Hashdex Chooses BitGo for Bitcoin ETF Amid SEC Discussions

• Hashdex Updates ETF Filing, Names BitGo as Bitcoin Custodian
• Hashdex and BitGo Partnership
• SEC meets with ETF Applicants
• Increasing Hope for Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval
• Final Deadline for Ark 21Shares Filing

Hashdex Updates ETF Filing, Names BitGo as Bitcoin Custodian

Hashdex, a prospective Bitcoin$42,260 -0.64% exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuer, updated its paperwork on Friday. The revisions include BitGo's appointment as their Bitcoin custodian and a name change for their Bitcoin Futures ETF, now known as the Hashdex Bitcoin ETF. These changes come as Hashdex and several other firms continue to await approval for the first spot Bitcoin ETF in the United States in the early part of the new year.

Hashdex and BitGo Partnership

Hashdex reached an agreement with BitGo, a prominent crypto custodian, according to an updated S-1 filing. This move makes them a notable exception among the more than a dozen applicants. A large majority of these applicants have inked deals with crypto exchange Coinbase. In contrast, Fidelity plans to self-custody, and VanEck decided to partner with Gemini, another exchange.

SEC meets with ETF Applicants

The announcement from Hashdex followed a day after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held discussions with representatives from several other applicants. Delegates from BlackRock, Valkyrie, Fidelity, Grayscale, and Ark conversed with SEC officials on Thursday, as indicated by filings. The regulators have declared a deadline of December 29 for the final amendments to the applications, as mentioned in Reuters reports.

Increasing Hope for Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval

Expectations for a spot Bitcoin ETF receiving regulatory approval have increased lately. Several applicants have engaged with the SEC and submitted diverse amendments to their applications. They have specified their intentions to issue their ETFs with cash creation if approved, and addressed minor details. These actions suggest that the SEC might be considering approval.

Final Deadline for Ark 21Shares Filing

The SEC has until January 10, 2024, to approve or reject the Ark 21Shares filing. While the SEC must make its decision by this date, reports from Reuters suggest that a decision could come as early as the first few days of the new year.

Edited by Jonathan Stoker