82_FR_61346 82 FR 61100 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade the Shares of the ProShares Bitcoin ETF and the ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02

82 FR 61100 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade the Shares of the ProShares Bitcoin ETF and the ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 246 (December 26, 2017)

Page Range61100-61107
FR Document2017-27690

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61100-61107]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27690]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82350; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-139]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
of Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade the Shares of the ProShares 
Bitcoin ETF and the ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 
8.200-E, Commentary .02

December 19, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on December 4, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 
below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission 
is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule 
change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to list and trade the shares of the following 
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02 (``Trust Issued 
Receipts''): The ProShares Bitcoin ETF and the ProShares Short Bitcoin 
ETF. The proposed change is available on the Exchange's website at 
www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the 
Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most 
significant parts of such statements.

[[Page 61101]]

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the 
following under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02, which governs 
the listing and trading of Trust Issued Receipts: The ProShares Bitcoin 
ETF and the ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF (each a ``Fund'' and, 
collectively, the ``Funds'').\4\
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    \4\ Commentary .02 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E applies to Trust 
Issued Receipts that invest in ``Financial Instruments.'' The term 
``Financial Instruments,'' as defined in Commentary .02(b)(4) to 
NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, means any combination of investments, 
including cash; securities; options on securities and indices; 
futures contracts; options on futures contracts; forward contracts; 
equity caps, collars, and floors; and swap agreements.
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    Each Fund is a series of the ProShares Trust II (the ``Trust''), a 
Delaware statutory trust.\5\ The Trust and the Funds are managed and 
controlled by ProShare Capital Management LLC (the ``Sponsor''). The 
Sponsor is registered as a commodity pool operator (``CPO'') with the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') and is a member of the 
National Futures Association (``NFA'').
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    \5\ The Trust is registered under the Securities Act of 1933. On 
September 27, 2017, the Trust filed with the Commission a 
registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933 
(15 U.S.C. 77a) (the ``Securities Act'') relating to the Funds (File 
No. 333-220680) (the ``Registration Statement''). The description of 
the operation of the Trust and the Funds herein is based, in part, 
on the Registration Statement.
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    In its capacity as the Custodian for the Funds, Brown Brothers 
Harriman & Co. (``BBH&Co.'' or the ``Custodian'') may hold the Funds' 
investment assets and cash and cash equivalents pursuant to a custodian 
agreement. The Custodian is also the transfer agent for the Funds. In 
addition, in its capacity as Administrator for the Funds, BBH&Co. (the 
``Administrator'') prepares and files certain regulatory filings on 
behalf of the Funds.
    SEI Investments Distribution Co. serves as the distributor of the 
Shares (the ``Distributor''). The Distributor is a broker-dealer 
registered with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority 
(``FINRA''). The Trust will offer Shares of the Funds for sale through 
the Distributor in ``Creation Units'', as described below. The 
Distributor will also assist the Sponsor and Administrator with certain 
functions and duties relating to distribution and marketing.
Pro Shares Bitcoin ETF
    According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective 
of the Fund is to seek, results (before fees and expenses) that, both 
for a single day and over time, correspond to the performance of lead 
month \6\ bitcoin futures contracts \7\ listed and traded on either the 
Cboe Futures Exchange (``CFE'') or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange 
(``CME'') \8\ (the ``Benchmark Futures Contract'').\9\ Specifically, 
the Fund will seek results that correspond to the last traded price of 
the Benchmark Futures Contract on its primary listing exchange prior to 
the Fund's NAV calculation time (typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time 
(``E.T.'') each Business Day. Although the Fund generally intends to 
invest substantially all of its assets in Benchmark Futures Contracts, 
the Fund may invest in other U.S. exchange listed bitcoin futures 
contracts (if available) in addition to Benchmark Futures Contracts 
(collectively, along with Benchmark Futures Contracts, the ``Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts''), as discussed herein.
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    \6\ The ``lead month contracts'' are the monthly contracts with 
the earliest expiration date. As discussed below, each Fund will 
``roll'' its Bitcoin Futures Contract (as defined below) to the next 
``nearby'' Bitcoin Futures Contract prior to the expiration date of 
such contracts. The ``nearby'' contracts are those monthly contracts 
with the next closest expiration date. The Funds will incur the 
costs (or benefits) of continually rolling into the new lead month 
contracts.
    \7\ Futures contracts are standardized contracts traded on an 
exchange that call for the future delivery of a specified quantity 
and type of a particular underlying asset in exchange for payment at 
a specified time and place or for cash settlement based on a 
specified reference rate or settlement price. Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts will be cash settled.
    \8\ See ``CFTC Statement on Self-Certification of Bitcoin 
Products by CME, CFE and Cantor Exchange,'' dated December 1, 2017 
(``CFTC Release''), available at http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/pr7654-17. The CME has announced that its bitcoin 
futures contracts are scheduled to begin trading on December 18, 
2017. See ``CME Group Self-Certifies Bitcoin Futures to Launch Dec. 
18,'' December 1, 2017, available at http://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/press-releases/2017/12/01/cme_group_self-certifiesbitcoinfuturestolaunchdec18.html. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. 
(``Cboe''), has announced that that [sic] CFE's bitcoin futures 
contracts are scheduled to begin trading on December 10, 2017. See 
``Cboe Plans December 10 Launch of Bitcoin Futures Trading,'' 
December 4, 2017, available at http://ir.cboe.com/press-releases/2017/12-04-2017.
    \9\ CFE and CME are registered with the CFTC and seek to provide 
a neutral, regulated marketplace for the trading of derivatives 
contracts for commodities, such as futures, options and certain 
swaps. Both the CFE and CME are both members of the Intermarket 
Surveillance Group (``ISG''). See note 22, infra. The determination 
as to which futures contracts (i.e., CFE or CME listed) will be 
utilized as each Fund's Benchmark Futures Contract will be made by 
the Sponsor prior to the launch of each Fund based on the Sponsor's 
assessment of the liquidity of such contracts.
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    The value of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be based on the 
expected value of bitcoin at a future point in time, specifically, the 
expiration date of such Bitcoin Futures Contracts. By being long 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts, the Fund seeks to benefit from daily 
increases in the price of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts. The Fund will 
not be benchmarked to the current price of bitcoin and will not invest 
directly in bitcoin. When the price of Bitcoin Futures Contracts held 
by the Fund declines, the Fund will lose value. As noted, the Fund will 
seek to achieve its investment objective both for a single day and over 
time.\10\
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    \10\ According to the Registration Statement, a single day is 
measured from the time a Fund calculates its net asset value 
(``NAV'') to the time of a Fund's next NAV calculation.
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ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF
    According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective 
of the Fund is to seek results, for a single day, that correspond 
(before fees and expenses) to the inverse (-1x) of the daily 
performance of the Benchmark Futures Contract. The Fund does not seek 
to achieve its investment objective over a period greater than a single 
day.\11\
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    \11\ According to the Registration Statement, the return of the 
Fund for a period longer than a single day will be the result of 
each day's returns compounded over the period, which will very 
likely differ from the inverse (-1x) of the return of the Benchmark 
Futures Contract for the same period.
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    The Fund generally intends to invest substantially all of its 
assets through investment in short positions in Benchmark Futures 
Contracts. However, the Fund may invest through short positions in 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts other than Benchmark Futures Contracts as 
described herein. In this manner, the Fund will seek to benefit from 
decreases in the price of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts. When the price 
of Bitcoin Futures Contracts increases, the Fund will lose value. The 
Fund will not be benchmarked to the current price of bitcoin and will 
not invest directly in bitcoin.
Investment Strategies of the Funds
    In seeking to achieve the Funds' investment objectives, the Sponsor 
will utilize a mathematical approach to determine the type, quantity 
and mix of investment positions that the Sponsor believes, in 
combination, should produce daily returns consistent with the Funds' 
respective objectives. The Sponsor will rely on a pre-determined model 
to generate orders that result in repositioning the Funds' investments 
in accordance with their respective investment objectives.
    Each Fund will seek to achieve its respective investment objective 
by

[[Page 61102]]

