The filing by the exchange came as multiple Ethereum futures-based ETFs started trading for the first time after the SEC rushed through approvals ahead of a feared government shutdown. The shutdown was averted in the final hours before the federal budget ran out over the weekend.
“At Grayscale, our unwavering commitment is to offer investors transparent and regulated access to crypto through product structures that are familiar,” Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein said in the press release. “As we file to convert ETHE to an ETF, the natural next step in the product’s evolution, we recognize this as an important moment to bring Ethereum even further into the U.S. regulatory perimeter.”
Ethereum futures funds give investors the opportunity to gain access to the digital asset without directly holding any ether.
Ethereum futures ETFs that started trading on Monday included VanEck Ethereum Strategy ETF (EFUT), Bitwise’s Ethereum Strategy ETF (AETH) and Bitcoin and Ether Equal Weight Strategy ETF (BTOP), ProShares’ Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight Strategy ETF (BETH), Bitcoin & Ether Equal Weight Strategy ETF (BETE0 and Ether Strategy ETF (EETH).
Other ETFs are waiting for potential startss Tuesday or later, including Valkyrie, which revealed in a filing on Friday that it wouldn’t purchase additional ether futures for its Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy until the SEC approves the inclusion. The filing came a day after Fox Business declared Valkyrie the winner of the Ethereum futures race.
