Grayscale, the largest bitcoin investment vehicle in the world, is suing the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after its application to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a “spot” exchange-traded fund (ETF) was denied. GBTC holds an estimated 3% of bitcoin’s total supply and generates millions of dollars in management fees for Grayscale annually. Michael Sonnenshein, Grayscale’s CEO, revealed in a recent interview with Peter McCormack on “What Bitcoin Did” that the decision to sue the SEC was not taken lightly, and that Grayscale had been in regular and open communication with the regulator.
Sonnenshein added that the stakes of the lawsuit are “almost existential” for Grayscale and could significantly impact bitcoin. However, some experts argue that the SEC’s concerns about manipulation and fraud are unfounded, as similar products are available abroad. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the SEC’s rejection of every spot bitcoin ETF application on its table is inconsistent with its mandate to protect investors.
Despite the high stakes, Bloomberg Intelligence analysts estimate that Grayscale has a 40% chance of winning the lawsuit. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency industry.
