In a surprising decision, the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) removed BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF from its website for a short time, causing concern in the cryptocurrency markets.
The ETF was on the DTCC's eligibility list and, with increasing excitement, carried Bitcoin to the highest level of 2023.
The listing led to speculation that BlackRock and other Bitcoin spot ETF candidates may soon receive approval. However, BlackRock's ETF application was suddenly delisted and only relisted hours later.
A person close to the SEC explained that the temporary delisting was intentional and was done to conduct additional research due to the huge attention the listing had received. The details of this investigation, its results, and whether the decision originated with the Securities and Exchange Commission, another agency, or was an internal preference of the clearinghouse remain unclear.
A DTCC spokesman declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the temporary delisting. They noted that “listing is not indicative of any pending regulatory or other approval processes with respect to a particular ETF fund.” “Appearing on the list is merely an indication that an intermediary bank has requested a DTCC code for an ETF fund and that the DTCC may process this transaction at an unspecified date in the future following SEC approval,” the spokesperson added.
However, as it turned out, BlackRock's ETF application had already been on the DTCC list since August.
*This is not investment advice.
