📅 July 23, 2025 | Washington, D.C., USA
What seemed like a historic victory for crypto adoption on Wall Street has just received a cold shower: Bitwise Asset Management, one of the best-known digital asset managers in the US, is evaluating the SEC's pause on its crypto index fund, initially approved just a few weeks ago, The Block revealed.
The announcement confirms that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suddenly halted the full launch of the product, generating legal and market uncertainty just as retail and institutional investors were ready to inject millions.
What exactly happened?
In June, the SEC had given a preliminary green light to the Bitwise Crypto Index Fund, designed to offer diversified exposure to a basket of leading digital assets (BTC, ETH, and large-cap DeFi tokens) without requiring investors to directly hold custody of the crypto assets.
However, internal sources cited by The Block claim that the agency suspended the final authorization, citing:
🔹 Concerns about the liquidity structure of some tokens.
🔹 Fears of market manipulation linked to small-cap assets included in the index.
🔹 Lack of clear custody and disclosure guarantees for retail investors.
What will Bitwise do now?
According to statements from the Bitwise team:
“We are committed to working closely with the SEC to resolve any concerns and provide the necessary transparency for regulators and our customers.”
In other words: Bitwise isn't throwing in the towel yet, but the pause threatens to indefinitely delay the launch of a product that promised to democratize crypto investing for thousands of pension funds, financial advisors, and retail traders.
Why does it matter so much?
This index fund had become a symbol of the institutionalization of the crypto ecosystem:
It allowed traditional investors to gain exposure to crypto with the simplicity of an ETF. It added new liquidity to mid-market assets in the ecosystem. It competed directly with ETF futures and more restrictive products.
A prolonged pause cools Wall Street's appetite and sends a signal that, while the SEC is showing more flexibility with Bitcoin and Ethereum, middle-layer tokens and DeFi remain in its crosshairs.
Figures that make a difference
Bitwise expected to capture more than $500 million in net inflows during the first six months of operation. Now, those funds are on hold, and some are already exploring alternatives in BTC/ETH spot ETFs or staking funds.
Topic opinion:
This blow shows the fragility of the bridge between crypto and Wall Street. Every regulatory advance is accompanied by setbacks that test the patience of investors and the resilience of crypto companies.
Bitwise has the muscle to renegotiate, but the SEC continues to make it clear that any token other than BTC or ETH will be scrutinized down to the last byte.
💬 Do you think the SEC is blocking innovation or doing the right thing to protect investors?
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