Share this article
Coinbase Backs NYSE Arca’s Push for Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Conversion to ETF
Coinbase says there’s no “rational basis” for not allowing a spot-based exchange-traded product.
Updated May 11, 2023, 3:22 p.m. Published Dec 15, 2021, 9:51 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
In a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, Coinbase urged the agency to approve NYSE Arca’s application to convert the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust into an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
- “We believe investors should have access to GBTC in an ETP [exchange-traded product] format because it offers a tried and tested way for retail investors to gain exposure to bitcoin at prices that closely reflect spot bitcoin trading prices without holding it themselves,” the letter said. Grayscale Investments is a digital asset management firm owned by Digital Currency Group, which also owns CoinDesk.
- Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, highlighted the company’s position in a series of Tweets Wednesday.
- ”What’s right is right,” Grewal wrote, continuing, “Good on the SEC for permitting futures-based ETPs. But there is no rational basis for disallowing a spot-based ETP while allowing a futures-based ETP – both are reliant on bitcoin’s underlying price.”
- ”ETPs reduce discrepancies between trading market prices and underlying asset values through continuous share redemptions and creations. What could do more to advance both the public interest and the Commission’s mission to protect investors?” Grewal added in a tweet.
What’s right is right. @coinbase sent a letter yesterday urging the @SECGov to approve Arca’s application to convert Grayscale's BTC Trust to an ETF. https://t.co/GoLqBObU8k
— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) December 15, 2021
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
- Coinbase has been vocal about its disagreement with the SEC over the crypto exchange’s lending product.
- Grayscale Investments filed its application to convert its trust into a spot bitcoin ETF on Oct. 19.
Read more: The SEC Still Doesn’t Like Spot Bitcoin ETFs
More For You
Pudgy Penguins is building a multi-vertical consumer IP platform — combining phygital products, games, NFTs and PENGU to monetize culture at scale.
What to know:
Pudgy Penguins is emerging as one of the strongest NFT-native brands of this cycle, shifting from speculative “digital luxury goods” into a multi-vertical consumer IP platform. Its strategy is to acquire users through mainstream channels first; toys, retail partnerships and viral media, then onboard them into Web3 through games, NFTs and the PENGU token.
The ecosystem now spans phygital products (> $13M retail sales and >1M units sold), games and experiences (Pudgy Party surpassed 500k downloads in two weeks), and a widely distributed token (airdropped to 6M+ wallets). While the market is currently pricing Pudgy at a premium relative to traditional IP peers, sustained success depends on execution across retail expansion, gaming adoption and deeper token utility.
More For You
SEC clarifies rules for tokenized stocks, tightening scrutiny on synthetic equity
The agency says issuer approval is required for true tokenized ownership, warning that many stock tokens sold to retail investors provide only indirect or synthetic exposure.
What to know:
- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued new guidance clarifying that tokenized stocks are subject to existing securities and derivatives rules, regardless of whether they are recorded on a blockchain.
- The agency drew a sharp line between issuer-sponsored tokenized securities, which can represent true equity ownership, and third-party products that typically provide only synthetic exposure or custodial entitlements.
- Regulators signaled they aim to curb the spread of synthetic equity products to retail investors while encouraging issuer-approved, fully regulated tokenization structures.
Top Stories
