Nasdaq Approve Bitcoin ETF, Seek SEC Green Light

A Bitcoin ETF may be just around the corner as the Nasdaq stock exchange has approved an ETF application from cryptocurrency asset management firm Valkyrie.

In an letter to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nasdaq’s vice president of listing qualifications Eun Ah Choi writes:

This is to certify that on October 15, 2021 the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Exchange”) received from Valkyrie ETF Trust II (the “Registrant”) a copy of the Registrant’s application on Form 8-A 12(b) for the registration of the following securities:

• Shares of Beneficial Interest, of Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF

We further certify that the securities described above have been approved by the Exchange for listing and registration upon official notice of issuance.

We understand that the Registrant is seeking immediate acceleration of the effective date of registration, and we hereby join in such request.

Read the full letter here.

SEC Deadline to Approve Bitcoin ETF

The SEC now has until the October 25th deadline to officially approve or reject the Valkyrie Bitcoin ETF.

Other Bitcoin ETF applications have also been filed by Ark Invest, Grayscale, Proshares, VanEck, and Invesco.

Bloomberg senior analyst Eric Balchunas has stated there are ‘good signs’ a Bitcoin exchange traded fund (ETF) will meet with SEC approval, noting several new tickers have been added to exchanges.

If and when a Bitcoin ETF is launched you’ll be able to invest in one on regulated broker eToro, where you can both buy Bitcoin and buy shares in ETFs.

The SEC rejected the first Bitcoin ETF applications in 2017 and 2018, filed by the owners of Gemini exchange the Winklevoss twins, citing a risk of ‘fraudulent and manipulative practices that could be harmful to the interests of investors and the general public’.

The decision was not unanimous however, and in recent years the cryptocurrency market has seen much more regulation, adding to its legitimacy. That may be enough for the SEC to finally green light a Bitcoin ETF in 2021.