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SEC approves Bitcoin use in 11 exchange-traded products
On January 10, the SEC issued an order approving 11 exchange-traded products (ETPs) holding Bitcoin to be publicly traded. According to the order, the SEC found that the proposed ETPs are consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, specifically Section 6(b)(5), which requires that the rules prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices and protect investors and the public interest. The SEC also found that the 11 proposed ETPs are consistent with Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) which states that it is in the public interest to make the ETPs available to brokers, dealers, and investors. The order goes into further detail and outlines how the two subsections of the ‘34 Act are applied.
As previously covered on InfoBytes, the SEC originally denied a similar application from a company but had to reexamine that company’s application following the D.C. Court of Appeals overturning of the SEC’s initial rejection. The appellate court alleged the SEC “acted arbitrarily and capriciously by denying the listing of [the company]’s proposed bitcoin ET[F],” and members of Congress also urged the Chair of the SEC to approve Bitcoin’s use within ETPs in a September 2023 letter (covered in InfoBytes here).
SEC settles with investment entities over ETF recommendations
On February 27, the SEC announced a settlement with a national bank to resolve allegations that two of its investment entities failed to monitor sales of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to retail investors. The SEC alleged in its order that the bank’s compliance policies and procedures and supervisory processes were unable to adequately prevent and detect unsuitable recommendations of single-inverse ETFs, which allegedly led to bank investment advisors making recommendations to certain clients who were unaware of the risk of losses when ETFs are held long term. While the bank neither admitted nor denied the SEC’s findings, it agreed to pay a $35 million penalty and distribute funds to affected clients. The bank also agreed to cease and desist from engaging in any future violations of the relevant provisions.