The trading world was abuzz as Ethereum experienced a sharp 9% increase in its price within just 20 minutes on Monday afternoon, a movement fueled by growing optimism over the potential approval of spot Ethereum exchange traded funds (ETFs) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Ethereum’s price leaped from $3,143 to $3,428, as per CoinGecko data, with its 24-hour increase reaching 11% to stand at $3,410. This sudden spike in price appears to be linked directly to speculative comments from prominent Bloomberg analysts, Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart. The analysts recently adjusted their expectations for the SEC’s approval of Ethereum ETFs from a mere 25% to an optimistic 75%.
The change in sentiment is attributed to emerging rumors that the SEC might be reconsidering its stance on this matter, which Balchunas describes as “increasingly political.” His tweet revealed a flurry of activity as stakeholders scrambled to respond to the unexpected shift in the regulatory outlook.
This potential pivot by the SEC is particularly significant given the stringent stance it has maintained on cryptocurrency ETFs. Approval of an Ethereum ETF would mark a major milestone, signaling a broader acceptance of digital assets within the regulatory framework and potentially unleashing a new wave of institutional investment into Ethereum.
The surge in Ethereum’s price amid speculative approval of ETFs highlights the volatile nature of cryptocurrency markets, where regulatory news can lead to rapid price movements. If the SEC does green-light Ethereum ETFs, it could catalyze further gains and solidify Ethereum’s position in investment portfolios, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the evolving world of digital assets.