NYSE Options Trading for Bitcoin ETFs Put on Hold by SEC

• The SEC has postponed its decision on allowing the NYSE to offer options trading on spot Bitcoin ETFs.
• This delay applies to options on Bitwise, Grayscale, and any other Bitcoin trust on the NYSE.
• The SEC has until May 29 to approve or deny Bitcoin options trading on the NYSE. 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision to permit or deny the New York Stock Exchange to introduce options trading on spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs. The regulator communicated this move via a document dated April 8, uploaded to its official website.

Notably, the SEC’s delay affects options trading on the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), and any other trust holding Bitcoin listed on the NYSE. In February, the proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register, and the SEC has received two comments. 

According to existing regulations, the regulator must decide within 45 days of the proposed rule change notice’s publication or up to 90 days in the case of an extension. The first 45 days after the notice for this proposed rule change are due by Sunday, April 14, 2024. However, the commission is extending its decision by 45 days.

According to the document, the commission deems it necessary to extend the timeframe for deciding on the proposed rule change to ensure thorough consideration of the proposal. Following this extension, the next deadline for the SEC to approve or deny the proposed rule change is May 29.

Notably, Grayscale’s CEO, Michael Sonnenshein, is one of two individuals who wrote to the SEC advocating for the approval of the rule change. 

In a letter dated Feb. 28, Sonnenshein contended that since the SEC has already approved Bitcoin futures ETFs and spot Bitcoin ETFs on the NYSE, there is no rationale for rejecting options trading on spot Bitcoin ETFs. He stated, “The natural next step is the approval of options on spot Bitcoin ETPs.”