After months of regulatory inertia, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued fresh guidance that could unlock long-delayed cryptocurrency ETFs, potentially revolutionizing digital asset investment in the U.S.
The SEC published a 12-page instruction, which gives detailed disclosure guidance of exchange-traded products (ETPs) referencing digital assets.
The crypto ETF guidance has been an eagerly awaited development, serving as an indication that the agency is moving furthest toward accepting a more extensive set of crypto-linked financial instruments, like those dealing with altcoins such as Solana (SOL), XRP, Dogecoin (Doge), and also politically charged memecoins.
SEC’s Crypto ETF Approach Gains Momentum
The recently issued crypto ETF guidance under an ever more Republican-leaning SEC leadership marks an important shift in the agency attitude toward crypto policy. The SEC would seem to have reached a more constructive stage with industry stakeholders following years of foot dragging on ETF approvals and aggressive enforcement.
Sui Chung, CEO of crypto index provider CF Benchmarks, welcomed the move. He noted:
“The SEC is moving forward on creating a framework for how they’d like to see all these crypto assets included in investment funds” to address the “explosion” in the number of ETFs now awaiting a regulatory verdict.”
This change comes as SEC is allegedly reducing its enforcement activities and building a special task force to concentrate on crypto regulation an internal reorganization that industry analysts believe could represent a new era in regulation that rests on much more thorough guidance about crypto ETFs.
Nasdaq, Cboe Collaborate On Crypto ETF Rules
According to insiders, SEC is currently working with large exchanges such as Nasdaq and Cboe to develop a universal system of listing crypto ETFs. This would be expected to remove the requirement that each ETF file an individual Form 19b-4 which is an antiquated requirement which based on precedent may take up to 240 days to have filed.
Depending on the proposed framework, the time of approval might reduce to a minimum of only 75 days, contributing to the rapidity of product initiation and reducing the institutional adoption barrier. Nate Geraci, President of ETF Store, emphasized the importance of this new approach. He said:
“The SEC is looking for a general rule it can apply to all listings, and currently is going back and forth on precise wording with the exchanges.”
Reuters confirms SEC is working on creating a full framework to streamline approval of spot crypto ETFs…
"The SEC is looking for a general rule it can apply to all listings, and currently is going back and forth on precise wording with the exchanges.” pic.twitter.com/2N8tbvAgny
— Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) July 7, 2025
New Crypto ETF Approvals May Include Altcoins
Although Spot ETF applications by SOL, XRP, Polkadot (DOT), DOGE, and Trump-themed tokens are still pending, the situation is changing in the market.
The prediction platform Polymarket currently gives a 70 percent likelihood that exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that could be linked to XRP, Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin, and Cardano (ADA) will get a green light in upcoming months.
A first-of-its-kind crypto index ETF, which encompasses not just Bitcoin and Ethereum, has already been approved by the SEC as another obvious indication of broadened regulatory ease and a more accommodating crypto ETF guidance.
REX-Osprey Introduces Alternative Crypto ETF Route
Meanwhile not all asset managers are waiting. Recently, REX Financial and Osprey Funds introduced the REX-Osprey Sol + Staking ETF (SSK.Z) through an offshore company.
This fund is interesting because it provides exposure to Solana and staking rewards without direct SEC consent, an innovative loop hole that helps illuminate the appetite that exists in the altcoin ETF space as well as regulatory grey areas that remain.
Such a workaround reflects the ambiguity and opportunity in the ever-changing crypto ETF guidance and even more so in relation to products based on newly emerging altcoins and staking-based products.
Conclusion
The future of a more diverse crypto ETF market is gradually taking shape as regulatory obstacles are starting to lower. As the SEC indicates the flexibility and innovation that comes out of asset managers, the real catalyst to the wider approval of altcoin ETFs may come in the near future with a potential groundbreaking new era in crypto investing arriving in 2025.
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Summary
The U.S. SEC has made a giant leap – announcing new guidance on crypto ETFs, which could give new life to long-pending crypto application approvals involving such projects as Solana, XRP, and Trump-themed memecoins. Another new regulation the agency is collaborating across Nasdaq and Cboe is the adoption of a universal listing framework to facilitate approvals. There is a growing optimism across the industry as offshore ETFs appear, and a wider regulatory change is indicating that the dawn of the altcoin ETF might be less far away than anticipated.
FAQs
1. What did the SEC announce on crypto ETFs?
New disclosure rules that may speed up approvals for altcoin-linked ETFs.
2. How will the new framework affect approvals?
It could cut approval times from 240 to 75 days.
3. Which altcoin ETFs might get approved soon?
XRP, LTC, DOGE, and ADA ETFs show a 70% approval chance.
4. What is the REX-Osprey Sol ETF?
An offshore ETF offering Solana and staking exposure without SEC approval.
Glossary Of Key Terms
Crypto ETF
A fund that lets investors trade crypto exposure on traditional stock exchanges.
SEC
The U.S. regulator overseeing securities and approving ETFs.
Trump Memecoins
Crypto coins themed around Donald Trump.
Form 19b-4
A required filing to list a new ETF, often causing delays.
Polymarket
A platform predicting real-world outcomes like ETF approvals.
Altcoins
Cryptos other than Bitcoin, like DOGE, ADA, LTC.
REX-Osprey Sol ETF
An offshore ETF offering Solana and staking exposure.
Staking
Locking crypto to earn rewards and support networks.