investing, under normal market conditions,\12\ substantially all of its 
assets in Benchmark Futures Contracts (or short positions in Benchmark 
Futures Contracts, as applicable).
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    \12\ The term ``normal market conditions'' includes, but is not 
limited to, the absence of trading halts in the applicable financial 
markets generally; operational issues (e.g., systems failure) 
causing dissemination of inaccurate market information; or force 
majeure type events such as natural or manmade disaster, act of God, 
armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any 
similar intervening circumstance.
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    Each Fund also may obtain exposure (or inverse exposure, as 
applicable) in whole or in part, through investments in Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts other than Benchmark Futures Contracts if the Sponsor 
believes doing so would be in the best interest of such Fund.\13\ For 
example, each Fund could invest in Bitcoin Futures Contracts in the 
event that position, price or accountability limits are reached with 
respect to Benchmark Futures Contracts. In addition, in the event 
position, price or accountability limits are reached with respect to 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts, each Fund may invest in listed options on 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts (should such listed options become available) 
(``Options'') and over-the-counter (``OTC'') swap agreements 
referencing Bitcoin Futures Contracts (together, Options and swap 
agreements are referred to herein as ``Financial Instruments''). The 
Funds may also invest in Financial Instruments if the market for a 
specific Bitcoin Futures Contract experiences emergencies (e.g., 
natural disaster, terrorist attack or an act of God) or disruptions 
(e.g., a trading halt or a flash crash) that prevent or make it 
impractical for a Fund to obtain the appropriate amount of investment 
exposure using Bitcoin Futures Contracts.
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    \13\ Each Fund's investments in Bitcoin Futures Contracts will 
be subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and traded 
pursuant to CFTC and applicable exchange regulations. See 7 U.S.C. 
1.
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    Each Fund intends to enter into swap agreements only with major, 
global financial institutions that meet certain credit quality 
standards and monitoring policies. Each Fund will use various 
techniques to minimize credit risk including posting collateral daily 
that is marked to market, using different counterparties and limiting 
the net amount due from any individual counterparty.
    The Funds' remaining net assets will be invested in cash or cash 
equivalents and/or U.S. Treasury securities or other high credit 
quality, short-term fixed-income or similar securities (such as money 
market funds and repurchase agreements) (collectively ``Money Market 
Instruments'') as collateral for, or pending investment in, Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts and Financial Instruments.\14\
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    \14\ Each Fund will generally deposit cash or U.S. Treasury 
securities with a Futures Commission Merchant (``FCM'') for open 
positions in Bitcoin Futures Contracts and cash or U.S. Treasury 
securities as collateral for open positions in Financial 
Instruments.
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    The Funds do not intend to hold Bitcoin Futures Contracts through 
expiration, but instead intend to either close or ``roll'' their 
respective positions. When the market for these contracts is such that 
the prices are higher in the more distant delivery months than in the 
nearer delivery months, the sale during the course of the ``rolling 
process'' of the more nearby contract would take place at a price that 
is lower than the price of the more nearby Bitcoin Futures Contracts 
would take place at a price that is lower than the price of the more 
distant Bitcoin Futures Contracts [sic]. This pattern of higher futures 
prices for longer expiration Bitcoin Futures Contracts is referred to 
as ``contango.'' Alternatively, when the market for certain Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts is such that the prices are higher in the nearer 
months than in the more distant months, the sale during the course of 
the ``rolling process'' of the more nearby Bitcoin Futures Contracts 
would take place at a price that is higher than the price of the more 
distant Bitcoin Futures Contracts. This pattern of higher future prices 
for shorter expiration Bitcoin Futures Contracts is referred to as 
``backwardation.'' The presence of contango in the relevant Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts at the time of rolling would be expected to adversely 
affect the long positions held by the ProShares Bitcoin ETF, and 
positively affect the short positions held by the ProShares Short 
Bitcoin ETF. Similarly, the presence of backwardation in Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts at the time of rolling such Bitcoin Futures Contracts 
would be expected to adversely affect the short positions held by the 
ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF and positively affect the long positions 
held by the ProShares Bitcoin ETF.
    According to the Registration Statement, many U.S. commodities 
exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract 
prices during a single trading day by regulations referred to as 
``daily price fluctuation limits'' or ``daily limits.'' Once the daily 
limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made 
that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for 
specified periods during the trading day. In addition, the CFTC and 
U.S. futures exchanges have established limits referred to as 
``speculative position limits'' or ``accountability levels'' on the 
maximum net long or short futures positions that any person may hold or 
control in derivatives traded on such exchanges. These levels and 
position limits apply to the Bitcoin Futures Contracts that each Fund 
would invest in to meet its investment objective.
    According to the Registration Statement, as of the NAV calculation 
time, the ProShares Bitcoin ETF will not have futures exposure greater 
than one times [sic] (1x) that Fund's assets. Similarly, the ProShares 
Short Bitcoin ETF will not have inverse futures exposure greater than 
one time (1x) the Fund's assets. Thus, the maximum margin held at an 
FCM would not exceed one times [sic] the margin requirement for the 
ProShares Bitcoin ETF or the margin requirement for the ProShares Short 
Bitcoin ETF.
Overview of Bitcoin
    According to the Registration Statement, bitcoin is a digital asset 
based on the decentralized, open source protocol of the peer-to-peer 
bitcoin computer network (the ``Bitcoin Network''). Bitcoin is not 
issued by governments, banks or similar organizations. No single entity 
owns or operates the Bitcoin Network. The infrastructure of the Bitcoin 
Network is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. The 
Bitcoin Network is accessed through software, and software governs 
bitcoin's creation, movement, and ownership.
    The value of bitcoin is determined, in part, by the supply of, and 
demand for, bitcoin in the global exchange markets for the trading of 
bitcoin,\15\ market expectations for the adoption of bitcoin by 
individuals, the number of merchants that accept bitcoin as a form of 
payment and the volume of private end-user-to-end-user transactions.
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    \15\ According to the Registration Statement, a ``Bitcoin 
Exchange'' is an electronic marketplace where exchange participants 
may trade, buy and sell bitcoin based on bid-ask trading. Bitcoin 
Exchanges are typically web-based and trade on a 24-hour basis, 
publishing transaction price and volume data. A ``Bitcoin Exchange 
Market'' is the global bitcoin exchange market for the trading of 
bitcoin, which consists of transactions on Bitcoin Exchanges.
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    Bitcoin transaction and ownership records are reflected on the 
``Bitcoin Blockchain,'' which is a digital public record or ledger. 
Copies of this ledger are stored in a decentralized manner on the 
computers of each Bitcoin Network user. Transaction data is permanently 
recorded in files called ``blocks,'' which

[[Page 61103]]

reflect transactions that have been recorded and authenticated by 
Bitcoin Network participants. The Bitcoin Network software source code 
includes protocols that govern the creation of bitcoin and the 
cryptographic system that secures and verifies Bitcoin transactions.
Overview of Bitcoin Futures Contracts
    Bitcoin Futures Contracts are a new type of futures contract to be 
traded on the CFE and CME or other U.S. exchanges (if available). 
Unlike the established futures markets for traditional physical 
commodities, the market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts is in the 
development stage and has very limited trading and operational history. 
As such, the liquidity of the market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts will 
depend on, among other things, the supply and demand for Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts, the adoption of bitcoin and the commercial and 
speculative interest in the market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts and 
the potential ability to hedge against the price of bitcoin with 
exchange-traded Bitcoin Futures Contracts.
    Additionally, if market participants executing trades in Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts face constraints, including capital constraints, 
security risks, or high execution costs, the price of Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts may fail to capture price movements in the underlying price 
of bitcoin. Moreover, it is not clear how changes to the Bitcoin 
Network, including changes that result in ``forks'' will impact the 
price of any Bitcoin Futures Contracts.
    The CFTC has noted that the U.S. futures exchanges that will trade 
bitcoin futures have agreed to significant enhancements to protect 
customers and maintain orderly markets, and announced its expectation 
that futures exchanges that list and trade bitcoin futures contracts 
will, through information sharing agreements, monitor the trading 
activity on the relevant cash platforms for potential impacts on the 
price discovery process for bitcoin futures contracts, including 
potential market manipulation and market dislocations due to flash 
rallies and crashes and trading outages.\16\
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    \16\ See CFTC Release, supra, note 8.
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Net Asset Value
    According to the Registration Statement, a Fund's per Share NAV 
will be calculated by dividing the value of the net assets of such Fund 
(i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by its 
total number of Shares outstanding. Each Fund's NAV will be calculated 
on each Business Day that the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE) is 
open. Each Fund will compute its NAVs as of 4:00 p.m. E.T. Each Fund's 
NAV will be calculated only once each trading day. Each Fund's daily 
NAV may be found at www.ProShares.com.
    In calculating the NAV of a Fund, Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be 
valued using the last traded price on the primary listing exchange of 
such contract before the NAV calculation time of the Fund on such day. 
If Bitcoin Futures Contracts could not be liquidated on such day, due 
to the operation of daily limits or other rules of the exchange upon 
which that position is traded or otherwise, the Sponsor may determine a 
fair value price as the basis for determining the market value of such 
position for such day. Such fair value prices would generally be 
determined based on available inputs about the current value of the 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts and would be based on principles that the 
Sponsor deems fair and equitable so long as such principles are 
consistent with normal industry standards.
    In calculating the NAV of a Fund, the settlement value of a Fund's 
non-exchange-traded Financial Instruments generally will be determined 
by applying the then-current disseminated levels for the Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts to the terms of such Fund's non-exchange-traded 
Financial Instruments. However, in the event that the Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts underlying the Financial Instruments are not trading due to 
the operation of daily limits or otherwise, the Sponsor may choose to 
fair value the Financial Instruments. Such fair value prices would 
generally be determined based on available inputs about the current 
value of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts and would be based on principles 
that the Sponsor deems fair and equitable so long as such principles 
are consistent with normal industry standards.
    Money Market Investments will be valued on the basis of broker 
quotes, valuations provided by a third party pricing service or at 
amortized cost.
Indicative Fund Value
    In order to provide updated information relating to the Funds for 
use by investors and market professionals, the Exchange will calculate 
an updated ``Indicative Fund Value'' (``IFV''). The IFV will be 
calculated by using the prior day's closing net assets of a Fund as a 
base and updating throughout the Exchange's Core Trading Session of 
9:30 a.m. E.T. to 4:00 p.m. E.T. changes in the value of the Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts and Financial Instruments held by a Fund based on the 
most recently available prices for the Fund's investments.
    The IFV will be disseminated on a per Share basis every 15 seconds 
during the Exchange's Core Trading Session and be widely disseminated 
by one or more major market data vendors during the NYSE Arca Core 
Trading Session.\17\ In addition, circumstances may arise in which the 
NYSE Arca Core Trading Session is in progress, but trading in the 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts is not occurring. Such circumstances may 
result from reasons including, but not limited to, a futures exchange 
having a separate holiday schedule than the NYSE Arca, a futures 
exchange closing prior to the close of the NYSE Arca, price fluctuation 
limits being reached in a Bitcoin Futures Contract, or a futures 
exchange, imposing any other suspension or limitation on trading in a 
Bitcoin Futures Contract. In such instances, for IFV calculation 
purposes, the price of the applicable Bitcoin Futures Contracts, as 
well as Financial Instruments whose price is derived from the Bitcoin 
Futures Contracts, would be static or priced by the Fund at the 
applicable early cut-off time of the exchange trading the applicable 
Bitcoin Futures Contract.
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    \17\ Several major market data vendors display and/or make 
widely available IFVs taken from the CTA or other data feeds.
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Creation and Redemption of Shares
    According to the Registration Statement, each Fund intends to 
create and redeem Shares in one or more Creation Units. A Creation Unit 
is a block of 25,000 Shares of a Fund. Except when aggregated in 
Creation Units, the Shares are not redeemable securities.
    A creation transaction generally takes place when an Authorized 
Participant deposits generally a specified amount of cash in exchange 
for a specified number of Creation Units. Similarly, Shares can be 
redeemed only in Creation Units for cash. The prices at which creations 
and redemptions occur would be based on the next calculation of the NAV 
after an order is received.
    Only Authorized Participants may purchase and redeem Creation 
Units. An Authorized Participant is an entity that has entered into an 
Authorized Participant Agreement with the Trust and the Sponsor.
Creation Procedures
    On any ``Business Day'', an Authorized Participant may place an 
order with the Distributor to create one or more Creation Units. For 
purposes of

