoin futures, OTC desks – are regulated
- Concerns around price manipulation have been mitigated, consistent with approval of prior commodity-based ETPs
- Cboe’s rules are designed to surveil for potential manipulation of Trust shares
- Promotes investor protection
Speaking to Bloomberg TV Monday meanwhile, SEC Commissioner Kara Stein underscored the uncertainty over whether or not ETFs will soon see regulatory approval.
Multiple applications to launch have stalled at the SEC’s door, authorities either rejecting or postponing their decision regarding whether or not investors can legally interact with them.
“They’re going to have to show how they can get accurate valuations… despite sometimes volatile price swings, how they can make sure there’s physical custody when necessary,” – Stein told.
“How they’re going to make sure there’s adequate liquidity, especially in a 40 act fund context so investors can get their money… we’ll look at all those factors and make a decision on that particular fund and how it’s actually going to be able to handle those particular requirements.”
Stein declined to speculate on possible timeframes for an ETF approval to come from the SEC.
