CBOE re-submits filing for Spot Bitcoin ETF Options to SEC – What next?

• CBOE re-filed for SEC approval to trade Options on Spot Bitcoin ETFs
• Introduction of BTC ETF Options could boost market accessibility and investor participation

On 8 August, the CBOE took a significant step by re-submitting a filing to the U.S SEC, aiming to introduce Options trading for Spot Bitcoin [BTC] ETFs listed on Wall Street.

This move comes after the company withdrew its initial application, making necessary regulatory adjustments before re-applying. 

This development is a sign that the crypto industry may be edging closer to the approval of Options trading on Spot BTC ETFs. This, following seven months of anticipation since issuers and their exchanges first sought the SEC’s approval. 

What are analysts saying?

Remarking on the same, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart took to X and noted, 

“There’s definitely some movement on Bitcoin ETF options.” 

Citing reasons for the delay, Seyffart claimed that the original filing for Spot BTC ETFs was relatively brief, containing only 15 pages.

The new, more detailed filing, which is 44 pages long, likely indicates that the SEC provided feedback or raised concerns about certain aspects of the initial filing.   

“To me it means that the SEC likely gave some sort of feedback?” 

In fact, he believes that the SEC’s concerns were related to position limits (How much of an asset an entity can hold) and market manipulation risks.

Is there more to it?

Hence, the expanded filing likely addresses these issues more thoroughly to satisfy the SEC’s requirements and move closer to approval.

That being said, Seyffart has also expressed some uncertainty about whether the SEC is actually engaging with the CBOE regarding their latest filing for Spot Bitcoin ETFs. There’s a concern that submitting this new, more detailed application might reset the approval process, pushing the decision deadline back to late April.

However, the analyst believes that if the SEC is indeed in discussions with the CBOE, the official deadline might become less relevant. This may be the case as the ongoing engagement could influence the timing or outcome of the decision.

“One downside here is that I think this restarts the clock. So deadline would move to some time at the end of April (Apr 25th-ish).” 

Why is it important?

In conclusion, the introduction of Options on Spot BTC ETFs represents a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency market.

By offering strategies such as covered call writing, these Options provide opportunities for income generation while managing risks. These make Bitcoin investments more accessible to a broader range of traditional investors.

This development not only has the potential to increase participation in the crypto market, but also underscores Bitcoin’s growing legitimacy as a financial asset, equipped with sophisticated tools for both risk management and speculative trading.