The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission quietly flipped a switch. It approved generic listing standards that eliminate one of the biggest regulatory bottlenecks for crypto ETFs.
In effect: exchanges no longer need to file a separate Form 19b-4 for each token ETF. The SEC is saying: “If it fits, list it.”
Analysts are calling this a watershed moment. It signals that the new framework is working as intended.
What Changed, The Old vs. New
Before: every single crypto ETF needed its own 19b-4 application. That meant months of back-and-forth, legal wrangling, uncertainty.
Now: if the token meets the generic standard, exchanges can list it under the SEC’s existing rules—no bespoke SEC sign-off required. In other words: the red tape is cut.
The SEC even asked ETF issuers to withdraw their pending 19b-4 filings. Why? Because they’re redundant under the new regime.
This change gives a shortcut to token ETFs for $XRP, $SOL, $ADA, $LTC, $DOGE (assuming they meet eligibility).
🚨SCOOP: The @SECGov has asked issuers of $LTC, $XRP, $SOL, $ADA, and $DOGE ETFs to withdraw their 19b-4 filings following the approval of the generic listing standards, which replace the need for those filings. Am told withdrawals could start happening as soon as this week.
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) September 29, 2025
- Sept 29: SEC formally approved the generic listing standards. ([SEC][1])
- In the months prior, the SEC’s Crypto Task Force had been active.
- Earlier in the year, ETF applications for XRP, SOL, ADA, DOGE were stuck in limbo.
Now those delays lose their power.
The Message: “Drop the Old Paperwork”
By pushing withdrawals, the SEC is sending a signal: the old paperwork is obsolete. Those 19b-4 filings that consumed time and legal budgets? They’re on the chopping block.
This isn’t a rejection of those ETFs. It’s a reorganization of the path forward. It’s a regulatory green light, not a roadblock.
- Token ETFs for XRP, SOL, ADA, DOGE, LTC get a faster lane.
- Institutional investors gain earlier access.
- U.S. markets begin to more closely mirror global crypto-ETF regimes.
- Single-asset token ETFs (like pure XRP funds) come more into play.
The floodgates are starting to crack.
- Withdrawal notices might drop this week.
- Exchanges will relist (or freshly list) under the new generic standard.
- Q4 could see a wave of launches.
Competitive pressure could push even more token ETFs, including pure plays, to seek listing.
Wall Street won’t ignore this shift.
Regulatory Backdrop & Mechanics
The new rules rely on Rule 19b-4(e) of the Exchange Act. That provision allows exchanges to list new derivative securities without individual review, if the listing class has prior SEC-approved rules.
Exchanges (Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, CBOE BZX) had already proposed adopting generic listing standards for commodity-based (incl. crypto) ETPs.
Under the new setup:
- If an ETP (or ETF) meets listing, surveillance, disclosure, and other criteria, it can go live without a separate 19b-4 filing.
- For those that don’t immediately qualify, exchanges can still file the old way.
The SEC’s press release put it clearly: “exchanges do not have to go through the protracted … 19b-4 review process … for such ETFs given the existing generic listing standards.”
🚨BREAKING: SEC SAYS CRYPTO ETF FILINGS MUST BE WITHDRAWN 🚨
The SEC just told issuers of $XRP, $LTC, $SOL, $ADA & $DOGE ETFs to pull their filings.
Sounds bad? It’s actually the opposite — a new fast-track system just went live. 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/s9bJJ0KRUE
— Diana (@InvestWithD) September 29, 2025
Why This Is a Big Deal
This is perhaps the biggest ETF rule change for crypto ever in the United States.
It matches the logic of Rule 6c-11 for traditional ETFs, which similarly replaced slow case-by-case approvals with standard pathways.
It reduces the timeline dramatically, some expect review windows as short as 75 days under new rules (versus up to 240 days under the old processes)
It sends a message: the U.S. is embracing tokenized finance (when compliant) rather than shunting it to regulatory waiting rooms.
Risks & Open Questions
Not every token will pass the generic standard. Some still may require tailored filings.
The SEC’s interpretation and enforcement over time will matter.
Some issuers may delay relisting until late Q4.
The framework may invite legal challenges or demands for clarity in edge cases.
What looks like a technical rejig is actually a tectonic shift. The SEC just tore down a mountain of red tape. Crypto ETFs for XRP, SOL, ADA, DOGE & LTC are now eligible for the fast track.
The headlines may sound alarming (“withdrawals”), but the reality behind them is far more radical: the U.S. just accelerated crypto democratization.
Expect the next few months to reshape how token ETFs come to market.
Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
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