October Dubbed ‘ETF Month’ as SEC Faces Final Decisions on 16 Crypto Funds
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to make a wave of final rulings on 16 spot crypto exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications throughout October, prompting growing anticipation across the digital asset industry.
The pending ETFs span a wide range of popular cryptocurrencies, including Solana (SOL), XRP, Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), and Hedera (HBAR). Each has a different final deadline scattered across the month, starting with Canary’s Litecoin ETF on October 2 and ending with WisdomTree’s XRP fund on October 24, according to data compiled by Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart.
While final decision dates are published, the SEC could approve—or deny—applications at any time before the deadlines.
”Enormous Next Few Weeks” for Spot Crypto ETFs
Nate Geraci, president of NovaDius Wealth Management and a well-known ETF analyst, described the coming weeks as potentially historic.
“It’s going to be an enormous next few weeks for spot crypto ETFs,” Geraci wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“It starts with the Canary Litecoin ETF deadline, followed by decisions on SOL, DOGE, XRP, ADA, and HBAR ETFs—though the SEC can act on any of these at any point.”
Analysts at crypto exchange Bitfinex suggested back in August that ETF approvals could trigger renewed interest in altcoins, potentially sparking a broader market rally. The idea is that regulated ETFs offer safer, simpler exposure to digital assets for traditional investors.
Notable Absences: BlackRock and Fidelity
Crypto trader Daan Crypto Trades referred to October as “ETF month” but pointed out that two of the largest players in the space—Fidelity and BlackRock—are not part of this current round of decisions.
“None of the ETFs facing deadlines in October were filed by Fidelity or BlackRock, which are the two major players in the crypto ETF space,” he noted. “Still, it’s something to watch closely in the coming weeks.”
Regulatory Momentum Could Speed Future Approvals
The SEC has postponed decisions on several ETF applications throughout 2025. However, the regulatory landscape may be shifting in favor of faster approvals.
On September 17, the SEC approved a new listing standard for commodity-based trust shares, a move analysts say could streamline the approval process for future spot crypto ETFs.
Seyffart called the policy change “a step toward a wave of spot crypto ETP launches.” Fellow Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas echoed the sentiment, noting that 22 cryptocurrencies with futures on Coinbase could now be candidates for ETF approval under the updated standards.
In response, asset manager Hashdex has already expanded its crypto ETF product lineup to include XRP, Solana, and Stellar, signaling a new phase of product development in the digital asset investment space.
Bottom Line
With final decisions looming and regulatory changes underway, October could mark a turning point for crypto ETFsin the U.S. If approvals go through, it may unlock new demand, institutional interest, and broader market participation in altcoins.
Featured image from: bitget.com