Global X withdraws bitcoin ETF proposal

Global X withdrew its bitcoin ETF proposal just weeks after the SEC gave other ETFs the green light

article-image

Global X and Ash Pollard/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

Global X filed to withdraw its proposed spot bitcoin ETF weeks after a slew of ETFs were approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

The proposed ETF was not the first of its kind filed by the firm. Back in 2021, Global X pursued a similar fund but was met with resistance from the SEC.

Global X first filed its proposal back in August, but — like other applicants — a decision on the bitcoin ETF was delayed by the SEC. In January, the SEC issued a slew of ETF decisions but Global X was notably absent. 

Read more: Bitcoin ETF Tracker

Global X didn’t immediately return a request for comment. 

The firm wasn’t on the final list of potential ETFs earlier this month after it failed to file updated documentation alongside other potential ETF issuers. 

Global X wasn’t the only one of the bitcoin ETF hopefuls that failed to make it across the finish line. Pando Asset Management joined the race back in December and has yet to receive approval for its proposed spot bitcoin ETF.

Read more: Bitwise publishes bitcoin ETF holdings address after on-chain sleuths uncover BlackRock’s

Similarly, 7RCC filed for a spot bitcoin ETF that would also hold carbon credit futures contracts. The proposal, filed in December, has yet to receive regulatory approval. 

After receiving approval, nearly a dozen bitcoin ETFs launched earlier this month. The funds — which include Grayscale, BlackRock and Fidelity — have seen billions in outflows, mostly from GBTC. 

JPMorgan analysts, however, believe that GBTC’s outflows are slowing.

“As we’ve been seeing transaction volumes slowing this past week, we think we are perhaps seeing indication of the hype around these ETFs abating and entering a perhaps more normalized flow environment,” analysts led by Kenneth Worthington said in a note Monday. 

Outside of flows, the group has remained pretty competitive with a majority of the funds offering waivers for fees for a set amount of time or assets. On Monday, Invesco Galaxy — which offers a six-month or $5 billion in assets waiver — announced that it was cutting its fee to 0.25% from 0.39%. 

Aside from Grayscale — which has a 1.5% fee — the group has very low fees ranging from 0.19% to 0.30%.


Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter.

Explore the growing intersection between crypto, macroeconomics, policy and finance with Ben Strack, Casey Wagner and Felix Jauvin. Subscribe to the Forward Guidance newsletter.

Get alpha directly in your inbox with the 0xResearch newsletter — market highlights, charts, degen trade ideas, governance updates, and more.

The Lightspeed newsletter is all things Solana, in your inbox, every day. Subscribe to daily Solana news from Jack Kubinec and Jeff Albus.

Tags

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 18 - 20, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates.jpg

Research

The L2 ecosystem has evolved into a complex landscape, with over $17B in market value and $50B in secured assets. While traditionally seen as high-beta plays on Ethereum, no L2 token achieved a beta higher than 1.0 relative to ETH in 2024. Furthermore, token dilution significantly impacted the sector, with a 1% increase in circulating supply corresponding to a 1.4% decrease in returns.

Key figures including Vitalik Buterin struggle to communicate the network’s core mission in an era of memecoin-minimized attention spans

article-image

World Liberty Financial has been busy buying crypto ahead of its launch

article-image

Trump’s token is setting the “tone” for crypto, Empire co-host Santiago Santos said

article-image

A pair of fundraises by Tapestry and Oh both came with expansive ideas about the future of AI and the role of humans in it

article-image

The Calamos Bitcoin Structured Alt Protection ETF — January is set to offer “systematic risk management” across its roughly one-year outcome period

article-image

Crypto industry elites (and a journalist or two) donned black tie at the Crypto Ball Friday night