SEC Playbook Could Spark 100+ Crypto ETP Launches in 2026

The U.S. securities regulator’s new guidance could spark a rush of crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) next year, with more than 100 launches possible in 2026, a Bitwise researcher told the Bankless podcast. “From here we are going to accelerate forward at ridiculous speed,” Bitwise researcher Ryan Rasmussen said, predicting “over 100 crypto-linked ETPs” including spot crypto, index, equities, smart‑beta and momentum products. Rasmussen said the forecast rests on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s October release of generic listing standards, which removed the need for individual 19(b) approvals for qualifying crypto ETPs and effectively scrapped the long, 240‑day approval grind many issuers previously faced. “The guidance is essentially a playbook,” Rasmussen said. “It lets ETP issuers like Bitwise know that if an asset meets a certain criteria, then you can list an ETP.” That streamlined path, he argued, will broaden the menu of investment options and give investors many more ways to allocate to digital assets. Market watchers say more ETP listings—particularly those offering exposure beyond Bitcoin and Ether—would be bullish for altcoins. Bitfinex analysts warned in August that altcoins are unlikely to mount a broad, outsized rally until ETFs providing exposure to tokens beyond the largest coins are approved. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart similarly called the SEC’s policy change a positive step toward a “wave of spot crypto ETP launches” when he commented on the move on Sept. 17. Academics echo the potential impact beyond already established categories. Seoyoung Kim, associate professor of finance at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, told Cointelegraph that while Bitcoin and Ether products are already largely legitimized, the new rules could be transformative for other digital-asset ETFs. “For a futures or spot ETF for digital assets that haven’t already been individually vetted, these rule changes could cut down the time to approval from years to months,” she said, noting issuers must still meet existing standards for ETF formation, listing and trading. The change comes nearly 15 years after Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss filed for the first Bitcoin ETF, and Rasmussen noted that despite that history there are still just a “handful” of crypto ETPs aimed at many investors’ needs. According to Fineqia International, the total number of crypto ETPs has recently climbed above 300—but the SEC’s new generic standards could open the door to a much larger and more diverse ETP ecosystem. If regulators and exchanges follow this new playbook, crypto investors could soon see a rapid expansion of listed products—potentially reshaping market access, portfolio construction and demand dynamics across the token landscape. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news