[[Page 61104]]

processing both purchase and redemption orders, a ``Business Day'' for 
each Fund means any day on which the NAV of such Fund is determined. 
Purchase and redemption orders must be placed by 3:30 p.m. E.T. or 
earlier if the Exchange or other exchange material to the valuation or 
operation of such Fund closes before the cut-off time.
Redemption Procedures
    According to the Registration Statement, the procedures by which an 
Authorized Participant can redeem one or more Creation Units mirror the 
procedures for the creation of Creation Units. On any Business Day, an 
Authorized Participant may place an order with the Distributor to 
redeem one or more Creation Units.
    The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem 
Creation Units. Individual shareholders may not redeem directly from a 
Fund. By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees 
to deliver the Creation Units to be redeemed through the Depository 
Trust Company's (``DTC'') book entry system to the applicable Fund not 
later than noon E.T. on the first Business Day immediately following 
the redemption order date (T+1). The Sponsor reserves the right to 
extend the deadline for a Fund to receive the Creation Units required 
for settlement up to the second Business Day following the redemption 
order date (T+2).
Availability of Information
    The NAV for the Funds' Shares will be disseminated daily to all 
market participants at the same time. The intraday, closing prices, and 
settlement prices of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be readily 
available from the applicable futures exchange websites, automated 
quotation systems, published or other public sources, or major market 
data vendors. The value of the Benchmark Futures Contract will be 
disseminated by one or more major market data vendors on at least a 15-
second delayed basis during the NYSE Arca Core Trading Session of 9:30 
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. E.T.
    Complete real-time data for the Benchmark Futures Contracts and 
Options on Bitcoin Futures will be available by subscription through 
on-line information services. CFE and CME will provide delayed futures 
and options on futures (once available) information on current and past 
trading sessions and market news free of charge on their respective 
websites. The specific contract specifications for Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts would also be available on such websites, as well as other 
financial informational sources. Quotation and last-sale information 
regarding the Shares will be disseminated through the facilities of the 
Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA''). Quotation information for 
Money Market Investments and OTC swaps agreements may be obtained from 
brokers and dealers who make markets in such instruments. Quotation 
information for exchange-traded swaps will be available from the 
applicable exchange and major market vendors. The IFV will be available 
through on-line information services.
    In addition, the Funds' website, www.ProShares.com, will display 
the applicable end of day closing NAV. The daily holdings of each Fund 
will be available on the Funds' website before 9:30 a.m. E.T. Each 
Fund's total portfolio composition will be disclosed each Business Day 
that NYSE Arca is open for trading, on the Funds' website. The Funds' 
website will also include a form of the prospectus for the Funds that 
may be downloaded. The website will include the Shares' ticker and 
CUSIP information, along with additional quantitative information 
updated on a daily basis for each Fund. The Funds' website will include 
(1) the prior business day's trading volume, the prior business day's 
reported NAV and closing price, and a calculation of the premium and 
discount of the closing price or mid-point of the bid/ask spread at the 
time of NAV calculation (``Bid/Ask Price'') against the NAV; and (2) 
data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts 
and premiums of the daily closing price or Bid/Ask Price against the 
NAV, within appropriate ranges, for at least each of the four previous 
calendar quarters. The website disclosure of portfolio holdings will be 
made daily and will include, as applicable, (i) the name, quantity, 
value, expiration and strike price of Bitcoin Futures Contracts and 
Financial Instruments, (ii) the counterparty to and value of Financial 
Instruments, and (iii) the aggregate net value of the Money Market 
Investments held in each Fund's portfolio, if applicable. The Funds' 
website will be publicly available prior to the public offering of 
Shares and accessible at no charge.
    The spot price of bitcoin also is available on a 24-hour basis from 
major market data vendors.
Trading Halts
    With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all 
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend 
trading in the Shares of a Fund.\18\ Trading in Shares of a Fund will 
be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E 
have been reached. Trading also may be halted because of market 
conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make 
trading in the Shares inadvisable.
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    \18\ See NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E.
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    The Exchange may halt trading during the day in which an 
interruption to the dissemination of the IFV or the value of the 
Benchmark Futures Contract occurs.\19\ If the interruption to the 
dissemination of the IFV or the value of the Benchmark persists past 
the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will halt trading no 
later than the beginning of the trading day following the interruption. 
In addition, if the Exchange becomes aware that the NAV with respect to 
the Shares is not disseminated to all market participants at the same 
time, it will halt trading in the Shares until such time as the NAV is 
available to all market participants.
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    \19\ A limit up/limit down condition in the futures market would 
not be considered an interruption requiring one or both Funds to be 
halted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trading Rules
    The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus 
rendering trading in the Shares subject to the Exchange's existing 
rules governing the trading of equity securities. Shares will trade on 
the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. E.T. in accordance with 
NYSE Arca Rule 7.34-E (Early, Core, and Late Trading Sessions). The 
Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Shares 
during all trading sessions. As provided in NYSE Arca Rule 7.6-E, the 
minimum price variation (``MPV'') for quoting and entry of orders in 
equity securities traded on the NYSE Arca Marketplace is $0.01, with 
the exception of securities that are priced less than $1.00 for which 
the MPV for order entry is $0.0001.
    The Shares will conform to the initial and continued listing 
criteria under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E. The trading of the Shares will 
be subject to NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02(e), which sets 
forth certain restrictions on Equity Trading Permit (``ETP'') Holders 
acting as registered Market Makers in Trust Issued Receipts to 
facilitate surveillance. The Exchange represents that, for initial and 
continued listing, each Fund will be in compliance with Rule 10A-3 \20\ 
under the Act, as provided by NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E. A minimum of 
100,000 Shares of each Fund will be outstanding at the

[[Page 61105]]

commencement of trading on the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surveillance
    The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares of each Fund 
will be subject to the existing trading surveillances administered by 
the Exchange, as well as cross-market surveillances administered by 
FINRA on behalf of the Exchange, which are designed to detect 
violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities 
laws.\21\ The Exchange represents that these procedures are adequate to 
properly monitor Exchange trading of the Shares in all trading sessions 
and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and federal 
securities laws applicable to trading on the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ FINRA conducts cross-market surveillances on behalf of the 
Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange 
is responsible for FINRA's performance under this regulatory 
services agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The surveillances referred to above generally focus on detecting 
securities trading outside their normal patterns, which could be 
indicative of manipulative or other violative activity. When such 
situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and 
investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of 
all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations.
    The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will 
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares and certain 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts with other markets and other entities that 
are members of the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the 
Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information regarding trading in 
the Shares and certain Bitcoin Futures Contracts from such markets and 
other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information 
regarding trading in the Shares and certain Bitcoin Futures Contracts 
from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which 
the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement (``CSSA'').\22\ The Exchange is also able to obtain 
information regarding trading in the Shares, the commodity underlying 
futures or options on futures through ETP Holders, in connection with 
such ETP Holders' proprietary or customer trades which they effect 
through ETP Holders on any relevant market. The Exchange can obtain 
market surveillance information, including customer identity 
information, with respect to transactions (including transactions in 
cash-settled Options) occurring on US futures exchanges, which are 
members of the ISG.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see 
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of a 
Fund may trade on markets that are members of ISG or with which the 
Exchange has in place a CSSA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Not more than 10% of the net assets of a Fund in the aggregate 
invested in Bitcoin Futures Contracts shall consist of Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts whose principal market is not a member of the ISG or is a 
market with which the Exchange does not have a CSSA.
    In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the 
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
    All statements and representations made in this filing regarding 
(a) the description of the portfolios of the Funds or the Benchmark, 
(b) limitations on portfolio holdings, reference assets or the 
Benchmark, or (c) the applicability of Exchange listing rules specified 
in this rule filing shall constitute continued listing requirements for 
listing the Shares on the Exchange.
    The issuer has represented to the Exchange that it will advise the 
Exchange of any failure by the Funds to comply with the continued 
listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under Section 
19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will monitor for compliance with the 
continued listing requirements. If a Fund is not in compliance with the 
applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence delisting 
procedures under NYSE Arca Rule 5.5-E(m).
Information Bulletin
    Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its 
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics 
and risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the 
Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The risks involved 
in trading the Shares during the Early and Late Trading Sessions when 
an updated IFV will not be calculated or publicly disseminated; (2) the 
procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares in Creation Units 
(and that Shares are not individually redeemable); (3) NYSE Arca Rule 
9.2-E(a), which imposes a duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders to 
learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading 
the Shares; (4) how information regarding the IFV is disseminated; (5) 
how information regarding portfolio holdings is disseminated; (6) that 
a static IFV will be disseminated, between the close of trading on the 
CFE and CME and the close of the NYSE Arca Core Trading Session; (7) 
the requirement that ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to investors 
purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the 
confirmation of a transaction; and (8) trading information.
    Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its 
ETP Holders of the suitability requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 9.2-E(a) 
in an Information Bulletin. Specifically, ETP Holders will be reminded 
in the Information Bulletin that, in recommending transactions in the 
Shares, they must have a reasonable basis to believe that (1) the 
recommendation is suitable for a customer given reasonable inquiry 
concerning the customer's investment objectives, financial situation, 
needs, and any other information known by such ETP Holder, and (2) the 
customer can evaluate the special characteristics, and is able to bear 
the financial risks, of an investment in the Shares. In connection with 
the suitability obligation, the Information Bulletin will also provide 
that ETP Holders must make reasonable efforts to obtain the following 
information: (1) The customer's financial status; (2) the customer's 
tax status; (3) the customer's investment objectives; and (4) such 
other information used or considered to be reasonable by such ETP 
Holder or registered representative in making recommendations to the 
customer.
    Further, the Exchange states that FINRA has implemented increased 
sales practice and customer margin requirements for FINRA members 
applicable to inverse, leveraged and inverse leveraged securities 
(which include the Shares) and options on such securities, as described 
in FINRA Regulatory Notices 09-31 (June 2009), 09-53 (August 2009), and 
09-65 (November 2009) (collectively, ``FINRA Regulatory Notices''). ETP 
Holders that carry customer accounts will be required to follow the 
FINRA guidance set forth in these notices. As noted above, the Funds 
will seek investment results that match or that are the inverse (-1x) 
of, respectively, the performance of the Benchmark. Over a period of 
time in excess of one day, the cumulative percentage increase or 
decrease in the NAV of the Shares of a Fund may diverge significantly 
from a multiple or inverse multiple of the cumulative percentage 
decrease or increase in the relevant benchmark due to a compounding 
effect.
    In addition, the Information Bulletin will advise ETP Holders, 
prior to the commencement of trading, of the prospectus delivery 
requirements applicable to a Fund. The Information Bulletin will also 
discuss any

