Bitwise researchers say more than 100 crypto exchange products could be launched in rapid succession in 2026 following recent guidance from US securities regulators that would significantly reduce the processing time for new funds.
“We’re going to accelerate at an incredible rate from here,” Bitwise researcher Ryan Rasmussen said in an interview on the podcast Bankless on Tuesday.
“We believe over 100 crypto-linked ETPs will be launched next year. They will be spot cryptos, indexes, stocks, smart beta, momentum, all sorts of things,” Rasmussen added.
Rasmussen based his prediction on the general listing criteria released by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in October. This eliminates the need for separate 19(b) approval for eligible virtual currency ETPs.
More Crypto ETFs Could Lead to Start of Altcoin Season
“This is essentially a handbook that tells ETP issuers like Bitwise that they can list their ETPs if their assets meet certain criteria. There is no longer this 240-day waiting period that we all experienced,” he said.
Many market participants view the launch of additional crypto ETPs that track altcoins as a bullish sign for the market.
Analysts at Bitfinex said in August that altcoins are unlikely to see any outsized widespread gains until an ETF is approved that provides exposure beyond the largest cryptocurrencies.
Rasmussen said that nearly 15 years have passed since Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss filed their first Bitcoin ETF, but there are still “only a handful” of crypto ETPs currently on the market.
“This is important for investors because they now have a large menu to choose from and how they want to allocate it,” he said, likening the excitement of a restaurant to the size of the menu.
“Imagine an investor going to a restaurant and seeing like two things on the menu. They’re not going to be very excited and it’s not going to be a great experience. But they’re going to go and eat something like ETP’s Cheesecake Factory.”
According to Fineqia International, the number of crypto ETPs on the market has recently exceeded 300.
Cryptocurrency analysts agree that SEC’s new rules will have a bullish impact
Due to the guidance of common listing standards, more crypto ETPs may be launched in the near future.
On September 17, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seifert said this policy change would be a positive move toward a “wave of spot crypto ETP launches.”
Related: UK regulators discuss crypto rules for exchanges, lending and DeFi
Soyeon Kim, an associate professor of finance at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, recently told Cointelegraph that while it may not have a huge impact on already “legalized” categories like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), it could have significant benefits for other crypto products.
“For digital asset futures or spot ETFs that have not yet been independently reviewed, these rule changes could reduce the time for approval from years to months. Of course, those seeking to establish an ETF must follow existing standards for ETF formation, listing, and trading,” Kim said.
magazine: The big question: Can Bitcoin survive a 10-year blackout?
