Actually, the SEC isn’t done delaying bitcoin ETF proposals today

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed to delay a decision on the Franklin bitcoin ETF’s proposed rule change.

The fund proposed would be a “series” in the Franklin Templeton Digital Holdings Trust, which is — of course — part of Franklin Templeton.

The filing, which is dated November 15, did not appear on the SEC’s website until late Friday.

The Commission had until Friday to delay or make a decision to accept or reject the application; a delay was expected after the regulator delayed proposed rule changes from Hashdex and Global X earlier this week.

Franklin’s proposed rule change was officially published for comment in the Federal Register back in October, making it one of the latest companies to file for a bitcoin ETF. It follows in the steps of Ark, BlackRock and WisdomTree.

In its filing, the SEC said the new deadline is Jan. 1, 2024. It will then announce an approval, rejection or “institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove” or approve the proposed rule change.

Earlier this week, the SEC also postponed decisions on Grayscale’s spot ethereum ETF rule change proposal and Hashdex’s ethereum ETF proposed rule change (not to be confused with the Hashdex bitcoin ETF proposal, which was also delayed).

The SEC’s Global X delay is slightly different, as a comment period timer of 35 days will start once the filing is published in the Federal Register. Given that it generally takes up to a few days for the Federal Register to reflect filings, the timeline could put a Global X deadline in mid to late December, which is slightly ahead of the Jan. 1 timelines given by other delays.

On top of the delays, BlackRock filed an S-1 for its spot ether ETF, showing its interest in joining not only the bitcoin race but now the race for an ether ETF.

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