[[Page 61106]]

exemptive, no-action, and interpretive relief granted by the Commission 
from any rules under the Act. In addition, the Information Bulletin 
will reference that a Fund is subject to various fees and expenses 
described in the Registration Statement. The Information Bulletin will 
also reference that the CFTC has regulatory jurisdiction over the 
trading of Bitcoin Futures Contracts traded on U.S. markets.
    The Information Bulletin will also disclose the trading hours of 
the Shares that the NAV for the Shares will be calculated after 4:00 
p.m. E.T. each trading day. The Information Bulletin will disclose that 
information about the Shares will be publicly available on the Funds' 
website.
2. Statutory Basis
    The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the 
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \23\ that an exchange have rules that 
are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices and to protect 
investors and the public interest in that the Shares will be listed and 
traded on the Exchange pursuant to the initial and continued listing 
criteria in NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E.
    The Exchange has in place surveillance procedures that are adequate 
to properly monitor trading in the Shares in all trading sessions and 
to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal 
securities laws. The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or 
both, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, and 
certain Bitcoin Futures Contracts with other markets and other entities 
that are members of the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of 
the Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information regarding trading 
in the Shares and certain Bitcoin Futures Contracts from such markets 
and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information 
regarding trading in the Shares and certain Bitcoin Futures Contracts 
from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which 
the Exchange has in place a CSSA. The Exchange is also able to obtain 
information regarding trading in the Shares, the commodity underlying 
futures or options on futures through ETP Holders, in connection with 
such ETP Holders' proprietary or customer trades which they effect 
through ETP Holders on any relevant market.
    The Exchange can obtain market surveillance information, including 
customer identity information, with respect to transactions (including 
transactions in cash-settled Options) occurring on U.S. futures 
exchanges, which are members of the ISG. Not more than 10% of the net 
assets of a Fund in the aggregate invested in Futures Contracts shall 
consist of Bitcoin Futures Contracts whose principal market is not a 
member of the ISG or is a market with which the Exchange does not have 
a CSSA. The intraday, closing prices, and settlement prices of the 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be readily available from the applicable 
futures exchange websites, automated quotation systems, published or 
other public sources, or major market data vendors website or on-line 
information services.
    Complete real-time data for the Bitcoin Futures Contracts and 
Options on Bitcoin Futures will be available by subscription from on-
line information services. CFE and CME will provide delayed futures 
information on current and past trading sessions and market news free 
of charge on their websites. The specific contract specifications for 
Bitcoin Futures Contracts would also be available on such websites, as 
well as other financial informational sources. Information regarding 
options will be available from the applicable exchanges or major market 
data vendors. Quotation and last-sale information regarding the Shares 
will be disseminated through the facilities of the CTA. The Funds' 
website will also include a form of the prospectus for the Funds that 
may be downloaded. The website will include the Shares' ticker and 
CUSIP information, along with additional quantitative information 
updated on a daily basis for each Fund. The Funds' website will include 
(1) Daily trading volume, the prior business day's reported NAV and 
closing price, and a calculation of the premium and discount of the 
closing price or mid-point of the Bid/Ask Price against the NAV; and 
(2) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of 
discounts and premiums of the daily closing price or Bid/Ask Price 
against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for at least each of the 
four previous calendar quarters. The website disclosure of portfolio 
holdings will be made daily and will include, as applicable, (i) the 
name, quantity, value, expiration and strike price of Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts and Financial Instruments, (ii) the counterparty to and value 
of Financial Instruments, and (iii) the aggregate net value of the 
Money Market Investments held in each Fund's portfolio, if applicable. 
The Funds' website will be publicly available prior to the public 
offering of Shares and accessible at no charge.
    Moreover, prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will 
inform its Equity Trading Permit Holders in an Information Bulletin of 
the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the 
Shares and of the suitability requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 9.2-E(a). 
The Information Bulletin will advise ETP Holders, prior to the 
commencement of trading, of the prospectus delivery requirements 
applicable to a Fund. The Information Bulletin will also discuss any 
exemptive, no-action, and interpretive relief granted by the Commission 
from any rules under the Act. In addition, the Information Bulletin 
will reference that a Fund is subject to various fees and expenses 
described in the Registration Statement. The Information Bulletin will 
also reference that the CFTC has regulatory jurisdiction over the 
trading of Bitcoin Futures Contracts traded on U.S. markets. The 
Information Bulletin will also disclose the trading hours of the Shares 
and that the NAV for the Shares will be calculated after 4:00 p.m. E.T. 
each trading day. The Information Bulletin will disclose that 
information about the Shares will be publicly available on the Funds' 
website.
    Trading in Shares of a Fund will be halted if the circuit breaker 
parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E have been reached or because of 
market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, 
make trading in the Shares inadvisable.
    The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the 
public interest in that it will facilitate the listing and trading of a 
new type of Trust Issued Receipt based on the price of Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts that will enhance competition among market participants, to 
the benefit of investors and the marketplace. As noted above, the 
Exchange has in place surveillance procedures that are adequate to 
properly monitor trading in the Shares in all trading sessions and to 
deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal 
securities laws.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose

[[Page 61107]]

any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange notes that the 
proposed rule change will facilitate the listing and trading of a new 
type of Trust Issued Receipt based on the price of Bitcoin Futures 
Contracts and that will enhance competition among market participants, 
to the benefit of investors and the marketplace.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    A. By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or
    B. institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-139 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-139. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-139 and should be 
submitted on or before January 16, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-27690 Filed 12-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                               61100                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices

                                               Investment Transaction for all purposes                 may be, in such Co-Investment                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                               and subject to the other conditions set                 Transaction. If any transaction fee is to             COMMISSION
                                               forth in the application.                               be held by a BRC Advisor pending
                                                 9. The Non-Interested Directors of                    consummation of the transaction, the                  [Release No. 34–82350; File No. SR–
                                               each Regulated Fund will be provided                    fee will be deposited into an account                 NYSEArca–2017–139]
                                               quarterly for review all information                    maintained by such BRC Advisor at a
                                               concerning Potential Co-Investment                      bank or banks having the qualifications               Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                               Transactions and Co-Investment                          prescribed in section 26(a)(1) of the Act,            Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed
                                               Transactions, including investments                     and the account will earn a competitive               Rule Change To List and Trade the
                                               made by other Regulated Funds or                        rate of interest that will also be divided            Shares of the ProShares Bitcoin ETF
                                               Affiliated Funds that the Regulated                     pro rata among the participating                      and the ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF
                                               Fund considered but declined to
                                                                                                       Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds                  Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E,
                                               participate in, so that the Non-Interested
                                                                                                       based on the amounts they invest in                   Commentary .02
                                               Directors may determine whether all
                                               investments made during the preceding                   such Co-Investment Transaction. None
                                                                                                                                                             December 19, 2017.
                                               quarter, including those investments                    of the Affiliated Funds, the BRC
                                               that the Regulated Fund considered but                  Advisors, the other Regulated Funds or                   Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                               declined to participate in, comply with                 any affiliated person of the Regulated                Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                               the conditions of the Order. In addition,               Funds or Affiliated Funds will receive                ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                               the Non-Interested Directors will                       additional compensation or                            notice is hereby given that, on December
                                               consider at least annually the continued                remuneration of any kind as a result of               4, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the
                                               appropriateness for the Regulated Fund                  or in connection with a Co-Investment                 ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
                                               of participating in new and existing Co-                Transaction (other than (a) in the case               the Securities and Exchange
                                               Investment Transactions.                                of the Regulated Funds and the                        Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                 10. Each Regulated Fund will                          Affiliated Funds, the pro rata                        proposed rule change as described in
                                               maintain the records required by section                transaction fees described above and                  Items I and II below, which Items have
                                               57(f)(3) of the Act as if each of the                   fees or other compensation described in               been prepared by the Exchange. The
                                               Regulated Funds were a BDC and each                     condition 2(c)(iii)(C); and (b) in the case           Commission is publishing this notice to
                                               of the investments permitted under                      of an BRC Advisor, investment advisory                solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                               these conditions were approved by the                   fees paid in accordance with the                      change from interested persons.
                                               Required Majority under section 57(f) of                agreement between the BRC Advisor
                                               the Act.                                                                                                      I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                       and the Regulated Fund or Affiliated
                                                 11. No Non-Interested Director of a                                                                         Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                                                                       Fund.
                                               Regulated Fund will also be a director,                                                                       the Proposed Rule Change
                                               general partner, managing member or                        14. If the Holders own in the aggregate
                                               principal, or otherwise an ‘‘affiliated                 more than 25 percent of the Shares of                    The Exchange proposes to list and
                                               person’’ (as defined in the Act) of an                  a Regulated Fund, then the Holders will               trade the shares of the following under
                                               Affiliated Fund.                                        vote such Shares as directed by an                    NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E, Commentary
                                                 12. The expenses, if any, associated                  independent third party when voting on                .02 (‘‘Trust Issued Receipts’’): The
                                               with acquiring, holding or disposing of                 (1) the election of directors; (2) the                ProShares Bitcoin ETF and the
                                               any securities acquired in a Co-                        removal of one or more directors; or (3)              ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF. The
                                               Investment Transaction (including,                      any other matter under either the Act or              proposed change is available on the
                                               without limitation, the expenses of the                 applicable State law affecting the                    Exchange’s website at www.nyse.com, at
                                               distribution of any such securities                     Board’s composition, size or manner of                the principal office of the Exchange, and
                                               registered for sale under the Securities                election.                                             at the Commission’s Public Reference
                                               Act) will, to the extent not payable by                    15. Each Regulated Fund’s chief                    Room.
                                               the BRC Advisors under their respective
                                                                                                       compliance officer, as defined in rule                II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                               investment advisory agreements with
                                                                                                       38a–1(a)(4), will prepare an annual                   Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                               Affiliated Funds and the Regulated
                                                                                                       report for its Board each year that                   Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                               Funds, be shared by the Regulated
                                               Funds and the Affiliated Funds in                       evaluates (and documents the basis of                 Change
                                               proportion to the relative amounts of the               that evaluation) the Regulated Fund’s
                                                                                                       compliance with the terms and                           In its filing with the Commission, the
                                               securities held or to be acquired or
                                                                                                       conditions of the application and the                 self-regulatory organization included
                                               disposed of, as the case may be.
                                                                                                       procedures established to achieve such                statements concerning the purpose of,
                                                 13. Any transaction fee 12 (including
                                               break-up or commitment fees but                         compliance.                                           and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                               excluding broker’s fees contemplated by                                                                       and discussed any comments it received
                                                                                                         For the Commission, by the Division of
                                               section 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act, as                                                                         on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                                                                       Investment Management, under delegated
                                               applicable), received in connection with                authority.
                                                                                                                                                             of those statements may be examined at
                                               a Co-Investment Transaction will be                                                                           the places specified in Item IV below.
                                                                                                       Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               distributed to the participating                                                                              The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                                                                       Assistant Secretary.
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds                                                                          set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2017–27686 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am]          of the most significant parts of such
                                               on a pro rata basis based on the amounts
                                               they invested or committed, as the case                 BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                statements.

