Gary Gensler released a Bitcoin spot ETF approval statement on the SEC official website. The statement stated that the SEC has approved a number of Bitcoin spot ETFs. The committee evaluates any rules of national securities exchanges based on whether they are consistent with the Exchange Act and its subordinate regulations. submission, including whether the rule is intended to protect investors and the public interest. The committee is neutral in its evaluation process and does not express views on specific companies, investments or assets underlying exchange-traded products (ETPs). Gensler further stated that today’s Commission action is limited to exchange-traded products (ETPs) holding Bitcoin, a non-security commodity. This in no way means that the Commission is willing to approve listing standards for crypto-asset securities. Approval also does not indicate the Commission’s view on the legal status of other crypto-assets under the federal securities laws or on the status of violations of the federal securities laws by certain crypto-asset market participants.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has greenlit Bitcoin Spot ETF applications from a string of major issuers. This landmark decision did not come about impulsively; it follows a meticulous process involving the approval of issuer-specific 19b-4 documents, followed by S-1 application approvals. Upon the vesting of both approvals, the ETF is eligible for trading immediately from the subsequent business day. The momentous SEC ruling was broadcasted on the 10th of January at 21:00 (UTC). The applicants who made the cut include Ark/21Shares, WisdomTree, Invesco, Fidelity, VanEck, Grayscale, Blackrock, Bitwise, Valkyrie, and Franklin. The launch of these ETFs for public trading is anticipated to take place on the forthcoming Thursday.

According to Reuters, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) documents show that the SEC approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs. Currently, an SEC document "fg-89shlq.pdf" circulated online shows that 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs have been approved. However, the original link to the file on the SEC official website already shows "404 Not Found".

Cboe revoked its previous approval of VanEck Bitcoin Trust (HODL). In an updated filing, Cboe said, "Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. will withdraw the Form 8-A12B certification submitted on January 10, 2024."

Cboe revoked its previous approval of ARK’s ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB). In an updated filing, Cboe said, "Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. will withdraw the Form 8-A12B certification submitted on January 10, 2024." It should be noted that this document is dated July 25, 2023. It is unclear what caused the date error, or it may have been a clerical error by a staff member.

According to Cointelegraph: Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a price hike of 5%, reaching over $43,000 on December 19, in response to renewed anticipation surrounding the potential approval of the United States' first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: TradingView Following a shaky start to the week, BTC/USD gathered momentum, with the December 18 candle closing over 5% higher than the day's lowest value. Market analysis from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView observed the Bitcoin market reaching fresh highs of $43,456 after the daily close. Significant news circulated that asset manager BlackRock — among applicants looking to launch the first U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF — amended the redemption policy for its product, including Bitcoin as a potential option. Their latest S1 filing with the U.S. SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) suggests that in-kind redemption with Bitcoin would not generally be a taxable event for the shareholder. Additionally, new regulations were introduced that relate to the exchange of share baskets for cash rather than Bitcoin, with the latter dependent on regulatory approval. The SEC is set to start making final decisions on spot ETFs in early January 2024, making next month a pivotal time for the future of Bitcoin. The expected approval of ETFs, after years of delays and denials, is seen as 99.9% likely, according to trader and investor Bob Loukas. Meanwhile, Bitcoin traders forecast potential price volatility during the holiday season due to unharnessing the yearly candle close and various macroeconomic data releases. CryptoTA creator, Crypto Ed, predicts a dip below $40,000 before a possible rally, potentially pushing the BTC/USD value to $50,000 by the end of 2023. Similarly, trader Matthew Hyland sees Bitcoin’s relative strength index (RSI) reflecting bullish indications, suggesting potential further price hikes.

It's the third last Friday before the deadline to approve a bitcoin spot ETF, and the rise of bitcoin once again above $44,000 has some wondering, has it actually been approved? source: https://www.trustnodes.com/2023/12/09/has-sec-approved-the-bitcoin-etfs

According to Reuters, significant progress has been made in discussions between the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and asset managers over the potential approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). “Discussions between the US securities regulator and asset managers hoping to list Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have advanced to key technical details, in a sign […] source: https://bitcoinist.com/bitcoin-etf-may-be-approved-soon-reuters/

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approves BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Spot ETF.