SEC Listing Rules to Boost Crypto ETFs, But Bitwise CIO Warns Inflows Aren’t Guaranteed

Matt Hougan, the Chief Investment Officer of Bitwise, opined in a memo to his clients that the finalization of generic listing standards for crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will not guarantee significant investor inflows, contrary to the popular expectation of another market breakout.

Titled as ‘Get Ready for Crypto’s ETPalooza’, the latest memo highlighted that the current approval process for spot crypto ETPs is lengthy, giving an impression of uncertainty among investors. “The first spot bitcoin ETP filing occurred in 2013, but the SEC didn’t approve any until 2024. Filing has always been a costly and risky endeavor,” Matt stated.  

In the previous memo, Matt Hougan predicted a potential “Solana Season” driven by the approval of Solana ETFs and significant corporate purchases, and the asset has rallied 7.72% since then. As a trustworthy key opinion leader, Matt’s remarks are valued by the crypto market commentators, and his peek into what’s happening at the SEC regarding crypto ETP approvals is appreciated by investors.

Generic Listing Standards Boost the ETF Issuance Pace, But it Alone Do Not Guarantee Price Surges

According to verified sources, the SEC’s implementation of universal listing standards for crypto exchange-traded products will be adopted as early as October 2025, allowing eligible products to bypass the lengthy approval process. SEC intends to collaborate with stock market veterans such as Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, and Cboe BZX to implement it.

While Matt Hougan predicts this change could trigger the ETPalooza that boosts institutional investment and market liquidity, he warns that it alone does not guarantee price surges. According to him, fundamental interest in Bitcoin is crucial, along with the stablecoin demand and corporate treasury accumulation.

Generic Listing Standards Could Shorten Approval Time for Altcoin ETFs

Various altcoin ETFs, including Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and Chainlink, are awaiting the SEC to finalize the decision, and various filings have been delayed for more than a year. At present SEC is reviewing more than 90 ETF applications, with Solana and XRP leading. Prominent crypto ETFs, with deadline dates, are listed below.

• VanEck’s Solana Trust ETF – October 10, 2025
• Grayscale’s Cardano Trust ETF – October 26, 2025
• Grayscale’s XRP ETF – October 18, 2025
• Bitwise Dogecoin (DOGE) ETF – Q4 2025

Cryptocurrency Market, Current Scenario – September 17, 2025

Crypto market cap is 0.5% up today, with Bitcoin surging 0.8% at a price of $116K and BNB attaining a new all-time high of $962.29. More details are provided below.

• Fear & Greed Index – Neutral (50)
• MACD – Bullish
• RSI-7 – 76 (Overbought)
• Bitcoin Dominance – 57.6%
• Ether Dominance – 13.4%
• Crypto ETFs Net Flow – + 230.6 million
• Altcoin Season – 71/100