By Vismaya V
Litecoin. Image: Shutterstock
The price of Litecoin
soared by double-digits in the past 24 hours to reach a four-week high
of $118, as optimism brews around the potential approval of a
Litecoin-based exchange-traded fund.
At time of publication, Litecoin is trading at around $117, up 15.1% on the day, per data from CoinGecko.
Litecoin's
surge followed Canary Capital’s amendment to its S-1 registration form
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 15, a
move analysts interpret as a major step toward regulatory engagement.
Such
amendments often indicate feedback has been received from regulators,
and the changes made can provide clues about the status of the review.
If the SEC gives Canary's ETF proposal the green light, Litecoin would join Bitcoin and Ethereum as the only cryptocurrencies with U.S.-approved spot ETFs.
The filing prompted commentary from Bloomberg ETF analysts Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart, with Balchunas pointing
to "chatter that the Litecoin S-1 had gotten comments back from SEC,”
arguing that it "bodes well" for predictions that Litecoin is likely to
be the next crypto approved for a spot ETF.
On
Wednesday, Balchunas cautioned that the SEC’s upcoming leadership
transition, with Paul Atkins set to replace Gary Gensler as the agency’s
chairman, introduces a “huge variable” in the regulatory outlook.
Seyffart noted
while the filing indicates "engagement" from the SEC, it will require a
19b-4 submission—a regulatory filing that formally starts the clock for
approval or denial—to advance the process.
Canary Capital’s amendments focused on its proposed agreements with
crypto custodians Coinbase and BitGo, addressing custodial arrangements
to meet SEC standards.
The
filing includes updates related to accounting, marketing, legal, and
tax provisions, ensuring its alignment with the SEC’s with regulatory
requirements.
Analysts believe these revisions could expedite the SEC’s review process.
Blockchain
analytics firm Santiment noted increased activity among large Litecoin
holders, with “whales” and “sharks” accumulating approximately 250,000
LTC worth $29 million since January 9.
Despite
the rally, Litecoin remains 72% below its all-time high of $410 reached
in May 2021, leaving room for growth if regulatory approval is secured.
Competition among altcoins to secure the next U.S. spot crypto ETF is heating up, with firms including Bitwise and VanEck already having filed 19b-4 forms for Solana ETFs—giving them a procedural edge.
Analysts at JPMorgan predict significant inflows to approved crypto ETFs, estimating that Solana and XRP ETFs could collectively attract $14 billion in their first year.
The market is closely watching the transition in SEC leadership as Paul Atkins assumes the chairmanship.
Known
for his crypto-friendly stance, the community expects Atkins would
create a more favorable environment for crypto ETF approvals.
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