Grayscale submits request to SEC to turn Ethereum Trust into an ETF

Grayscale is jumping on the Ethereum ETF hype that has gripped the market for a while now. Amidst the disheartening announcements made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding spot Bitcoin ETFs, ETH Futures ETFs are observing a much more favorable environment. 

Grayscale eyes Ethereum ETF

Grayscale announced on Monday that the asset management firm filed an application with the SEC to convert the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) into a spot Ethereum ETF. The filing came in following the positive reaction noted by the regulatory body over the past couple of days concerning the barrage of Ethereum Futures exchange-traded funds (ETF) filings.

Amidst the many firms that filed for ETH ETFs, VanEck is set to launch the first fund this week on October 2 while others await confirmation from the SEC. The rush of approval was the result of the regulatory body's intent to green-light the filings before a potential US government shutdown.

Grayscale Ethereum Trust currently accounts for about 2.5% of the entire supply of ETH in circulation, valued at about $5 billion. However, unlike the rest of the ETH ETF filings noted towards the end of September, Grayscale intends to convert ETHE into a spot ETF and not a Futures ETF.

This might be an issue for the asset management firm as approving spot ETFs has been a nightmare for applicants, given the SEC's strong stance against them. Earlier this week, a barrage of spot Bitcoin ETFs faced a delay in receiving an official decision from the Commission. Among the applicants were the likes of BlackRock, Ark Invest, 21Shares and more.

Grayscale is already battling the SEC

The request to convert the Ethereum Trust into a spot ETF is not the first instance of the asset management firm taking the SEC head-on. Back in June 2022, Grayscale filed a lawsuit against the SEC for rejecting the conversion of its Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot ETF.

Grayscale recently won the lawsuit when a three-judge panel of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in Washington ruled in favor of the asset manager, stating that the SEC was wrong to reject the application. While the SEC can still appeal the court's decision, no move has been made yet, with the Commission stating it is still studying the ruling.

Thus, it might be difficult for the SEC to reject Grayscale's ETHE spot ETF application as the precedent set might make it challenging for the regulatory body to justify the rejection.

Read more - Grayscale GBTC to ETF approval by US SEC would be a double-edged sword, Bloomberg analysts

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