VanEck, BlackRock and others file amended registration statements for spot Ethereum ETFs as deadline closes in

Monday is the deadline for filing amended registration statements for spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds and some firms have begun turning those in.

VanEck filed its amended S-1 registration statement earlier on Monday, which included minimal changes, such as details around custody. Others are expected to be filed throughout the day as firms vying for a spot Ethereum ETF gear up to launch those products.

Bitwise was early out of the gate, posting its revised registration form on July 3. Both Bitwise and VanEck have said they will waive fees at the outset.

"First S-1 just rolled in today from VanEck.. they already had their fee so nothing to see here really, they just putting ball back in SEC's court. Expecting the rest today except for Bitwise who did theirs last week," said Eric Balchunas, senior Bloomberg ETF analyst, in a post on X.

21Shares , BlackRock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton and Grayscale also filed their amended registration statements later on Monday.

VanEck has said it would waive fees at the outset for its spot Ethereum ETF, while Franklin Templeton has set its fee at 0.19%. Some of the issuers have not yet set fees, including from asset management behemoth BlackRock. When asked on X why there were no fees listed, Balchunas said those weren't necessary yet.

"Because the SEC asked for the S-1s on July 8th but told issuers the fee wasn't nec yet," Balchunas posted on X later on Monday. "They will give guidance back to issuers soon along with the game plan. Then the docs come will come back with fees (and every other blank) filled it and then it's Go time."

The SEC approved 19b-4 forms for eight spot Ethereum ETFs on May 23. However, issuers still need their S-1 statements to become effective before trading can begin, as part of a two-step process.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in an interview with Bloomberg at the end of June that the process of launching spot Ethereum ETFs is "going smoothly."

"It's really about the asset managers making the full disclosure so that those registration statements can go effective," Gensler said.

"It's something our Division of Corporation Finance handles hundreds if not thousands of times over anybody's career," Gensler added. "It's smoothly functioning — it's really up to the asset managers to make the proper disclosures."

Updated at 6:44 p.m. UTC on July 8 to include 21Shares' filing

Updated at 9:05 p.m. UTC on July 8 to include Grayscale's filing

Updated at 9:45 p.m. UTC on July 8 to include details about new filings