- SEC issues new guidance and launches task force to streamline altcoin ETF approvals amid rising demand from asset managers and crypto firms.
- Asset managers expect faster ETF launches as SEC shifts from litigation to regulatory clarity under new Republican leadership and internal restructuring.
- Crypto assets including Solana, XRP, and meme coins could soon be included in regulated ETFs through the SEC’s evolving unified approval framework.
Mass altcoin ETF approvals could be on the horizon as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) drafts a sweeping framework for spot crypto ETFs. Reuters has confirmed that the SEC is working on guidance designed to create a faster, standardized approval process. This could unlock a wave of new crypto investment products.
SEC Moves Toward Streamlined Crypto ETF Process
The SEC’s 12-page guidance, released last Tuesday, outlines disclosure rules for exchange-traded products tied to cryptocurrencies. This marks the agency’s first concrete step toward handling the dozens of pending ETF applications tied to altcoins. According to people familiar with the matter, the SEC is laying the groundwork for a new approval framework meant to reduce delays and regulatory friction.
Sui Chung, CEO of CF Benchmarks, explained, “The SEC is moving forward on creating a framework for how they’d like to see all these crypto assets included in investment funds.” The rapid increase in ETF filings has reportedly led the agency to develop a uniform system that can manage the growing demand efficiently.
The commission has formed a task force to support this transition and has restructured its crypto enforcement team. It has also paused or withdrawn from several ongoing enforcement cases, which had been viewed as strong legal challenges.
New Direction Signals Shift in SEC Approach
The introduction of this guidance reflects a clear shift under Republican leadership. Rather than pursuing litigation, the SEC is now focusing on rules that could support widespread ETF approval across multiple altcoins.
Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, commented, “The most interesting and important thing about this guidance is that it exists.” Hougan added that it shows the SEC is recognizing crypto ETPs as part of mainstream finance and wants to provide clarity for both issuers and regulators.
Bitwise, among others, has several ETF applications awaiting decisions. The SEC’s trading and markets division is also expected to issue additional guidance to simplify future submissions and reviews.
Altcoins May Flood Into the ETF Market
This regulatory move could open the floodgates for new crypto ETFs tied to assets like Solana, XRP, and even meme coins. Reuters noted that Trump-branded tokens could also fall under this evolving framework.
By accelerating the review process and removing unnecessary regulatory hurdles, the SEC is setting the stage for broader crypto market access. With a unified framework in motion, asset managers and investors are preparing for mass altcoin ETF approvals in the near term.
