Multiple analysts and market observers have already expressed their confidence in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) granting definitive permission for the trading of Ethereum ETFs by July 23. Nevertheless, Cboe's recent listing has validated the earlier hope.
Spot Ethereum ETF Trading on The Horizon
Nate Geraci, the President of the ETF Store, emphasized the significance of CBOE's recent listing, stating that it is nearly time to take action, as per Coingape.
The listings comprised Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offered by Fidelity Investments, Franklin Templeton, Invesco, 21Shares, and VanEck. The commencement of their trading operations was officially scheduled for July 23, indicating a high level of confidence that the desired approval for the spot Ethereum ETF applicants will be granted as expected.
These investment asset management firms have invested significant effort and resources to ensure compliance with the Commission's criteria.
BlackRock, Franklin, Bitwise, Invesco, Grayscale, and Fidelity have recently submitted revised S-1 forms for their Ethereum ETFs, aiming for a potential listing in the upcoming week. The central focus of their respective submissions was their management fee, as they were in the advanced stages of preparation for trade.
Sponsor Fee War For Spot Ethereum ETFs
BlackRock, the leading provider of Bitcoin ETFs, has set a maximum sponsor cost of 0.25% for its Ethereum ETF. This rate is 31% higher than the fee charged by Franklin Templeton, which is 0.19%. BlackRock also highlighted the possibility of exempting or reducing the cost for a specific duration. The cost is assessed daily and calculated on an annual basis, however it must be paid quarterly.
Bitwise has announced a charge of 0.20%, which includes an introductory reduction for the first $500 million in assets for six months. VanEck previously announced that it would fully remove the fees for the ETF until an undefined period in 2025 or until the assets reach $1.5 billion. 21Shares seeks a uniform sponsor fee of up to 0.21% of its Ethereum ETF.
Their management fees ranged from 0.19% to 0.25%. Grayscale caused hilarity in the crypto industry by announcing a fee of 2.5%, which is ten times greater than the fees charged by others. Geraci believes that Grayscale is making a significant error by duplicating its actions with GBTC. He condemned Grayscale for prioritizing immediate income gains over long-term strategic planning.
Conversely, Grayscale offset this expensive cost by only charging 0.15% for their Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF.