Could Grayscale's GBTC discount narrow after SEC delays decision on spot Bitcoin ETF?


Share:
  • Grayscale’s GBTC shares are trading at a discount of 20.6%, narrowing consistently since mid-June.
  • GBTC discount started to narrow right after BlackRock filed its spot Bitcoin ETF application and remains tied to the SEC’s approval of the investment product.
  • Bitcoin spot ETFs are closer to approval with Grayscale’s lawsuit win against the SEC, however, delays are likely to dampen demand for GBTC shares.

Grayscale, a cryptocurrency asset management firm, made headlines for its landmark win against the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). Grayscale’s lawsuit win has had an impact on the price of its GBTC shares.

The discount on GBTC has narrowed. As of early Friday, GBTC is trading at a 20.62% discount. The discount is deeply correlated with the supply and demand for GBTC shares. It is, therefore, likely that an approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF by the SEC drives demand for the shares higher and pushes GBTC from discount to premium territory.

Also read: Ethereum Cancun upgrade development is on track, testing phase comes next

Grayscale GBTC shares trade at 20.62% discount after landmark lawsuit win

Grayscale’s win against the US SEC marked a key milestone for the asset manager in its journey toward launching the spot Bitcoin ETF for investors. While there is time for the regulator to review and appeal the ruling, the lawsuit had its impact felt in the crypto ecosystem.

GBTC shares that have been trading at a discount for nearly two years witnessed an increase in demand among institutional investors. This narrowed the GBTC discount. When the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, filed its spot Bitcoin ETF application, the GBTC discount started to narrow consistently.

The GBTC discount has narrowed from 43.3% on June 15 to 20.6% on September 1, based on data from Coinglass. 

Grayscale Investments BTC premium

Grayscale Investments BTC Premium 

Can GBTC discount be flipped into premium territory? 

The GBTC discount is correlated with the demand for Grayscale’s shares. An approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF by the financial regulator is likely to drive demand for GBTC shares and result in a further narrowing of the GBTC discount. Though the discount is still stark, a continuation of this trend could flip the discount into a premium for the first time since February 2021.

As of September 1, the SEC has delayed its decision on the spot Bitcoin ETF applications of BlackRock, Wisdom Tree Funds, Invesco, Galaxy Digital and Valkyrie Funds.

Crypto ETF FAQs

What is an ETF?

An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle or an index that tracks the price of an underlying asset. ETFs can not only track a single asset, but a group of assets and sectors. For example, a Bitcoin ETF tracks Bitcoin’s price. ETF is a tool used by investors to gain exposure to a certain asset.

Is Bitcoin futures ETF approved?

Yes. The first Bitcoin futures ETF in the US was approved by the US Securities & Exchange Commission in October 2021. A total of seven Bitcoin futures ETFs have been approved, with more than 20 still waiting for the regulator’s permission. The SEC says that the cryptocurrency industry is new and subject to manipulation, which is why it has been delaying crypto-related futures ETFs for the last few years.

Is Bitcoin spot ETF approved?

Bitcoin spot ETF has been approved outside the US, but the SEC is yet to approve one in the country. After BlackRock filed for a Bitcoin spot ETF on June 15, the interest surrounding crypto ETFs has been renewed. Grayscale – whose application for a Bitcoin spot ETF was initially rejected by the SEC – got a victory in court, forcing the US regulator to review its proposal again. The SEC’s loss in this lawsuit has fueled hopes that a Bitcoin spot ETF might be approved by the end of the year.


Like this article? Help us with some feedback by answering this survey:



Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Join Telegram

Follow us on Telegram

Stay updated of all the news

Join Telegram

Recommended content


Follow us on Telegram

Stay updated of all the news

Join Telegram

Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

Week Ahead: Altcoin plays for traders as Bitcoin crosses $42,000

Week Ahead: Altcoin plays for traders as Bitcoin crosses $42,000

Bitcoin price hit $40,000 over the weekend as investors anticipate a spot BTC ETF approval in January. Bitcoin trades around $42,000 and shows no signs of stopping. This article will focus on what to expect this week and the outlook for BTC and if the fourth cycle is any different.

More Bitcoin News

Crypto exchanges serving Indian residents to comply with Anti-Money Laundering guidelines: Indian Parliament

Crypto exchanges serving Indian residents to comply with Anti-Money Laundering guidelines: Indian Parliament

Crypto exchanges serving Indian residents to face action if not compliant with Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financial Terrorism guidelines.The process of registering offshore exchanges, Virtual Digital Asset service providers has been initiated.

More Cryptocurrencies News

Dogecoin breaks key $0.088 barrier ahead of tenth birthday, 87% DOGE holders at profit

Dogecoin breaks key $0.088 barrier ahead of tenth birthday, 87% DOGE holders at profit

As Dogecoin (DOGE) approaches its tenth anniversary on Wednesday, the Shiba-Inu-themed meme cryptocurrency has surpassed a crucial resistance level at $0.088076, reaching the highest level since mid-April.

More Dogecoin News

Bitcoin price could rally to $45,000 ahead of BTC halving event in April 2024

Bitcoin price could rally to $45,000 ahead of BTC halving event in April 2024

Bitcoin price crossed the $41,000 mark on Binance, in its ongoing uptrend. BTC price rally is likely driven by the anticipation of Spot Bitcoin ETF approval. There are more catalysts driving BTC price gains in the current cycle.

More Bitcoin News

Analyzing potential $30k corrections ahead of BTC ETF approval

Analyzing potential $30k corrections ahead of BTC ETF approval

Bitcoin has slowed down its 2023 bull rally as it approaches the $37,000 level. After three weeks of consolidating around this level, BTC shows no directional bias whatsoever. Some investors speculate this could be an upward-sloping accumulation that leads to a $40,000 rally.

Read full analysis

BTC

ETH

XRP