Bitcoin Spot ETF Prediction from Former SEC Official: “Cannot be Approved Now, Approval Depends on US Elections”

The recent debate over the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs has taken an interesting turn as former SEC official John Reed Stark shared his views on the matter.

Stark, a respected name in the financial regulation space, believes that the current SEC may not approve a Bitcoin spot ETF application for compelling reasons cited by independent experts.

However, it also raises the possibility of a significant shift in cryptocurrency regulatory dynamics following the 2024 presidential election.

Stark begins by addressing the burning question many have: Will the current SEC approve any of the recent Bitcoin spot ETF applications? Stark voices his doubts on this issue and underlines that BetterMarkets, which is composed of independent and unbiased experts, presents compelling arguments against such endorsements.

Consistent with BetterMarkets' analysis, Stark notes that these comment letters highlight the reasons for the SEC's potential reluctance to greenlight Bitcoin spot ETFs.

Stark also discussed the potential consequences of a Republican victory in the 2024 presidential election. The expert argued that if a Republican candidate wins in the US elections, the US government's approach to cryptocurrencies could radically change.

According to Stark, a Republican-led SEC can:

  • Reducing Crypto Sanctions: A new SEC under Republican leadership could focus more on fraud cases while reducing enforcement efforts on pure record violations in the crypto space.
  • Increasing Crypto-Friendly Stance: Stark believes that a Republican-led SEC may be more open to approving Bitcoin spot ETFs and adopting other crypto-friendly regulatory measures.

*Not investment advice.