Former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Jay Clayton has expressed his openness to a spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETF in a recent interview with CNBC Squawk Box. 

Clayton stated that he was previously skeptical about trading in the BTC market during his tenure as SEC Chair. However, he acknowledged that the emergence of reputable institutions in the crypto industry is a remarkable development not seen before. 

Ex-SEC Chair Bullish On Bitcoin Spot ETF Approval

He believes that a spot Bitcoin ETF would be more efficient for investors and that if institutions can prove that the spot product can be as effective as the futures market, it would be hard to resist approving a Bitcoin Spot ETF.

This is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the approval of a BTC ETF, given Clayton’s past role as the head of the SEC. The regulatory body has a long record of denying applications for Bitcoin ETFs, citing concerns about market manipulation and a lack of regulatory oversight.

Clayton also noted the significance of institutional players entering the crypto industry and lending their reputations to the space. This development has the potential to increase the legitimacy of the crypto industry and allay some of the SEC’s concerns about market manipulation.

The ongoing regulatory crackdown by the SEC on the crypto industry has created uncertainty around the approval of a Bitcoin ETF. However, Clayton’s comments suggest that there may be a path forward for a spot BTC ETF if certain conditions are met.

The approval of a BTC ETF has been a contentious issue for the SEC, with past applications receiving numerous denials due to concerns over market manipulation and lack of investor protection. 

However, with major financial players such as Fidelity, Ark Invest, and Blackrock applying for a spot Bitcoin ETF, the pressure on the SEC to approve such a product is mounting.

Overall, Clayton’s comments represent a significant development in the ongoing debate over the approval of a Bitcoin ETF. While there are still significant regulatory hurdles to overcome, his openness to a spot BTC ETF suggests that the industry may be moving closer to gaining approval for this much-anticipated investment vehicle.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView.com