VanEck Exec Slams SEC For Delay On Bitcoin ETF Options – Details

bitcoinistPublished on 2025-05-25Last updated on 2025-05-25

Abstract

Matthew Sigel, the head of digital assets research at VanEck, has criticized the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over...

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Matthew Sigel, the head of digital assets research at VanEck, has criticized the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over a delayed response on a proposal to list options trading on the firm’s Bitcoin Spot ETF. 

Notably, the Commission has continued to issue delayed responses to all recent digital asset-related ETF proposals/amendments despite a crypto-friendly policy of the Donald Trump Administration.

Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Current Trend Echoing Past Cycle Moves After Making History – Here’s How

SEC Delay Is Frustrating, Offers No Feedback, VanEck’s Sigel Says

On April 3, 2025, the Chicago Board of Exchange (Cboe) filed a proposed rule change to list options trading on the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL). For context, options trading grants investors the right to buy and sell an asset at a specific price before a certain date.

Following the resounding success of the US Bitcoin Spot ETFs, options trading became a potential mode of market expansion, with several asset managers submitting applications to offer options to their respective ETFs. 

Notably, the SEC has granted approval for this request for multiple Bitcoin ETFs, including the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC), and the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), among others. 

However, following the initial 45-day review, the Commission has delayed a response on Cboe’s proposal to list trading options on the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL). In an X post on May 23, Matthew Sigel strongly criticized this decision, which he described as “frustrating” and offered no transparency to investors. 

While tagging Hester Pierce, the Head of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, Sigel complained that the Commission had issued a delayed response while offering no comments or feedback along with this decision. The VanEck Exec explained the asset manager’s objection to this development while responding to a user comment. He said. 

This was the first decision date, so it has not been rejected, just delayed, even though the SEC’s initial comments were addressed. It’s the lack of any feedback that is particularly irksome…

It is highly worth noting that delayed responses by the SEC have been quite a common response for digital assets ETF-related proposals. The Commission can choose to wait till the final decision deadline, i.e., 240 days after the application, as seen with the Bitcoin Spot ETFs in 2024.  However, Sigel’s concerns stem from an absence of an explanation on this delayed ruling, especially considering that options trading has been approved for certain other Bitcoin Spot ETFs.

Related Reading: CME Group Bets Big On XRP—Institutional Demand Is Surging

Bitcoin Price Overview 

At the time of writing, Bitcoin trades at $108,349, reflecting gains of 5.23% and 17.71% in the past seven and 30 days, respectively. 

VanEck
BTC trading at $108,244 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT chart on Tradingview.com
Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview
Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
Semilore Faleti

Semilore Faleti

Follow

Semilore Faleti works as a crypto-journalist at Bitconist, providing the latest updates on blockchain developments, crypto regulations, and the DeFi ecosystem. He is a strong crypto enthusiast passionate about covering the growing footprint of blockchain technology in the financial world.

Full Profile

Related Posts

Bitcoin

Unusual Bitcoin MVRV Event Bodes Well For Long-Term Outlook – Here’s Why

5 hours ago
Bitcoin price

Can Bitcoin Price Sustain Its Bullish Momentum? Analyst Identifies Local Top At $113K

8 hours ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Pizza Day: Celebrating The $1.1 Billion Slice Of Crypto History

1 day ago
Bitcoin

Crazy Bitcoin Bet: Trader’s $1 Billion Wager Says BTC Climbs This Week

2 days ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s Power Compared To Nuclear Reactor By Brazilian Business Leader

5 days ago
Panama

Is Panama City Next? Mayor Teases Bitcoin Reserve After Diplomatic Exchange

5 days ago

Trending Cryptos

ctr
CitreaCTR
wstusdt
wrapped stUSDTWSTUSDT
apr
aPrioriAPR
ctx
Cryptex FinanceCTX
audio
AudiusAUDIO
mantra
MantraMANTRA
xvs
VenusXVS
waxl
AxelarWAXL
bill
Billions NetworkBILL
pyth
PYTH (Pyth)PYTH
rune
THORChainRUNE
velodrome
Velodrome FinanceVELODROME
brev
BrevisBREV
zrx
ZRX（0X）ZRX
cake
PancakeSwapCAKE

Related Reads

USDT on TRON Exceeds $90 Billion as TRON Leads USDT Transfer Volume With $4.2 Trillion YTD

The total circulating supply of USDT on the TRON blockchain has surpassed $90 billion, solidifying its position as a leading network for the stablecoin. According to data, TRON leads all networks in USDT transfer volume year-to-date, processing approximately $4.2 trillion. The network handles over 12.7 million daily transactions, supports over 392 million user accounts, and facilitates an average of $23.8 billion in daily USDT transfers. TRON attributes this growth to its scale, low costs, and focus on practical utility for digital dollar transfers and real-world use cases. Recent institutional developments include integrations by Anchorage Digital and Securitize, with the latter supporting the first tokenized asset from Hamilton Lane on the TRON network. The ecosystem also emphasizes security through the T3 Financial Crime Unit, a collaboration that has frozen over $450 million in criminal assets globally. TRON DAO states the network remains a core infrastructure pillar for the expanding digital dollar economy, driving efficiency, accessibility, and financial inclusion.