                                                 12 Applicants are not requesting and the staff is
                                                                                                                                                               1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                               not providing any relief for transaction fees
                                                                                                                                                               2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                               received in connection with any Co-Investment
                                               Transaction.                                                                                                    3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:21 Dec 22, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00153   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM   26DEN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices                                                        61101

                                               A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Pro Shares Bitcoin ETF                                   value of bitcoin at a future point in time,
                                               Statement of the Purpose of, and the                       According to the Registration                         specifically, the expiration date of such
                                               Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  Statement, the investment objective of                   Bitcoin Futures Contracts. By being long
                                               Change                                                  the Fund is to seek, results (before fees                Bitcoin Futures Contracts, the Fund
                                                                                                       and expenses) that, both for a single day                seeks to benefit from daily increases in
                                               1. Purpose
                                                                                                       and over time, correspond to the                         the price of the Bitcoin Futures
                                                  The Exchange proposes to list and                                                                             Contracts. The Fund will not be
                                                                                                       performance of lead month 6 bitcoin
                                               trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the following                                                                       benchmarked to the current price of
                                                                                                       futures contracts 7 listed and traded on
                                               under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E,                                                                                    bitcoin and will not invest directly in
                                                                                                       either the Cboe Futures Exchange
                                               Commentary .02, which governs the                                                                                bitcoin. When the price of Bitcoin
                                                                                                       (‘‘CFE’’) or the Chicago Mercantile
                                               listing and trading of Trust Issued                     Exchange (‘‘CME’’) 8 (the ‘‘Benchmark                    Futures Contracts held by the Fund
                                               Receipts: The ProShares Bitcoin ETF                     Futures Contract’’).9 Specifically, the                  declines, the Fund will lose value. As
                                               and the ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF                     Fund will seek results that correspond                   noted, the Fund will seek to achieve its
                                               (each a ‘‘Fund’’ and, collectively, the                 to the last traded price of the                          investment objective both for a single
                                               ‘‘Funds’’).4                                            Benchmark Futures Contract on its                        day and over time.10
                                                  Each Fund is a series of the ProShares
                                                                                                       primary listing exchange prior to the                    ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF
                                               Trust II (the ‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware
                                                                                                       Fund’s NAV calculation time (typically
                                               statutory trust.5 The Trust and the                                                                                According to the Registration
                                                                                                       4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (‘‘E.T.’’) each
                                               Funds are managed and controlled by                                                                              Statement, the investment objective of
                                                                                                       Business Day. Although the Fund
                                               ProShare Capital Management LLC (the                                                                             the Fund is to seek results, for a single
                                                                                                       generally intends to invest substantially
                                               ‘‘Sponsor’’). The Sponsor is registered as                                                                       day, that correspond (before fees and
                                                                                                       all of its assets in Benchmark Futures
                                               a commodity pool operator (‘‘CPO’’)                                                                              expenses) to the inverse (¥1x) of the
                                                                                                       Contracts, the Fund may invest in other
                                               with the Commodity Futures Trading                                                                               daily performance of the Benchmark
                                                                                                       U.S. exchange listed bitcoin futures
                                               Commission (‘‘CFTC’’) and is a member                                                                            Futures Contract. The Fund does not
                                                                                                       contracts (if available) in addition to
                                               of the National Futures Association                                                                              seek to achieve its investment objective
                                                                                                       Benchmark Futures Contracts
                                               (‘‘NFA’’).                                                                                                       over a period greater than a single day.11
                                                                                                       (collectively, along with Benchmark                        The Fund generally intends to invest
                                                  In its capacity as the Custodian for the             Futures Contracts, the ‘‘Bitcoin Futures
                                               Funds, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.                                                                             substantially all of its assets through
                                                                                                       Contracts’’), as discussed herein.                       investment in short positions in
                                               (‘‘BBH&Co.’’ or the ‘‘Custodian’’) may                     The value of the Bitcoin Futures
                                               hold the Funds’ investment assets and                                                                            Benchmark Futures Contracts. However,
                                                                                                       Contracts will be based on the expected
                                               cash and cash equivalents pursuant to a                                                                          the Fund may invest through short
                                               custodian agreement. The Custodian is                      6 The ‘‘lead month contracts’’ are the monthly
                                                                                                                                                                positions in Bitcoin Futures Contracts
                                               also the transfer agent for the Funds. In               contracts with the earliest expiration date. As          other than Benchmark Futures Contracts
                                               addition, in its capacity as                            discussed below, each Fund will ‘‘roll’’ its Bitcoin     as described herein. In this manner, the
                                                                                                       Futures Contract (as defined below) to the next          Fund will seek to benefit from decreases
                                               Administrator for the Funds, BBH&Co.                    ‘‘nearby’’ Bitcoin Futures Contract prior to the
                                               (the ‘‘Administrator’’) prepares and files              expiration date of such contracts. The ‘‘nearby’’
                                                                                                                                                                in the price of the Bitcoin Futures
                                               certain regulatory filings on behalf of                 contracts are those monthly contracts with the next      Contracts. When the price of Bitcoin
                                               the Funds.                                              closest expiration date. The Funds will incur the        Futures Contracts increases, the Fund
                                                                                                       costs (or benefits) of continually rolling into the      will lose value. The Fund will not be
                                                  SEI Investments Distribution Co.                     new lead month contracts.
                                               serves as the distributor of the Shares                    7 Futures contracts are standardized contracts        benchmarked to the current price of
                                               (the ‘‘Distributor’’). The Distributor is a             traded on an exchange that call for the future           bitcoin and will not invest directly in
                                               broker-dealer registered with the                       delivery of a specified quantity and type of a           bitcoin.
                                                                                                       particular underlying asset in exchange for payment
                                               Commission under the Securities                         at a specified time and place or for cash settlement     Investment Strategies of the Funds
                                               Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of                    based on a specified reference rate or settlement
                                               the Financial Industry Regulatory                       price. Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be cash settled.     In seeking to achieve the Funds’
                                               Authority (‘‘FINRA’’). The Trust will                      8 See ‘‘CFTC Statement on Self-Certification of       investment objectives, the Sponsor will
                                               offer Shares of the Funds for sale                      Bitcoin Products by CME, CFE and Cantor                  utilize a mathematical approach to
                                                                                                       Exchange,’’ dated December 1, 2017 (‘‘CFTC               determine the type, quantity and mix of
                                               through the Distributor in ‘‘Creation                   Release’’), available at http://www.cftc.gov/
                                               Units’’, as described below. The                        PressRoom/PressReleases/pr7654-17. The CME has           investment positions that the Sponsor
                                               Distributor will also assist the Sponsor                announced that its bitcoin futures contracts are         believes, in combination, should
                                                                                                       scheduled to begin trading on December 18, 2017.         produce daily returns consistent with
                                               and Administrator with certain                          See ‘‘CME Group Self-Certifies Bitcoin Futures to
                                               functions and duties relating to                        Launch Dec. 18,’’ December 1, 2017, available at
                                                                                                                                                                the Funds’ respective objectives. The
                                               distribution and marketing.                             http://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/press-                Sponsor will rely on a pre-determined
                                                                                                       releases/2017/12/01/cme_group_self-                      model to generate orders that result in
                                                                                                       certifiesbitcoinfuturestolaunchdec18.html. Cboe          repositioning the Funds’ investments in
                                                  4 Commentary .02 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E
                                                                                                       Global Markets, Inc. (‘‘Cboe’’), has announced that
                                               applies to Trust Issued Receipts that invest in         that [sic] CFE’s bitcoin futures contracts are           accordance with their respective
                                               ‘‘Financial Instruments.’’ The term ‘‘Financial         scheduled to begin trading on December 10, 2017.         investment objectives.
                                               Instruments,’’ as defined in Commentary .02(b)(4) to    See ‘‘Cboe Plans December 10 Launch of Bitcoin             Each Fund will seek to achieve its
                                               NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E, means any combination           Futures Trading,’’ December 4, 2017, available at
                                               of investments, including cash; securities; options                                                              respective investment objective by
                                                                                                       http://ir.cboe.com/press-releases/2017/12-04-2017.
                                               on securities and indices; futures contracts; options      9 CFE and CME are registered with the CFTC and
                                               on futures contracts; forward contracts; equity caps,   seek to provide a neutral, regulated marketplace for
                                                                                                                                                                   10 According to the Registration Statement, a

                                               collars, and floors; and swap agreements.               the trading of derivatives contracts for commodities,    single day is measured from the time a Fund
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                                                  5 The Trust is registered under the Securities Act
                                                                                                       such as futures, options and certain swaps. Both the     calculates its net asset value (‘‘NAV’’) to the time
                                               of 1933. On September 27, 2017, the Trust filed         CFE and CME are both members of the Intermarket          of a Fund’s next NAV calculation.
                                               with the Commission a registration statement on         Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’). See note 22, infra. The       11 According to the Registration Statement, the

                                               Form S–1 under the Securities Act of 1933 (15           determination as to which futures contracts (i.e.,       return of the Fund for a period longer than a single
                                               U.S.C. 77a) (the ‘‘Securities Act’’) relating to the    CFE or CME listed) will be utilized as each Fund’s       day will be the result of each day’s returns
                                               Funds (File No. 333–220680) (the ‘‘Registration         Benchmark Futures Contract will be made by the           compounded over the period, which will very
                                               Statement’’). The description of the operation of the   Sponsor prior to the launch of each Fund based on        likely differ from the inverse (¥1x) of the return of
                                               Trust and the Funds herein is based, in part, on the    the Sponsor’s assessment of the liquidity of such        the Benchmark Futures Contract for the same
                                               Registration Statement.                                 contracts.                                               period.



