A fiery new proposal has landed on the SEC's desk filed jointly by CBOE, Nasdaq and NYSE Arca that aims to streamline U.S. crypto ETF listings. The new system would let funds tied to eligible altcoins be listed automatically if they've traded futures on recognized exchanges for at least six months bypassing the current 240‑day review under Form 19b‑4 .

If adopted, this could cut review times to around 75 days, unlocking fast access for investors to altcoin ETFs by Q4 2025.

What Makes an Altcoin Eligible?

Under the proposed framework:

Only cryptos with a derivatives market futures trading for 6+ months on CME or Coinbase qualify.

No extra hurdles: no minimum market cap, liquidity threshold, or float requirement are needed.

This shifts the weight of eligibility to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) through established futures markets.

The 12 Candidates: Which Altcoins Are Likely In?

Eric Balchunas of Bloomberg has identified a dozen altcoins that meet criteria including historical futures activity and are on SEC’s potential shortlist:

Litecoin (LTC)

Dogecoin (DOGE)

Solana (SOL)

XRP (Ripple)

Avalanche (AVAX)

Chainlink (LINK)

Stellar (XLM)

Polkadot (DOT)

Shiba Inu (SHIB)

Hedera (HBAR)

and others, likely among the 12 referenced in the explosive file.

Many of these already appear among the 31+ spot altcoin ETF applications submitted in H1 2025, led by asset managers like VanEck, Bitwise, WisdomTree, Franklin Templeton, and Canary Capital.

Timeline & Next Steps

Public comment period expected in early August 2025

Final SEC approval potentially by mid‑September

First altcoin ETFs especially SOL, XRP, LTC, DOGE could launch in Q4 2025

Odds & Analyst Sentiment

LTC: ~90–95% chance of approval

SOL: ~85%+

DOGE: ~75%

XRP: ~65–81% (depending on source)

Markets are buzzing over the possibility of an altcoin summer, especially as crypto‑friendly SEC leadership under Chair Paul Atkins replaces prior enforcement-heavy policy under Gensler.

Why It Matters

Spot altcoin ETFs could bring billions in inflows, broadening crypto access via brokerage accounts—especially for mainstream investors who shy away from digital wallets and exchanges.

This would significantly raise liquidity, legitimacy, and investor demand for mid-cap tokens like LTC, SOL, DOGE, XRP, and others

The developments mark a clear shift in U.S. crypto policy, moving from regulatory friction to institutional integration.

Quick Summary

Key Factor Details

Proposal filed by CBOE, Nasdaq, and NYSE Arca.

Eligibility rule 6+ months futures trading history

Potential altcoins LTC, SOL, XRP, DOGE, AVAX, LINK, XLM, DOT, SHIB, HBAR

Review timeline 75 days instead of 240

Earliest approval window Q4 2025

Analyst approval odds LTC 90 %, SOL 85 %, DOGE 75 %, XRP 65–81 %

Final Thoughts

This explosive file could mark a turning point not just for Bitcoin and Ether but for mainstream adoption of altcoins. If the new rules are approved, we’re likely looking at the first-ever U.S. spot altcoin ETFs by late 2025, unlocking fresh institutional capital and broader investor accessibility.