SEC Puts Off Approval of BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF Options

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The SEC has announced that the approval of options for Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been postponed until April 2025.

This decision comes after Nasdaq submitted a filing last July to gain regulatory approval for options contracts tied to the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA).

This delay comes after the SEC recently approved several Bitcoin ETF options, which are seen as critical for increasing institutional adoption of Ethereum.

Currently, spot ETH ETFs have already attracted close to $10 billion in net assets, equivalent to 3% of Ethereum’s total market capitalization.

According to ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, the delay in approving Ethereum ETF options may be due to the upcoming change in leadership at the SEC.

With the resignation of former Chair Gary Gensler in August, the new chair, Paul Atkins, will take over. It is likely that the pending approvals for ETF filings with the SEC will be addressed under Atkins’ leadership.