TheNewsCrypto12m ago

USDT on TRON Exceeds $90 Billion as TRON Leads USDT Transfer Volume With $4.2 Trillion YTD

TheNewsCrypto12m ago

USDT Market Cap Overtakes Ethereum, What Signal Does This Convey?

The article discusses the significance of USDT's market capitalization rivaling that of Ethereum. It clarifies that this does not indicate Ethereum provides economic security for USDT, as stablecoin security relies on the issuer, Tether, not the underlying blockchain. The trend also does not reflect a flaw in Ethereum's value, as ETH and USDT serve fundamentally different purposes—one as a yield-bearing asset for network fees, the other as a dollar-pegged medium of exchange. The core argument is that the dominant, enduring demand in crypto is for permissionless dollar transfers, a simple utility that doesn't require complex blockchain technology. USDT's growth, despite its issuer's controversial background, proves users prioritize widespread availability and ease of use over the technical merits or decentralization of the hosting chain. While stablecoin aggregate market cap continues to rise, the combined market cap of major smart contract platform native tokens (like Ethereum, Solana) has remained stagnant, showing a decoupling between the demand for simple dollar liquidity and the value assigned to the underlying settlement layers. The conclusion is that the market values the utility of permissionless dollars above all else, with users largely indifferent to the issuer's credibility or the hosting blockchain's governance, as long as the stablecoin is functional and accessible.

marsbit32m ago

USDT Market Cap Overtakes Ethereum, What Signal Does This Convey?

marsbit32m ago

Top 8 DEXs of July 2026

This article presents the top 8 decentralized exchanges (DEXs) for July 2026, highlighting their key features and evolution within the DeFi space. DEXs, which enable peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading via smart contracts without intermediaries, are praised for offering users greater control, privacy, transparency, and global access compared to centralized platforms. The listed DEXs are: 1. **Shadow Exchange**: A Sonic-native DEX specializing in concentrated liquidity for efficient trading and reduced slippage. 2. **Uniswap**: A leading protocol using an Automated Market Maker (AMM) model across multiple blockchains. 3. **SushiSwap**: An evolved platform offering token swaps, yield farming, and governance via its SUSHI token across 40+ networks. 4. **Orca**: A user-friendly AMM on Solana featuring capital-efficient "Whirlpools" for concentrated liquidity. 5. **Meteora**: A Solana-based DEX focusing on dynamic liquidity infrastructure and vaults for advanced strategies. 6. **Raydium**: A hybrid exchange on Solana combining AMM pools with a central limit order book for deep liquidity. 7. **Hyperliquid**: A Layer 1 blockchain hosting a non-custodial perpetual futures exchange using an on-chain order book. 8. **PancakeSwap**: A multi-chain AMM hub originating on BNB Chain, now supporting thousands of trading pairs across several networks. The article concludes by noting the significant role of DEXs in crypto, their expansion beyond simple swaps into areas like derivatives and cross-chain interoperability, and advises users to conduct their own research before engaging with any platform.

ambcrypto46m ago

Top 8 DEXs of July 2026

ambcrypto46m ago

USDT Market Cap Approaches Ethereum's: What Signal Does This Convey?

The market capitalization of USDT has nearly reached that of Ethereum, making it the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. This prompts an examination of what this signifies and what it does not. Firstly, this does not relate to economic security. Unlike some Web3 systems where a governance token's value must underpin the security of its applications (e.g., oracles), USDT's stability is not backed by the value of the underlying blockchains it operates on. Tether, the issuer, controls the assets, and can freeze, reissue, or abandon tokens on a compromised chain. While stablecoins require functional blockchains, a chain's native token market cap does not provide direct security for the stablecoin. Secondly, USDT's growth does not inherently reflect poorly on Ethereum. USDT is a dollar-pegged store of value, while ETH represents a claim on future Ethereum network revenue. Their valuations are driven by different factors. USDT's rising market cap simply indicates strong demand for stablecoin utility, independent of Ethereum's technological merits or competitive position. The core insight is the overwhelming market demand for permissionless dollar transfers. This is the most established and essential use case in crypto. It requires minimal technological sophistication—essentially just a trusted issuer's promise of redemption on a functional chain. This explains why stablecoin supply has grown exponentially while the combined market cap of major non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others has stagnated for years. Users primarily seek accessible dollar-denominated assets. They largely disregard the issuer's credibility (as seen with Tether's dominance over more credible alternatives like USDC or BlackRock's BUIDL) and are indifferent to the governance or decentralization of the underlying blockchain. As long as a stablecoin is widely accepted and easy to transfer, users will adopt it across any chain. The trend suggests that the market for permissionless stablecoins could continue to expand far beyond the total value of the smart contract platforms that host them, driven by this singular, powerful use case.

Foresight News1h ago

USDT Market Cap Approaches Ethereum's: What Signal Does This Convey?