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                                               61102                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices

                                               investing, under normal market                          agreements) (collectively ‘‘Money                     day. In addition, the CFTC and U.S.
                                               conditions,12 substantially all of its                  Market Instruments’’) as collateral for,              futures exchanges have established
                                               assets in Benchmark Futures Contracts                   or pending investment in, Bitcoin                     limits referred to as ‘‘speculative
                                               (or short positions in Benchmark                        Futures Contracts and Financial                       position limits’’ or ‘‘accountability
                                               Futures Contracts, as applicable).                      Instruments.14                                        levels’’ on the maximum net long or
                                                  Each Fund also may obtain exposure                      The Funds do not intend to hold                    short futures positions that any person
                                               (or inverse exposure, as applicable) in                 Bitcoin Futures Contracts through                     may hold or control in derivatives
                                               whole or in part, through investments in                expiration, but instead intend to either              traded on such exchanges. These levels
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts other than                    close or ‘‘roll’’ their respective                    and position limits apply to the Bitcoin
                                               Benchmark Futures Contracts if the                      positions. When the market for these                  Futures Contracts that each Fund would
                                               Sponsor believes doing so would be in                   contracts is such that the prices are                 invest in to meet its investment
                                               the best interest of such Fund.13 For                   higher in the more distant delivery                   objective.
                                               example, each Fund could invest in                      months than in the nearer delivery                       According to the Registration
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts in the event                  months, the sale during the course of                 Statement, as of the NAV calculation
                                               that position, price or accountability                  the ‘‘rolling process’’ of the more nearby            time, the ProShares Bitcoin ETF will not
                                               limits are reached with respect to                      contract would take place at a price that             have futures exposure greater than one
                                               Benchmark Futures Contracts. In                         is lower than the price of the more                   times [sic] (1x) that Fund’s assets.
                                               addition, in the event position, price or               nearby Bitcoin Futures Contracts would                Similarly, the ProShares Short Bitcoin
                                               accountability limits are reached with                  take place at a price that is lower than              ETF will not have inverse futures
                                               respect to Bitcoin Futures Contracts,                   the price of the more distant Bitcoin                 exposure greater than one time (1x) the
                                               each Fund may invest in listed options                  Futures Contracts [sic]. This pattern of              Fund’s assets. Thus, the maximum
                                               on Bitcoin Futures Contracts (should                    higher futures prices for longer                      margin held at an FCM would not
                                               such listed options become available)                   expiration Bitcoin Futures Contracts is               exceed one times [sic] the margin
                                               (‘‘Options’’) and over-the-counter                      referred to as ‘‘contango.’’ Alternatively,           requirement for the ProShares Bitcoin
                                               (‘‘OTC’’) swap agreements referencing                   when the market for certain Bitcoin                   ETF or the margin requirement for the
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts (together,                    Futures Contracts is such that the prices             ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF.
                                               Options and swap agreements are                         are higher in the nearer months than in
                                                                                                                                                             Overview of Bitcoin
                                               referred to herein as ‘‘Financial                       the more distant months, the sale during
                                               Instruments’’). The Funds may also                      the course of the ‘‘rolling process’’ of the            According to the Registration
                                               invest in Financial Instruments if the                  more nearby Bitcoin Futures Contracts                 Statement, bitcoin is a digital asset
                                               market for a specific Bitcoin Futures                   would take place at a price that is higher            based on the decentralized, open source
                                                                                                       than the price of the more distant                    protocol of the peer-to-peer bitcoin
                                               Contract experiences emergencies (e.g.,
                                                                                                       Bitcoin Futures Contracts. This pattern               computer network (the ‘‘Bitcoin
                                               natural disaster, terrorist attack or an act
                                                                                                       of higher future prices for shorter                   Network’’). Bitcoin is not issued by
                                               of God) or disruptions (e.g., a trading
                                                                                                       expiration Bitcoin Futures Contracts is               governments, banks or similar
                                               halt or a flash crash) that prevent or
                                                                                                       referred to as ‘‘backwardation.’’ The                 organizations. No single entity owns or
                                               make it impractical for a Fund to obtain
                                                                                                       presence of contango in the relevant                  operates the Bitcoin Network. The
                                               the appropriate amount of investment
                                                                                                       Bitcoin Futures Contracts at the time of              infrastructure of the Bitcoin Network is
                                               exposure using Bitcoin Futures
                                                                                                       rolling would be expected to adversely                collectively maintained by a
                                               Contracts.
                                                                                                       affect the long positions held by the                 decentralized user base. The Bitcoin
                                                  Each Fund intends to enter into swap
                                                                                                       ProShares Bitcoin ETF, and positively                 Network is accessed through software,
                                               agreements only with major, global
                                                                                                       affect the short positions held by the                and software governs bitcoin’s creation,
                                               financial institutions that meet certain
                                                                                                       ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF. Similarly,               movement, and ownership.
                                               credit quality standards and monitoring                                                                         The value of bitcoin is determined, in
                                               policies. Each Fund will use various                    the presence of backwardation in
                                                                                                       Bitcoin Futures Contracts at the time of              part, by the supply of, and demand for,
                                               techniques to minimize credit risk                                                                            bitcoin in the global exchange markets
                                               including posting collateral daily that is              rolling such Bitcoin Futures Contracts
                                                                                                       would be expected to adversely affect                 for the trading of bitcoin,15 market
                                               marked to market, using different                                                                             expectations for the adoption of bitcoin
                                               counterparties and limiting the net                     the short positions held by the
                                                                                                       ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF and                       by individuals, the number of
                                               amount due from any individual                                                                                merchants that accept bitcoin as a form
                                               counterparty.                                           positively affect the long positions held
                                                                                                       by the ProShares Bitcoin ETF.                         of payment and the volume of private
                                                  The Funds’ remaining net assets will                                                                       end-user-to-end-user transactions.
                                               be invested in cash or cash equivalents                    According to the Registration
                                                                                                       Statement, many U.S. commodities                        Bitcoin transaction and ownership
                                               and/or U.S. Treasury securities or other                                                                      records are reflected on the ‘‘Bitcoin
                                               high credit quality, short-term fixed-                  exchanges limit the amount of
                                                                                                       fluctuation permitted in futures contract             Blockchain,’’ which is a digital public
                                               income or similar securities (such as                                                                         record or ledger. Copies of this ledger
                                               money market funds and repurchase                       prices during a single trading day by
                                                                                                       regulations referred to as ‘‘daily price              are stored in a decentralized manner on
                                                                                                       fluctuation limits’’ or ‘‘daily limits.’’             the computers of each Bitcoin Network
                                                 12 The term ‘‘normal market conditions’’ includes,

                                               but is not limited to, the absence of trading halts     Once the daily limit has been reached                 user. Transaction data is permanently
                                               in the applicable financial markets generally;          in a particular contract, no trades may               recorded in files called ‘‘blocks,’’ which
                                               operational issues (e.g., systems failure) causing      be made that day at a price beyond that
                                               dissemination of inaccurate market information; or                                                               15 According to the Registration Statement, a
                                                                                                       limit or trading may be suspended for
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                                               force majeure type events such as natural or                                                                  ‘‘Bitcoin Exchange’’ is an electronic marketplace
                                               manmade disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act       specified periods during the trading                  where exchange participants may trade, buy and
                                               of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar                                                         sell bitcoin based on bid-ask trading. Bitcoin
                                               intervening circumstance.                                 14 Each Fund will generally deposit cash or U.S.    Exchanges are typically web-based and trade on a
                                                 13 Each Fund’s investments in Bitcoin Futures         Treasury securities with a Futures Commission         24-hour basis, publishing transaction price and
                                               Contracts will be subject to regulation under the       Merchant (‘‘FCM’’) for open positions in Bitcoin      volume data. A ‘‘Bitcoin Exchange Market’’ is the
                                               Commodity Exchange Act and traded pursuant to           Futures Contracts and cash or U.S. Treasury           global bitcoin exchange market for the trading of
                                               CFTC and applicable exchange regulations. See 7         securities as collateral for open positions in        bitcoin, which consists of transactions on Bitcoin
                                               U.S.C. 1.                                               Financial Instruments.                                Exchanges.



