The CBOE withdrew Bitcoin-ETF request: what are the reasons?

The Cboe BZX Exchange has withdrawn a proposed rule change that, if approved, would clear the way for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) backed by VanEck and SolidX. The exchange filed its withdrawal on Jan. 22. The proposal was filed last June, when VanEck, an investment firm, teamed up with financial services provider SolidX to provide a physically-backed bitcoin ETF to the market (other such proposals have relied on bitcoin futures contracts, rather than the cryptocurrency’s price itself).

The SEC delayed any decision on the proposal a number of times, asking for public comment and taking meetings with proponents. The regulator faced a final decision deadline of Feb. 27. While the notice itself did not provide a reason for the withdrawal, some securities lawyers speculated that the ongoing government shutdown would result in the ETF being denied, as no staffers at the SEC are able to review the proposed rule change.

In an email, VanEck director of digital asset strategy Gabor Gurbacs told CoinDesk that the filing “has been temporarily withdrawn.” VanEck CEO Jan van Eck told CNBC earlier Wednesday that the proposal was being withdrawn and would be submitted at a later date following continued discussions with the SEC – yet those talks were essentially put on hold as a result of the ongoing partial government shutdown in the U.S.

Cboe Exchange Withdraws Proposal for VanEck-SolidX Bitcoin ETF, CoinDesk, Jan 24