The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a delay in its decision on whether to approve options trading on the iShares Ethereum Trust.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the SEC stated that it needs additional time to review the proposed rule change submitted by Nasdaq ISE, LLC. The original deadline for a decision was September 26, 2024, but the SEC has extended this period to November 10, 2024.
The SEC also postponed its decision on the option application for the Bitwise Ethereum Spot ETF.
The delay in the SEC’s decision comes as a disappointment to investors and market participants who were anticipating the introduction of Ethereum options. These derivatives could provide new trading opportunities and potentially increase liquidity for the Ethereum market.
The SEC’s decision to extend the review period indicates that there are still important considerations to be addressed. It is unclear what specific factors are influencing the SEC’s deliberations, but the agency may be seeking to gather additional information or address concerns related to market risk or investor protection.
