SEC Forces Spot ETF Issuers to Withdraw 19b-4 Filings - Regulatory Roadblock Revealed

Wall Street's crypto dreams hit another regulatory wall as the SEC flexes its enforcement muscles.

The Paperwork Purge

Multiple spot ETF applicants received the dreaded withdrawal request—regulators demanding they pull their 19b-4 filings from consideration. Another classic case of 'hurry up and wait' from the financial watchdogs.

Behind the Regulatory Curtain

Sources indicate the SEC remains unconvinced about market surveillance and custody solutions—the same tired arguments that have kept mainstream investors waiting since 2013. Meanwhile, traditional finance keeps collecting fees on outdated products that would make a DeFi protocol blush.

The Institutional Limbo Continues

Another delay, another quarter of missed opportunities for retirement funds and pension managers seeking crypto exposure. But hey—at least your broker's actively managed mutual fund is only charging 2% annually for underperformance.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has requested that spot crypto ETFs withdraw their 19b-4 filings. The U.S. SEC is ostensibly anticipating the fund managers seeking to offer spot Litecoin (LTC), XRP, Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Dogecoin (DOGE) to withdraw their respective 19b-4 filings.

Why Has the U.S. SEC Requested Fund Managers to Withdraw Their 19b-4 Filings?

The U.S. SEC has requested that fund managers seeking to offer spot crypto ETFs withdraw their 19b-4 filings following its approval of the generic listing standards for commodity-based ETPs on September 17, 2025. 

With the generic listing standards in place for crypto assets, the need for 19b-4 filings becomes void. As such, exchanges can list the crypto ETFs that meet the generic listing criteria to enhance uniformity..

Is It Good For Crypto?

Yes. The shift from 19b-4 filing to relying on generic listing standards will simplify and hasten the process of listing spot crypto ETFs. As Coinpedia reported earlier today, the final deadline for 16 spot crypto ETFs is by mid-October.

With the ongoing shift to generic listing standards, the listing of more than a dozen spot crypto ETFs is likely to happen in the subsequent days after the fund managers withdraw their FORM 19b-4.

Bigger Picture

The imminent approval of spot altcoin ETFs in the United States will be a major milestone for the mainstream adoption of digital assets by institutional investors. As such, the macro outlook for crypto will remain bullish catalyzed by strong demand from institutional investors.

However, the crypto market may experience a mid-term pullback after the approval of spot altcoin ETFs next month. Furthermore, the ETF approval hype has induced some bullish hype and may deflate after the approval due to the sell-the-news scenario.