The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently announced a delay in its approval decisions for several cryptocurrency spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including applications involving XRP, Solana, Litecoin, and Dogecoin. This decision has quickly sparked widespread attention and intense discussion in the cryptocurrency market. As a key global financial regulatory body, the SEC's move is generally interpreted as a reflection of its cautious stance amid the current backdrop of increased market volatility, while also highlighting its deep considerations regarding market stability and compliance issues. This article will delve into the background, impact, and future outlook of this event based on the latest information from across the web, combined with authoritative data and analysis.
Background and Details of SEC's Approval Delay
According to the latest SEC documents and reports from multiple media outlets, the delayed cryptocurrency spot ETFs include, but are not limited to: Grayscale's applications for Cardano (ADA) and Dogecoin ETFs, Canary's applications for XRP, Solana, and Litecoin ETFs, as well as VanEck's Solana ETF. Additionally, the SEC has also postponed the approval of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) related ETFs, including applications involving physical creation and redemption mechanisms, as well as proposals for staking functions in Ethereum ETFs. This comprehensive delay was officially announced on March 11, 2025, coinciding with significant fluctuations in the crypto market.
Bloomberg's senior ETF analyst James Seyffart pointed out in an interview that the SEC's delay was not unexpected, but rather a "standard procedure" in handling cryptocurrency ETF applications. He stated on social media platform X: "Yes, the SEC just delayed a series of altcoin ETF applications, including Litecoin, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin. This was anticipated; the new SEC chair has not yet confirmed, and this situation will not change our high expectations for their eventual approval." Seyffart further mentioned that the Bitcoin ETF approval process had also experienced similar delays, ultimately leading to approval in early 2024, providing a reference for the current situation.
Meanwhile, Cointelegraph reported that the deadline for the SEC's decision has been extended to October 2025, giving the regulatory body more time to assess market conditions and compliance requirements. Benzinga cited industry insiders analyzing that the SEC's move may be closely related to the current sluggish performance of the crypto market. Since December 2024, the price of Ethereum (ETH) has dropped over 53%, falling below $1900, while Bitcoin has retreated from a January high of $108,000 to around $79,000, with the total market capitalization shrinking by about 8% to $2.7 trillion.
Dual Considerations of Market Stability and Compliance
Analysts generally believe that the core reason for the SEC's delay in approval is concern over market stability and compliance. The current cryptocurrency market is facing multiple pressures: increasing global macroeconomic uncertainty, trade war concerns triggered by new U.S. tariff policies, and ongoing selling pressure on domestic crypto ETFs. According to data provided by Bitfinex analysts, since the fourth quarter of 2024, the net outflow of U.S. Ethereum ETFs has reached a historical high, while trading activity in Bitcoin ETFs has also declined. In this context, the SEC is clearly reluctant to introduce more variables while the market has not yet stabilized.
Compliance is another key factor. Since 2021, the SEC has continuously strengthened its regulatory efforts in the cryptocurrency industry, especially as legal disputes regarding assets like XRP have not fully dissipated. Although Ripple Labs achieved partial victories in its 2023 lawsuit against the SEC, with the court ruling that XRP does not constitute a security in secondary market trading, the compliance of its partnerships with financial institutions still needs further clarification. Solana, Litecoin, and Dogecoin face similar issues: the degree of decentralization of these assets, risks of market manipulation, and their ability to interface with traditional financial systems are all focal points for the SEC's evaluation.
Decrypt quoted a senior White House official stating that the "strategic Bitcoin reserve" plan recently promoted by the Trump administration, while boosting market sentiment, has also increased regulatory complexity. This plan explicitly categorizes Bitcoin as a "special asset," while the stance on other cryptocurrencies like XRP and Solana remains unclear. This policy inclination may prompt the SEC to be more cautious in approving non-Bitcoin ETFs to avoid conflicts with national strategy.
Market Reaction and Short-Term Impact
Following the SEC's announcement of the delay, the cryptocurrency market quickly reacted. On March 11, the price of XRP fell by about 10%, Dogecoin dropped over 12%, and Solana and Litecoin also experienced varying degrees of decline. Bitcoin's price hovered around $79,000, showing relative stability. AiCoin data indicated that the total market capitalization of the global crypto market shrank by about 5% in the past 24 hours, reflecting investors' concerns over regulatory uncertainty.
However, market sentiment is not entirely pessimistic. Analysts like Seyffart emphasize that a delay does not equate to a rejection. For instance, in the case of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, the SEC had multiple delays from 2021 to 2023, yet ultimately approved the related products. Cointelegraph cited industry insiders predicting that as the market environment improves in the second half of 2025, such as potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve or clear pro-crypto policies from the Trump administration, the probability of related ETF approvals will significantly increase.
Notably, some investors have begun to adjust their strategies. Benzinga reported that U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene recently increased her holdings in Bitcoin ETF shares, demonstrating confidence in long-term trends. Meanwhile, discussions on platform X reflect a divided sentiment: user @yaoqianshu_eth believes it is "bearish in the short term, bullish in the long term," while @wublockchain12 pointed out that this is a "replay of Bitcoin ETF approval."
Long-Term Potential and Future Outlook
Although the market may face pressure from uncertainty in the short term, from a long-term perspective, the launch of cryptocurrency spot ETFs still holds significant potential. Forbes previously reported that the "Digital Asset Strategic Reserve" executive order signed by the Trump administration in January 2025 has included Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and others in the national reserve plan, which greatly boosts industry confidence. Crypto.news predicts that if XRP and Solana ETFs are approved, their rapid cross-border payment and smart contract functionalities may attract substantial institutional capital inflow.
Additionally, the appointment of the new SEC chair will be a key variable. Current chair Gary Gensler has been controversial due to his tough regulatory stance, while the Trump administration has promised to appoint a more crypto-friendly successor in 2025. Bloomberg reported that if the new chair promotes regulatory easing after taking office, the ETF approval process may accelerate, and the market could welcome a new round of growth.
From the data perspective, the Solana network collected $750 million in fees in 2024, second only to Bitcoin and Ethereum, demonstrating its strong practical application potential; XRP has surged 426% since Trump's re-election, reflecting optimistic market sentiment regarding its ETF expectations. These factors provide positive grounds for the SEC's future decisions.
In summary, while the SEC's delay in approving cryptocurrency spot ETFs has intensified market pressure in the short term, it reflects the regulatory body's thoughtful consideration of stability and compliance. Against the backdrop of the rapid development of the global cryptocurrency industry, this decision may become an important step in the process of industry normalization. In the coming months, with the new chair's appointment and improvements in the market environment, the fate of cryptocurrency ETFs may see a turning point, and investors should remain patient and vigilant to seize potential opportunities.
AiCoin official website: www.aicoin.com
Telegram: t.me/aicoincn
Twitter: x.com/AiCoinzh
Email: support@aicoin.com
Group chat: Customer Service Yingying, Customer Service KK
免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。