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices                                                  61103

                                               reflect transactions that have been                       calculated on each Business Day that                  Contracts and Financial Instruments
                                               recorded and authenticated by Bitcoin                     the New York Stock Exchange LLC                       held by a Fund based on the most
                                               Network participants. The Bitcoin                         (‘‘NYSE) is open. Each Fund will                      recently available prices for the Fund’s
                                               Network software source code includes                     compute its NAVs as of 4:00 p.m. E.T.                 investments.
                                               protocols that govern the creation of                     Each Fund’s NAV will be calculated                      The IFV will be disseminated on a per
                                               bitcoin and the cryptographic system                      only once each trading day. Each Fund’s               Share basis every 15 seconds during the
                                               that secures and verifies Bitcoin                         daily NAV may be found at                             Exchange’s Core Trading Session and be
                                               transactions.                                             www.ProShares.com.                                    widely disseminated by one or more
                                                                                                            In calculating the NAV of a Fund,                  major market data vendors during the
                                               Overview of Bitcoin Futures Contracts                     Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be valued              NYSE Arca Core Trading Session.17 In
                                                  Bitcoin Futures Contracts are a new                    using the last traded price on the                    addition, circumstances may arise in
                                               type of futures contract to be traded on                  primary listing exchange of such                      which the NYSE Arca Core Trading
                                               the CFE and CME or other U.S.                             contract before the NAV calculation                   Session is in progress, but trading in the
                                               exchanges (if available). Unlike the                      time of the Fund on such day. If Bitcoin              Bitcoin Futures Contracts is not
                                               established futures markets for                           Futures Contracts could not be                        occurring. Such circumstances may
                                               traditional physical commodities, the                     liquidated on such day, due to the                    result from reasons including, but not
                                               market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts is                   operation of daily limits or other rules              limited to, a futures exchange having a
                                               in the development stage and has very                     of the exchange upon which that                       separate holiday schedule than the
                                               limited trading and operational history.                  position is traded or otherwise, the                  NYSE Arca, a futures exchange closing
                                               As such, the liquidity of the market for                  Sponsor may determine a fair value                    prior to the close of the NYSE Arca,
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts will depend                     price as the basis for determining the                price fluctuation limits being reached in
                                               on, among other things, the supply and                    market value of such position for such                a Bitcoin Futures Contract, or a futures
                                               demand for Bitcoin Futures Contracts,                     day. Such fair value prices would                     exchange, imposing any other
                                               the adoption of bitcoin and the                           generally be determined based on                      suspension or limitation on trading in a
                                               commercial and speculative interest in                    available inputs about the current value              Bitcoin Futures Contract. In such
                                               the market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts                  of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts and                  instances, for IFV calculation purposes,
                                               and the potential ability to hedge                        would be based on principles that the                 the price of the applicable Bitcoin
                                               against the price of bitcoin with                         Sponsor deems fair and equitable so                   Futures Contracts, as well as Financial
                                               exchange-traded Bitcoin Futures                           long as such principles are consistent                Instruments whose price is derived from
                                               Contracts.                                                with normal industry standards.                       the Bitcoin Futures Contracts, would be
                                                  Additionally, if market participants                      In calculating the NAV of a Fund, the              static or priced by the Fund at the
                                               executing trades in Bitcoin Futures                       settlement value of a Fund’s non-                     applicable early cut-off time of the
                                               Contracts face constraints, including                     exchange-traded Financial Instruments                 exchange trading the applicable Bitcoin
                                               capital constraints, security risks, or                   generally will be determined by                       Futures Contract.
                                               high execution costs, the price of                        applying the then-current disseminated
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts may fail to                     levels for the Bitcoin Futures Contracts              Creation and Redemption of Shares
                                               capture price movements in the                            to the terms of such Fund’s non-                        According to the Registration
                                               underlying price of bitcoin. Moreover, it                 exchange-traded Financial Instruments.                Statement, each Fund intends to create
                                               is not clear how changes to the Bitcoin                   However, in the event that the Bitcoin                and redeem Shares in one or more
                                               Network, including changes that result                    Futures Contracts underlying the                      Creation Units. A Creation Unit is a
                                               in ‘‘forks’’ will impact the price of any                 Financial Instruments are not trading                 block of 25,000 Shares of a Fund. Except
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts.                                due to the operation of daily limits or               when aggregated in Creation Units, the
                                                  The CFTC has noted that the U.S.                       otherwise, the Sponsor may choose to                  Shares are not redeemable securities.
                                               futures exchanges that will trade bitcoin                 fair value the Financial Instruments.                   A creation transaction generally takes
                                               futures have agreed to significant                        Such fair value prices would generally                place when an Authorized Participant
                                               enhancements to protect customers and                     be determined based on available inputs               deposits generally a specified amount of
                                               maintain orderly markets, and                             about the current value of the Bitcoin                cash in exchange for a specified number
                                               announced its expectation that futures                    Futures Contracts and would be based                  of Creation Units. Similarly, Shares can
                                               exchanges that list and trade bitcoin                     on principles that the Sponsor deems                  be redeemed only in Creation Units for
                                               futures contracts will, through                           fair and equitable so long as such                    cash. The prices at which creations and
                                               information sharing agreements,                           principles are consistent with normal                 redemptions occur would be based on
                                               monitor the trading activity on the                       industry standards.                                   the next calculation of the NAV after an
                                               relevant cash platforms for potential                        Money Market Investments will be                   order is received.
                                               impacts on the price discovery process                    valued on the basis of broker quotes,                   Only Authorized Participants may
                                               for bitcoin futures contracts, including                  valuations provided by a third party                  purchase and redeem Creation Units.
                                               potential market manipulation and                         pricing service or at amortized cost.                 An Authorized Participant is an entity
                                               market dislocations due to flash rallies                  Indicative Fund Value                                 that has entered into an Authorized
                                               and crashes and trading outages.16                                                                              Participant Agreement with the Trust
                                                                                                            In order to provide updated
                                               Net Asset Value                                           information relating to the Funds for use             and the Sponsor.
                                                  According to the Registration                          by investors and market professionals,                Creation Procedures
                                               Statement, a Fund’s per Share NAV will                    the Exchange will calculate an updated
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                                                                                                                                                                 On any ‘‘Business Day’’, an
                                               be calculated by dividing the value of                    ‘‘Indicative Fund Value’’ (‘‘IFV’’). The              Authorized Participant may place an
                                               the net assets of such Fund (i.e., the                    IFV will be calculated by using the prior             order with the Distributor to create one
                                               value of its total assets less total                      day’s closing net assets of a Fund as a               or more Creation Units. For purposes of
                                               liabilities) by its total number of Shares                base and updating throughout the
                                               outstanding. Each Fund’s NAV will be                      Exchange’s Core Trading Session of 9:30                 17 Several major market data vendors display
                                                                                                         a.m. E.T. to 4:00 p.m. E.T. changes in                and/or make widely available IFVs taken from the
                                                 16 See   CFTC Release, supra, note 8.                   the value of the Bitcoin Futures                      CTA or other data feeds.



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                                               61104                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices

                                               processing both purchase and                            other financial informational sources.                a Fund.18 Trading in Shares of a Fund
                                               redemption orders, a ‘‘Business Day’’ for               Quotation and last-sale information                   will be halted if the circuit breaker
                                               each Fund means any day on which the                    regarding the Shares will be                          parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E
                                               NAV of such Fund is determined.                         disseminated through the facilities of                have been reached. Trading also may be
                                               Purchase and redemption orders must                     the Consolidated Tape Association                     halted because of market conditions or
                                               be placed by 3:30 p.m. E.T. or earlier if               (‘‘CTA’’). Quotation information for                  for reasons that, in the view of the
                                               the Exchange or other exchange material                 Money Market Investments and OTC                      Exchange, make trading in the Shares
                                               to the valuation or operation of such                   swaps agreements may be obtained from                 inadvisable.
                                               Fund closes before the cut-off time.                    brokers and dealers who make markets                     The Exchange may halt trading during
                                               Redemption Procedures                                   in such instruments. Quotation                        the day in which an interruption to the
                                                                                                       information for exchange-traded swaps                 dissemination of the IFV or the value of
                                                 According to the Registration                         will be available from the applicable
                                               Statement, the procedures by which an                                                                         the Benchmark Futures Contract
                                                                                                       exchange and major market vendors.                    occurs.19 If the interruption to the
                                               Authorized Participant can redeem one                   The IFV will be available through on-
                                               or more Creation Units mirror the                                                                             dissemination of the IFV or the value of
                                                                                                       line information services.                            the Benchmark persists past the trading
                                               procedures for the creation of Creation
                                               Units. On any Business Day, an                             In addition, the Funds’ website,                   day in which it occurred, the Exchange
                                               Authorized Participant may place an                     www.ProShares.com, will display the                   will halt trading no later than the
                                               order with the Distributor to redeem one                applicable end of day closing NAV. The                beginning of the trading day following
                                               or more Creation Units.                                 daily holdings of each Fund will be                   the interruption. In addition, if the
                                                 The redemption procedures allow                       available on the Funds’ website before                Exchange becomes aware that the NAV
                                               Authorized Participants to redeem                       9:30 a.m. E.T. Each Fund’s total                      with respect to the Shares is not
                                               Creation Units. Individual shareholders                 portfolio composition will be disclosed               disseminated to all market participants
                                               may not redeem directly from a Fund.                    each Business Day that NYSE Arca is                   at the same time, it will halt trading in
                                               By placing a redemption order, an                       open for trading, on the Funds’ website.              the Shares until such time as the NAV
                                               Authorized Participant agrees to deliver                The Funds’ website will also include a                is available to all market participants.
                                               the Creation Units to be redeemed                       form of the prospectus for the Funds                  Trading Rules
                                               through the Depository Trust                            that may be downloaded. The website
                                               Company’s (‘‘DTC’’) book entry system                   will include the Shares’ ticker and                      The Exchange deems the Shares to be
                                               to the applicable Fund not later than                   CUSIP information, along with                         equity securities, thus rendering trading
                                               noon E.T. on the first Business Day                     additional quantitative information                   in the Shares subject to the Exchange’s
                                               immediately following the redemption                    updated on a daily basis for each Fund.               existing rules governing the trading of
                                               order date (T+1). The Sponsor reserves                  The Funds’ website will include (1) the               equity securities. Shares will trade on
                                               the right to extend the deadline for a                  prior business day’s trading volume, the              the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m.
                                               Fund to receive the Creation Units                      prior business day’s reported NAV and                 to 8 p.m. E.T. in accordance with NYSE
                                               required for settlement up to the second                closing price, and a calculation of the               Arca Rule 7.34–E (Early, Core, and Late
                                               Business Day following the redemption                   premium and discount of the closing                   Trading Sessions). The Exchange has
                                               order date (T+2).                                       price or mid-point of the bid/ask spread              appropriate rules to facilitate
                                                                                                       at the time of NAV calculation (‘‘Bid/                transactions in the Shares during all
                                               Availability of Information                             Ask Price’’) against the NAV; and (2)                 trading sessions. As provided in NYSE
                                                  The NAV for the Funds’ Shares will                   data in chart format displaying the                   Arca Rule 7.6–E, the minimum price
                                               be disseminated daily to all market                     frequency distribution of discounts and               variation (‘‘MPV’’) for quoting and entry
                                               participants at the same time. The                      premiums of the daily closing price or                of orders in equity securities traded on
                                               intraday, closing prices, and settlement                Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within                 the NYSE Arca Marketplace is $0.01,
                                               prices of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts                 appropriate ranges, for at least each of              with the exception of securities that are
                                               will be readily available from the                      the four previous calendar quarters. The              priced less than $1.00 for which the
                                               applicable futures exchange websites,                   website disclosure of portfolio holdings              MPV for order entry is $0.0001.
                                               automated quotation systems, published                  will be made daily and will include, as                  The Shares will conform to the initial
                                               or other public sources, or major market                applicable, (i) the name, quantity, value,            and continued listing criteria under
                                               data vendors. The value of the                          expiration and strike price of Bitcoin                NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E. The trading of
                                               Benchmark Futures Contract will be                      Futures Contracts and Financial                       the Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca
                                               disseminated by one or more major                       Instruments, (ii) the counterparty to and             Rule 8.200–E, Commentary .02(e),
                                               market data vendors on at least a 15-                   value of Financial Instruments, and (iii)             which sets forth certain restrictions on
                                               second delayed basis during the NYSE                    the aggregate net value of the Money                  Equity Trading Permit (‘‘ETP’’) Holders
                                               Arca Core Trading Session of 9:30 a.m.                  Market Investments held in each Fund’s                acting as registered Market Makers in
                                               to 4:00 p.m. E.T.                                       portfolio, if applicable. The Funds’                  Trust Issued Receipts to facilitate
                                                  Complete real-time data for the                      website will be publicly available prior              surveillance. The Exchange represents
                                               Benchmark Futures Contracts and                         to the public offering of Shares and                  that, for initial and continued listing,
                                               Options on Bitcoin Futures will be                      accessible at no charge.                              each Fund will be in compliance with
                                               available by subscription through on-
                                                                                                          The spot price of bitcoin also is                  Rule 10A–3 20 under the Act, as
                                               line information services. CFE and CME
                                                                                                       available on a 24-hour basis from major               provided by NYSE Arca Rule 5.3–E. A
                                               will provide delayed futures and
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                                                                                                       market data vendors.                                  minimum of 100,000 Shares of each
                                               options on futures (once available)
                                                                                                                                                             Fund will be outstanding at the
                                               information on current and past trading                 Trading Halts
                                               sessions and market news free of charge                                                                         18 See
                                                                                                         With respect to trading halts, the                           NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E.
                                               on their respective websites. The                                                                               19 A
                                                                                                       Exchange may consider all relevant                           limit up/limit down condition in the futures
                                               specific contract specifications for                                                                          market would not be considered an interruption
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts would also be                 factors in exercising its discretion to               requiring one or both Funds to be halted.
                                               available on such websites, as well as                  halt or suspend trading in the Shares of                20 17 CFR 240.10A–3.




