SEC Postpones Decision On Franklin Templeton Crypto Index ETF

According to Cointelegraph, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision on the approval of the Franklin Templeton Crypto Index ETF until early 2025. In a letter dated November 20, the SEC stated that it had not received any comments following the publication of the proposed rule change in the Federal Register on October 8, 2024. The regulatory body emphasized the need for additional time to thoroughly evaluate the proposed rule change and the associated issues, setting January 6, 2025, as the new deadline for a decision. The delay in the SEC's decision has left the industry in anticipation, as crypto index ETFs are seen as a significant development for digital asset markets. In August, Franklin Templeton submitted its application for a crypto index ETF, with industry experts like Katalin Tischhauser from Sygnum crypto bank highlighting the potential benefits. Tischhauser noted that index ETFs allow investors to gain market exposure without the need to select individual assets, thereby reducing the risk of costly mistakes. This approach has contributed to the popularity of stock indexes such as the S&P 500. Franklin Templeton is not alone in its pursuit of launching a crypto index ETF in the United States. In October, the New York Stock Exchange expressed interest in listing Grayscale's crypto index ETF and sought regulatory approval for trading. By November, US regulators were reportedly considering the listing of the Grayscale ETF. The approval of such an ETF would be a landmark event in the US, potentially unlocking new capital flows into the digital asset markets, akin to the impact of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs approved earlier in 2024.