

Ethereum (ETH) experienced a significant bounce back, reaching $3,800, following the SEC's unexpected approval of spot ETH ETFs. This decision came shortly after a group of bipartisan US lawmakers urged the SEC Chair to green-light these ETFs, emphasizing the potential for regulated crypto access for investors. The approval could potentially lead to a substantial market rally for Ethereum, possibly outpacing Bitcoin's past gains post-ETF approval. Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing in Hong Kong about allowing ETH staking features to attract more investors.

Fidelity and Grayscale, in response to SEC guidelines, made significant modifications to their S-1 applications by removing any language related to staking. This adjustment was made based on expert opinions suggesting that the SEC might reject applications that included staking features. This strategic change reflects an alignment with the SEC’s regulatory expectations and aims to increase the likelihood of approval for their proposed Ethereum ETFs.

The SEC's decision to approve Ethereum ETFs had a positive impact on Ethereum's market price and trading volume4. Following the news of the approval, the price of Ethereum rose by 2% and was trading at $3,900, based on CryptoSlate data. The approval is expected to boost investor confidence and increase market liquidity, which could lead to a significant influx of capital into the crypto market. The decision also reflects the growing interest in crypto-asset financial products among traditional investment firms, which could further support the demand for Ethereum4.