Foresight News1h ago

Senator Elizabeth Warren slams CLARITY Act as a ‘ticket to sanctions evasion’

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren strongly opposes the CLARITY Act, a broad crypto market bill, calling it a "ticket to sanctions evasion." She echoes concerns from former U.S. National Security Council official Richard Nephew, who warns the bill's exemptions for decentralized finance (DeFi) and weaker anti-money laundering rules could enable terrorists, sanctions evaders, and other illicit actors. The banking lobby also opposes the bill, citing illicit finance risks. White House Crypto Advisor Patrick Witt dismissed Warren's concerns, referencing a political setback in Maine. The bill faces a challenging path in the Senate, needing 60 votes to pass. While some Democrats support provisions protecting software developers, others vow to withhold support unless ethics concerns are addressed. With a shrinking legislative calendar, the bill's odds of passage have dropped to 45%. The crypto industry fears failure to pass it before the August recess could delay major regulatory clarity until the 2030s.

ambcrypto1h ago

Senator Elizabeth Warren slams CLARITY Act as a ‘ticket to sanctions evasion’

ambcrypto1h ago

Trading

Spot

Hot Articles

What is $BITCOIN

DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction to DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a blockchain-based project operating on the Solana network, which aims to combine the characteristics of traditional precious metals with the innovation of decentralized technologies. While it shares a name with Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold” due to its perception as a store of value, DIGITAL GOLD is a separate token designed to create a unique ecosystem within the Web3 landscape. Its goal is to position itself as a viable alternative digital asset, although specifics regarding its applications and functionalities are still developing. What is DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a cryptocurrency token explicitly designed for use on the Solana blockchain. In contrast to Bitcoin, which provides a widely recognized value storage role, this token appears to focus on broader applications and characteristics. Notable aspects include: Blockchain Infrastructure: The token is built on the Solana blockchain, known for its capacity to handle high-speed and low-cost transactions. Supply Dynamics: DIGITAL GOLD has a maximum supply capped at 100 quadrillion tokens (100P $BITCOIN), although details regarding its circulating supply are currently undisclosed. Utility: While precise functionalities are not explicitly outlined, there are indications that the token could be utilized for various applications, potentially involving decentralized applications (dApps) or asset tokenization strategies. Who is the Creator of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? At present, the identity of the creators and development team behind DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) remains unknown. This situation is typical among many innovative projects within the blockchain space, particularly those aligning with decentralized finance and meme coin phenomena. While such anonymity may foster a community-driven culture, it intensifies concerns about governance and accountability. Who are the Investors of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? The available information indicates that DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) does not have any known institutional backers or prominent venture capital investments. The project seems to operate on a peer-to-peer model focused on community support and adoption rather than traditional funding routes. Its activity and liquidity are primarily situated on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), such as PumpSwap, rather than established centralized trading platforms, further highlighting its grassroots approach. How DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) Works The operational mechanics of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) can be elaborated on based on its blockchain design and network attributes: Consensus Mechanism: By leveraging Solana’s unique proof-of-history (PoH) combined with a proof-of-stake (PoS) model, the project ensures efficient transaction validation contributing to the network's high performance. Tokenomics: While specific deflationary mechanisms have not been extensively detailed, the vast maximum token supply implies that it may cater to microtransactions or niche use cases that are still to be defined. Interoperability: There exists the potential for integration with Solana’s broader ecosystem, including various decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. However, the details regarding specific integrations remain unspecified. Timeline of Key Events Here is a timeline that highlights significant milestones concerning DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): 2023: The initial deployment of the token occurs on the Solana blockchain, marked by its contract address. 2024: DIGITAL GOLD gains visibility as it becomes available for trading on decentralized exchanges like PumpSwap, allowing users to trade it against SOL. 2025: The project witnesses sporadic trading activity and potential interest in community-led engagements, although no noteworthy partnerships or technical advancements have been documented as of yet. Critical Analysis Strengths Scalability: The underlying Solana infrastructure supports high transaction volumes, which could enhance the utility of $BITCOIN in various transaction scenarios. Accessibility: The potential low trading price per token could attract retail investors, facilitating wider participation due to fractional ownership opportunities. Risks Lack of Transparency: The absence of publicly known backers, developers, or an audit process may yield skepticism regarding the project's sustainability and trustworthiness. Market Volatility: The trading activity is heavily reliant on speculative behavior, which can result in significant price volatility and uncertainty for investors. Conclusion DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) emerges as an intriguing yet ambiguous project within the rapidly evolving Solana ecosystem. While it attempts to leverage the “digital gold” narrative, its departure from Bitcoin's established role as a store of value underscores the need for a clearer differentiation of its intended utility and governance structure. Future acceptance and adoption will likely depend on addressing the current opacity and defining its operational and economic strategies more explicitly. Note: This report encompasses synthesised information available as of October 2023, and developments may have transpired beyond the research period.

702 Total ViewsPublished 2025.05.13Updated 2025.05.13

What is $BITCOIN

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of BTC (BTC) are presented below.

活动图片

Top Questions

Hot Categoriesright-arrow

Hot Tagsright-arrow