BlackRock bitcoin ETF no longer listed on DTCC’s website

After disappearing early Tuesday, BlackRock’s IBTC is back on the DTCC website.

BlackRock’s proposed bitcoin ETF is no longer listed on the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation website.

The iShares Bitcoin Trust had previously been the first potential ETF to list on the site.

Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas said that the listing was “notable” and showed BlackRock as “leading charge on these logistics (seeder, ticker, dtcc) that tend to happen just prior to launch.”

“Hard not to view this as them getting signal that approval is certain/imminent,” he added Monday.

The developments come amid a rally in the price of bitcoin that has been attributed, at least in part, to positive sentiment around US regulatory approval of a bitcoin ETF. Bitcoin’s (BTC) price briefly topped $35,000, and as of press time is trading around $33,500. 

Read more: BlackRock takes apparent new step in bitcoin ETF prep

Yet that hoped-for approval may not be as close as some previously thought, given the removal from DTCC’s website. 

BlackRock declined to comment when reached, saying that it’s still within the regulatory agency’s “ filing restriction period.”

A spokesperson for the US Securities and Exchange Commission declined to comment. 

“I’m guessing the SEC made a call to BlackRock,” Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart said in a post on X.

“Not totally shocked my guess is they were told to or want to wait until they are days not weeks or months away. As I said [yesterday] it was surprising to see it on there,” Balchunas posted.

“It wasn’t just the DTCC list it was having a ticker ready and the Oct seeding that gave off a a pre-launch crossing t’s and dotting i’s vibe,” Balchunas said in another post.

Outside of the race for the spot bitcoin ETFs, Monday also saw the DC Circuit Court of Appeals finalize its ruling around Grayscale’s application to convert GBTC to an ETF. 

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 6:25 pm ET: Added that BlackRock’s IBTC is back on DTCC’s website.

Updated Oct. 24, 2023 at 2:01 pm ET: Added that an SEC spokesperson declined to comment.

Updated Oct. 24, 2023 at 12:03 pm ET: Added comments from Eric Balchunas.

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