Key Takeaways
- Ether fell 4% despite ETF approval, following a “sell the news” pattern.
- Traders predict long-term institutional capital influx into Ether.
- SEC approved Ether ETFs but trading still awaits further regulatory green light.
What Happened?
Bitcoin and Ether prices declined in the past 24 hours. Despite the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approving several ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for listing, the ether price dropped 4%. This decline followed a 20% rise over the past week, driven by anticipation of the ETF approval.
Data from CoinGecko shows that the broad-based CoinDesk 20 index also fell 4.5%, and the overall crypto market cap decreased by 2.9%, bringing it to $2.5 trillion.
Why It Matters?
The SEC’s approval of key regulatory filings for ether ETFs marks a historic milestone for the second-largest cryptocurrency. Alex Kuptsikevich, a senior market analyst at FxPro, noted that this sell-off is typical “buy the rumors, sell the facts” behavior among speculators. Traders expect significant long-term institutional investments in Ether, once these ETFs start trading.
Similar patterns were observed after the approval of the Bitcoin ETF earlier this year, which initially caused a 19% price drop before a notable reversal. Standard Chartered predicts up to $45 billion in institutional inflows within the first year if these ETFs get the final green light.
What’s Next?
The SEC’s approval covers the 19B-4 forms, allowing for ETF listing but not yet trading. The funds still need their S-1 filings approved before investors can buy them. Approved ETF providers include industry giants like VanEck, Fidelity, and BlackRock. If trading approval is granted, expect a substantial influx of institutional capital. Traders forecast a potential 60% rally in ether over the coming months, driven by increased futures and spot buying demand.
Comparing to Bitcoin’s past ETF approval, the initial sell-off followed by a strong reversal suggests a similar trend might occur with Ether. Management’s tone across firms like VanEck and BlackRock remains optimistic about future institutional participation.
Investors should watch for the SEC’s final decision on S-1 filings and subsequent market reactions. This approval could significantly impact the broader crypto market, attracting new investors and increasing liquidity.