Grayscale Investments’ unprecedented court victory against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has the crypto world buzzing. This historic litigation has sparked speculation about the possible approval of a long-awaited spot Bitcoin ETF product.
While deliberating the far-reaching implications of Grayscale’s court victory, eminent lawyer John Deaton, known for representing XRP holders, has chimed in. Deaton provides insight into the prospects and timetable for the much-anticipated Bitcoin ETF.
Deaton’s remarks follow a Bloomberg piece emphasizing the more considerable significance of this triumph. While the immediate outcome may not directly lead to the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF, the importance of this victory echoes throughout the crypto sector.
According to Deaton, the victory is significant for Grayscale and the entire cryptocurrency sector, including Bitcoin, its miners, and services like Coinbase. He said, “It’s a massive win for #Bitcoin, BTC miners, @coinbase, and the Crypto industry in general.” While he concedes that fast approval for the Grayscale Spot ETF and others is doubtful, he is optimistic that a spot ETF will be created. However, the timing of this evolution is unknown.
Grayscale’s petition to convert its financial product into a Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) was granted on August 29 by Judge Rao of the Columbia Circuit. This decision was a significant victory for Grayscale in its legal struggle with the SEC, which had previously denied the firm’s proposal to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into an ETF on June 29, 2022.
The court ruled that the SEC rejected Grayscale’s proposal as “arbitrary and capricious” since there was no reason for treating similar products differently. Grayscale’s CEO, Michael Sonnenshein, took to his X account (previously known as Twitter) to thank the community and announce that the legal team is actively reviewing the next steps.
While establishing a Bitcoin ETF remains possible, the crypto community and industry veterans like John Deaton know that the road ahead is complicated and uncertain. Grayscale’s court victory is undeniably significant, but the eventual timing for the ETF’s certification is still subject to further events and regulatory considerations.
