You Won’t Believe What BlackRock and the SEC Are Planning for Crypto!

On the 9th of May, BlackRock, ever the shining beacon of financial wizardry, convened with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force for a tête-à-tête that could shape the very future of digital assets. Oh, the excitement!

Among the thrilling topics on the docket? The potential for staking to be integrated into crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs). Yes, you heard that right—staking, the glamorous cousin of crypto, may soon join the elite ranks of ETPs. Not to be left behind, tokenization of traditional securities was also high on the agenda. Because who wouldn’t want to make their paper assets sparkle like the digital ones?

These discussions hint at a growing unity between the regulatory folk and the high-and-mighty financial institutions, like a union of tea-sipping lords, that may just lead to greater institutional involvement in the crypto world. Buckle up, dear reader, for a future where crypto isn’t just for the basement-dwelling rebels anymore!

A memo released by the SEC revealed that BlackRock’s menu for the meeting included some mouth-watering digital treats such as the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), and the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL). One can only wonder what’s next—perhaps a crypto-based soufflé?

The big-ticket item, of course, was how staking would be handled within the regulatory framework, particularly when it comes to ETPs. It seems regulators are keen to decide how to keep everything in line without ruining the party. Oh, and tokenization of securities was a juicy topic too—because what could be more thrilling than trying to fit a square peg into a round hole under current securities laws?

The conversation stretched further to the approval criteria for crypto-based ETPs, with a possible temporary framework to guide issuers being discussed. Standards for listing options on crypto ETPs, including limits and liquidity requirements, were also scrutinized with a magnifying glass. Regulation—so many rules, so little time.

Will BlackRock Launch an XRP ETF? The Plot Thickens!

The thought of BlackRock launching an XRP ETF is like a deliciously tantalizing bit of gossip that everyone’s dying to know the end of. Late in 2024, Jay Jacobs, head of BlackRock’s ETF division (and probably a wizard in disguise), supposedly declared that BlackRock would be sticking to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs for now. Altcoins? Pah! Not on his watch!

But, hold your horses, dear friends, because industry insiders, those cheeky fortune tellers of finance, still have their fingers crossed for an XRP ETF. Especially if Ripple manages to untangle itself from its little legal dance with the SEC. Nate Geraci, president of The ETF Store (a man whose words carry the weight of a thousand stock portfolios), seems to think that an XRP ETF filing is as inevitable as a rainy day in London—just a matter of time.

Meanwhile, the SEC, ever the master of suspense, has delayed its decision on an XRP ETF proposal from Franklin Templeton. Yes, you read that right—the SEC isn’t exactly in a rush. But fear not! The market remains optimistic, and Polymarket (where prophecies are made and dreams are crushed) currently places the likelihood of an XRP ETF being approved by the end of 2025 at a solid 78%. Confidence is high, my friends—let’s hope it’s not misplaced!

And there you have it, a crypto tale of twists and turns, of speculation and suspense. Who’s ready for the next thrilling chapter? 😏

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2025-05-10 12:15