Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF Approvals in the US: What Changed and What It Means for Investors

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) didn’t just tweak rules in 2024 and 2025-it rewrote the playbook for how Wall Street interacts with crypto. For over a decade, Bitcoin and Ethereum were treated like digital wildcards: too risky, too unregulated, too chaotic for mainstream finance. Then, in January 2024, everything shifted. The first spot Bitcoin ETFs launched, and six months later, Ethereum followed. These weren’t just new financial products. They were signals: the SEC was finally acknowledging these assets as legitimate, investable holdings-not speculative tokens.

Why the SEC Changed Its Mind

The SEC had rejected more than 13 Bitcoin ETF applications since 2013. Each time, they cited concerns about market manipulation, lack of custody, and the risk of fraud. But in August 2023, a federal court ruled that the SEC had been inconsistent. They approved Bitcoin futures ETFs but kept rejecting spot ones, even though both tracked the same asset. That ruling forced the SEC’s hand. By January 10, 2024, they approved eight spot Bitcoin ETFs, including BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC. No more waiting. No more excuses.

The Ethereum approval came on July 23, 2024. It wasn’t just a copy-paste of Bitcoin’s path. Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus meant staking rewards were now part of the equation. Grayscale, Fidelity, and others had to decide: do we pass those rewards to investors? Most did. That made Ethereum ETFs more than price trackers-they became yield-generating tools.

The Big Shift: In-Kind Creation (July 2025)

The first Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs started with a major limitation: cash-only creation and redemption. If you wanted to create ETF shares, you had to buy Bitcoin or Ether on the open market, pay taxes on the gain, then hand over cash to the ETF provider. It was messy, expensive, and inefficient.

That changed on July 29, 2025. The SEC approved in-kind processing for crypto ETFs. Now, authorized participants can deliver actual Bitcoin or Ether directly to create ETF shares-and receive the same crypto back when redeeming. No need to sell. No taxable event. Just swap the asset.

The impact? Massive. By October 2025, BlackRock processed over $3 billion in Bitcoin conversions using in-kind mechanics. Whale holders, who previously avoided ETFs because selling meant paying capital gains, suddenly had a clean way to move large amounts into regulated vehicles. Bitwise and Galaxy Digital saw 47% and 63% quarter-over-quarter growth in client requests for in-kind conversions. This wasn’t just convenience-it was institutional adoption on steroids.

Bitcoin vs. Ethereum ETFs: Key Differences

People treat Bitcoin and Ethereum like twins. They’re not. Their ETFs reflect that.

Bitcoin ETFs are simple. All 11 approved funds track the price of Bitcoin. No staking. No rewards. Just buy, hold, and track the market. Their fees are low: average 0.25%. Fidelity’s FBTC charges 0.00%. BlackRock’s IBIT is 0.25%. Even Grayscale’s GBTC, which started as a trust with a 2% fee, dropped to 0.50% after converting to an ETF.

Ethereum ETFs are more complex. Because Ethereum generates staking rewards, ETF providers had to choose: do we stake the ETH we hold? If yes, do we pay out the rewards to shareholders? Only five of the 11 Ethereum ETFs (45.5%) opted in. Grayscale’s ETHE does-and it’s the biggest. As of September 2025, ETHE held 3.1 million ETH, with 4.2% staked. That generated $127 million in quarterly rewards, distributed to investors.

Fees for Ethereum ETFs are higher, averaging 0.35%. VanEck’s EETH charges just 0.15%. Grayscale’s ETHE still charges 1.50%. That’s a premium for brand recognition and the complexity of managing staking. Investors pay more for the yield, but they’re getting it.

Market Performance: Who’s Winning?

As of September 30, 2025, spot Bitcoin ETFs held $54.3 billion in assets under management. BlackRock’s IBIT led with $16.9 billion-over 30% of the entire market. Fidelity’s FBTC was second at $10.1 billion. Together, the top three ETFs controlled nearly half the market.

Ethereum ETFs totaled $18.7 billion. Grayscale’s ETHE was the clear leader at $5.1 billion (27.3% share). Fidelity’s FETH was second, with $3.4 billion. But here’s the twist: while Bitcoin ETFs saw $1.2 billion in net outflows during Q3 2025, Ethereum ETFs pulled in $478 million. Why? Investors saw Ethereum’s staking yield as a hedge against rising interest rates. Bitcoin’s price was flat. Ethereum’s yield made it more attractive.

Even more telling: Bitcoin ETFs traded at a 0.08% premium to their net asset value (NAV). Ethereum ETFs traded at 0.23%. That’s a sign of stronger demand. People were willing to pay more for Ethereum exposure.

What This Means for Regular Investors

You don’t need to be a whale to benefit. If you’ve held Bitcoin or Ethereum in a wallet, you can now move it into an ETF through your brokerage-Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood, or Coinbase. No more worrying about private keys. No more exchange hacks. No more tax headaches if you use in-kind transfers.

For small investors, the biggest win is access. You can now buy a share of a Bitcoin ETF for $50. You don’t need to buy a whole Bitcoin. You don’t need a crypto wallet. You don’t need to understand blockchain. You just need a brokerage account.

But watch the fees. Grayscale’s ETHE at 1.50% is a trap for long-term holders. VanEck’s EETH at 0.15% is far better. Compare management fees like you would with mutual funds. A 1% difference over 10 years can cost you tens of thousands.

Global Ripple Effects

The U.S. didn’t act alone. On October 16, 2025, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority lifted its four-year ban on crypto ETNs for retail investors. Now, British investors can hold physical Bitcoin and Ether in ISAs-tax-free retirement accounts. Hong Kong launched its first spot Solana ETF on October 23, 2025, charging 0.99% annual fees. Singapore and the EU are expected to follow by mid-2026.

This isn’t just a U.S. trend. It’s a global shift. Countries are racing to offer regulated, secure access to crypto. The U.S. led. Now others are catching up.

What’s Next?

The SEC’s October 2025 orders didn’t just open in-kind processing for Bitcoin and Ethereum. They said it applies to “a host of crypto asset ETPs.” That’s code for: more ETFs are coming. Solana? Already approved in Hong Kong. XRP? Evernorth announced a $1 billion deal to acquire XRP for yield strategies. Cardano? Polkadot? Don’t be surprised if they’re next.

But the SEC isn’t handing out approvals like candy. Chairman Paul S. Atkins made it clear: “Not all crypto assets will qualify.” They’re still evaluating each one. Bitcoin and Ethereum passed because they’re liquid, decentralized, and have clear ownership structures. Coins with centralized teams or unclear governance? Probably not.

The future? By December 2026, experts project combined Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF assets will hit $150 billion. In-kind processing will save the industry $500 million a year in operational costs. That’s money that goes back to investors.

What to Watch Out For

Regulatory clarity is still evolving. The SEC hasn’t officially defined whether staking rewards are income or capital gains. Tax rules are still murky. If you receive staking rewards from an Ethereum ETF, you may owe taxes on them-even if you didn’t sell anything.

Also, don’t assume ETFs eliminate risk. Bitcoin and Ethereum prices still swing. The ETF just changes how you hold them. If the market crashes, your ETF shares crash too.

And don’t get fooled by hype. Just because an ETF exists doesn’t mean it’s a good investment. Look at fees, liquidity, and whether the fund actually stakes (for Ethereum). Read the prospectus. Don’t just follow the ticker.