Invesco Galaxy updates its Spot Bitcoin ETF S-1 after Ark Invest, analysts say more to come
- Invest Galaxy has updated its spot Bitcoin ETF S-1 a day after Ark Invest did the same.
- It comes only weeks after the US SEC emails issuers with comments and questions regarding their forms S-1
- ETF specialist Eric Balchunas expects the rest of the potential issuers to add their updates soon as well.
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Meanwhile, Balchunas and James Seyffart have raised their Spot BTC ETF approval odds from 75% to 90% by January 10.
Invesco Galaxy investment firm has updated its Spot Bitcoin Exchange-traded fund (ETF), following on the heels of Cathie Woods’ Ark Invest yesterday. It comes weeks after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent emails to the potential issuers, questioning their S-1 forms.
Also Read: Ark Invest updates Spot Bitcoin ETF prospectus; ETF specialist anticipates more delays
Invesco Galaxy updates Spot BTC filing
Invesco Galaxy has updated its Spot BTC ETF S-1 in an attempt to answer probably all the questions the US SEC had following the firm’s latest submission.
Invesco Galaxy has now updated their spot bitcoin ETF S-1, following ARK in responding to SEC comments. Expecting the rest to add their updates soon as well. pic.twitter.com/JxzVMwLd4D
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) October 13, 2023
With the expectation that the other issuers will issue updates as well, the wait continues for the US SEC to give a decision on the long pile of filings on its desk. Nevertheless, it all points to an ongoing conversation between the commission and the issuers, thereby keeping hope alive.
For the case of Ark Invest, Bloomberg analysts and ETF specialists Balchunas and James Seyffart indicated that the adjustments to the Spot BTC ETF S-1 form were not that major, but expansive, comprising language, further context, and additional risk closures. The changes amounted to around five pages of text, which points to the firm receiving a lot of feedback.
I've gotten a lot of questions regarding my current view on Spot #Bitcoin ETFs over the last couple weeks. This is the first section of the note I put out yesterday with @EricBalchunas.
— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) October 13, 2023
TLDR: Our view hasn't changed much https://t.co/dRAm5IsdQf pic.twitter.com/Htsi3n2XxV
It is likely that Invesco Galaxy got the same deal. Meanwhile, with the engagement still going on, the Bloomberg analysts have raised their Spot BTC ETF approval odds from the 75% expectation indicated during late August to 90% by January 10.
Bloomberg analysts Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart raise spot #Bitcoin ETF approval odds to 90% by January 10th pic.twitter.com/LIUPmnE9LF
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 13, 2023
The 75% target was founded upon the Grayscale win after a longstanding legal battle with the US SEC. This came as the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled in favor of Grayscale, with the regulatory body being sued for denying the request to convert the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into an ETF.
Fast forward almost two months, the SEC has failed to appeal the ruling, increasing the odds for the first Spot Bitcoin ETF coming into the market.
Among other reasons, the delayed decisions come on the back of the financial regulator’s belief that such ETFs are prone to price manipulation. This is because of the lack of a regulating authority similar to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) for Futures Bitcoin ETFs.
Because the spot and futures markets for bitcoin are highly related, it stands to reason that manipulation in either market will affect the price of bitcoin futures. The denial of Grayscale’s proposal was arbitrary and capricious because the Commission failed to explain its different treatment of similar products.
This argument, however, has been rejected by the court in the past, urging the SEC to review Grayscale's spot Bitcoin ETF application.
With the SEC not appealing the court’s decision, considering the elapsing time, dialogue could begin the week starting October 16 between Grayscale and SEC should begin next week, according to Seyffart.
1. Done deal I guess if this is accurate. No en banc application
— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) October 13, 2023
2. No. I do not think they will appeal to the Supreme Court either.
3. Dialogue between Grayscale and SEC should begin next week. Hoping for more info on next steps sometime next week or week after? https://t.co/2EayzqeKGq
Contrary to expectation, the commission’s failure to appeal has not provided the obvious win, as had been anticipated, with Bitcoin (BTC) price still stuck below the $28,000 level.
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.
Author
Lockridge Okoth
FXStreet
Lockridge is a believer in the transformative power of crypto and the blockchain industry.
