Hester Peirce, commissioner of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has said in an interview with CNBC that a Bitcoin-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) should have been approved five years ago.
According to her:
"I can't say whether or not the commission is ready to approve a Bitcoin exchange-traded product. I've been thinking we should approve one for the last five years."
The SEC in July accepted applications to launch spot Bitcoin funds from BlackRock, VanEck, Invesco, Fidelity Investments and WisdomTree, while Franklin Templeton filed another application later.
Peirce has admitted her views on digital assets differ significantly from the agency's own view.
The regulator delayed in late August making a decision on several applications until at least mid-October. In late September, the regulator postponed consideration of Bitcoin ETFs until January 2024.