ARK Invest Out of ETH ETF Race, Ends Partnership with 21Shares

• ARK Invest is no longer a partner with 21Shares for their proposed ETH ETF. 
• An ARK spokesperson confirmed the change. 
• Ark’s sudden exit could imply the road to ETH ETF approval is long and not worth the energy. 

In a dramatic twist, Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest has unexpectedly pulled out of the Ethereum ETF race. It is ending its partnership with 21Shares and casting doubts on the prospects of approval just as issuers fine-tune their strategies for the final leg of the race.

Ark Invest No Longer Involved in ETH ETF

In a newly amended registration statement , Ark 21Shares Ethereum ETF has rebranded itself to the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF, marking Ark Invest’s exit. 

The spokesperson clarified that 21Shares and ARK will continue collaborating on other projects, including their Bitcoin ETF , launched earlier this year, and the Blockchain and Digital Economy Innovation ETF.

Ark Invest’s decision could prompt issuers to reevaluate their strategies as they move forward with their S-1 filings, 

Could ARK’s Exit Be a Cause for Concern?

On May 23, the SEC surprised the crypto industry by suddenly approving ETH ETFs , breathing life back into the market just as everyone braced for disappointment. Since then, it’s been a wild race among issuers to file their S-1 forms, the final stretch before they hit the trading floor. 

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But here’s a twist: many of these updated S-1 forms are incomplete, with major issuers like BlackRock, VanEck, and even 21Shares holding back on key details like fees . The incomplete forms could be a strategic move to provoke guiding comments from the SEC or to gauge what other issuers are planning for their fees to secure a competitive edge.

Or it could be that Issuers are cautiously tiptoeing through their filings, anticipating a potential rejection. While B loomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas is hopeful , eyeing a possible late June trading kickoff, he’s quick to caution that the SEC could throw issuers for another loop of fine-tuning, suggesting that July 4 is the date to watch.

Over the past week, issuers’ hesitancy and reluctance have echoed in Ethereum’s price action . After surging from $2900 to $3900, ETH has been stuck in a holding pattern below $3800, implying market indecision and a lingering fog of uncertainty. 

Ark’s sudden exit from the fray could signal that the road to an Ethereum ETF approval is a winding one, not worth the energy expended. However, until the SEC delivers concrete comments or outright rejections, it’s anyone’s guess how this saga will unfold, especially after the commission’s surprise in May.

On the Flipside

• Ark Invest CEO and Founder Cathie Wood claims the SEC’s unexpected approval of ETH ETF proposals is likely because of electoral pressure. 
• James Seyffart estimates that, if approved, Ethereum ETFs could capture 20-25% of the investment compared to Bitcoin ETFs. 
• Ark Invest’s decision to remove staking from its proposal set off a chain reaction, prompting other issuers to follow suit. This ripple effect ultimately paved the way for the SEC’s approval.

Why This Matters

Ark Invest’s exit from the ETH ETF race is concerning and paints a worrying picture of the journey to potential approval. 
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