21-5-2025 – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has deferred its verdict on a series of high-profile cryptocurrency investment proposals, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the burgeoning digital asset market. Announced on May 20, the delay affects applications from 21Shares and Grayscale for XRP trust funds, alongside Grayscale’s bid for a Dogecoin trust fund ETF. Additionally, the SEC has paused its decision on Bitwise’s innovative proposal for an Ethereum ETF incorporating staking capabilities.
In its official statement, the SEC cited intricate legal and policy considerations as the rationale for the postponement, while clarifying that no definitive conclusions have yet been drawn. This measured approach aligns with insights from Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst James Seyffart, who observed that the agency, irrespective of its leadership, habitually exhausts the full review period. Seyffart projects that approvals, if forthcoming, might materialise as early as late June or early July, though a more probable timeline points to the early fourth quarter. This cautious deliberation underscores the SEC’s meticulous scrutiny of cryptocurrency’s evolving role in traditional finance, leaving investors and industry observers in suspense as the regulatory landscape continues to take shape.