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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices                                            61105

                                               commencement of trading on the                          surveillance information, including                   Holders deliver a prospectus to
                                               Exchange.                                               customer identity information, with                   investors purchasing newly issued
                                                                                                       respect to transactions (including                    Shares prior to or concurrently with the
                                               Surveillance
                                                                                                       transactions in cash-settled Options)                 confirmation of a transaction; and (8)
                                                  The Exchange represents that trading                 occurring on US futures exchanges,                    trading information.
                                               in the Shares of each Fund will be                      which are members of the ISG.                            Prior to the commencement of
                                               subject to the existing trading                            Not more than 10% of the net assets                trading, the Exchange will inform its
                                               surveillances administered by the                       of a Fund in the aggregate invested in                ETP Holders of the suitability
                                               Exchange, as well as cross-market                       Bitcoin Futures Contracts shall consist               requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–
                                               surveillances administered by FINRA on                  of Bitcoin Futures Contracts whose                    E(a) in an Information Bulletin.
                                               behalf of the Exchange, which are                       principal market is not a member of the               Specifically, ETP Holders will be
                                               designed to detect violations of                        ISG or is a market with which the                     reminded in the Information Bulletin
                                               Exchange rules and applicable federal                   Exchange does not have a CSSA.                        that, in recommending transactions in
                                               securities laws.21 The Exchange                            In addition, the Exchange also has a               the Shares, they must have a reasonable
                                               represents that these procedures are                    general policy prohibiting the                        basis to believe that (1) the
                                               adequate to properly monitor Exchange                   distribution of material, non-public                  recommendation is suitable for a
                                               trading of the Shares in all trading                    information by its employees.                         customer given reasonable inquiry
                                               sessions and to deter and detect                           All statements and representations                 concerning the customer’s investment
                                               violations of Exchange rules and federal                made in this filing regarding (a) the                 objectives, financial situation, needs,
                                               securities laws applicable to trading on                description of the portfolios of the                  and any other information known by
                                               the Exchange.                                           Funds or the Benchmark, (b) limitations               such ETP Holder, and (2) the customer
                                                  The surveillances referred to above                  on portfolio holdings, reference assets or            can evaluate the special characteristics,
                                               generally focus on detecting securities                 the Benchmark, or (c) the applicability               and is able to bear the financial risks, of
                                               trading outside their normal patterns,                  of Exchange listing rules specified in                an investment in the Shares. In
                                               which could be indicative of                            this rule filing shall constitute                     connection with the suitability
                                               manipulative or other violative activity.               continued listing requirements for                    obligation, the Information Bulletin will
                                               When such situations are detected,                      listing the Shares on the Exchange.                   also provide that ETP Holders must
                                               surveillance analysis follows and                          The issuer has represented to the                  make reasonable efforts to obtain the
                                               investigations are opened, where                        Exchange that it will advise the                      following information: (1) The
                                               appropriate, to review the behavior of                  Exchange of any failure by the Funds to               customer’s financial status; (2) the
                                               all relevant parties for all relevant                   comply with the continued listing                     customer’s tax status; (3) the customer’s
                                               trading violations.                                     requirements, and, pursuant to its                    investment objectives; and (4) such
                                                  The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of                  obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the             other information used or considered to
                                               the Exchange, or both, will                             Act, the Exchange will monitor for                    be reasonable by such ETP Holder or
                                               communicate as needed regarding                         compliance with the continued listing                 registered representative in making
                                               trading in the Shares and certain Bitcoin               requirements. If a Fund is not in                     recommendations to the customer.
                                               Futures Contracts with other markets                    compliance with the applicable listing                   Further, the Exchange states that
                                               and other entities that are members of                  requirements, the Exchange will                       FINRA has implemented increased sales
                                               the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on                  commence delisting procedures under                   practice and customer margin
                                               behalf of the Exchange, or both, may                    NYSE Arca Rule 5.5–E(m).                              requirements for FINRA members
                                               obtain trading information regarding                                                                          applicable to inverse, leveraged and
                                               trading in the Shares and certain Bitcoin               Information Bulletin
                                                                                                                                                             inverse leveraged securities (which
                                               Futures Contracts from such markets                        Prior to the commencement of                       include the Shares) and options on such
                                               and other entities. In addition, the                    trading, the Exchange will inform its                 securities, as described in FINRA
                                               Exchange may obtain information                         ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin                Regulatory Notices 09–31 (June 2009),
                                               regarding trading in the Shares and                     of the special characteristics and risks              09–53 (August 2009), and 09–65
                                               certain Bitcoin Futures Contracts from                  associated with trading the Shares.                   (November 2009) (collectively, ‘‘FINRA
                                               markets and other entities that are                     Specifically, the Information Bulletin                Regulatory Notices’’). ETP Holders that
                                               members of ISG or with which the                        will discuss the following: (1) The risks             carry customer accounts will be
                                               Exchange has in place a comprehensive                   involved in trading the Shares during                 required to follow the FINRA guidance
                                               surveillance sharing agreement                          the Early and Late Trading Sessions                   set forth in these notices. As noted
                                               (‘‘CSSA’’).22 The Exchange is also able                 when an updated IFV will not be                       above, the Funds will seek investment
                                               to obtain information regarding trading                 calculated or publicly disseminated; (2)              results that match or that are the inverse
                                               in the Shares, the commodity                            the procedures for purchases and                      (–1x) of, respectively, the performance
                                               underlying futures or options on futures                redemptions of Shares in Creation Units               of the Benchmark. Over a period of time
                                               through ETP Holders, in connection                      (and that Shares are not individually                 in excess of one day, the cumulative
                                               with such ETP Holders’ proprietary or                   redeemable); (3) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–                  percentage increase or decrease in the
                                               customer trades which they effect                       E(a), which imposes a duty of due                     NAV of the Shares of a Fund may
                                               through ETP Holders on any relevant                     diligence on its ETP Holders to learn the             diverge significantly from a multiple or
                                               market. The Exchange can obtain market                  essential facts relating to every customer            inverse multiple of the cumulative
                                                                                                       prior to trading the Shares; (4) how                  percentage decrease or increase in the
                                                 21 FINRA conducts cross-market surveillances on
                                                                                                       information regarding the IFV is                      relevant benchmark due to a
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                                               behalf of the Exchange pursuant to a regulatory
                                               services agreement. The Exchange is responsible for
                                                                                                       disseminated; (5) how information                     compounding effect.
                                               FINRA’s performance under this regulatory services      regarding portfolio holdings is                          In addition, the Information Bulletin
                                               agreement.                                              disseminated; (6) that a static IFV will              will advise ETP Holders, prior to the
                                                 22 For a list of the current members of ISG, see
                                                                                                       be disseminated, between the close of                 commencement of trading, of the
                                               www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all
                                               components of a Fund may trade on markets that
                                                                                                       trading on the CFE and CME and the                    prospectus delivery requirements
                                               are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has       close of the NYSE Arca Core Trading                   applicable to a Fund. The Information
                                               in place a CSSA.                                        Session; (7) the requirement that ETP                 Bulletin will also discuss any


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                                               61106                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices

                                               exemptive, no-action, and interpretive                     the Shares, the commodity underlying                  Futures Contracts and Financial
                                               relief granted by the Commission from                      futures or options on futures through                 Instruments, (ii) the counterparty to and
                                               any rules under the Act. In addition, the                  ETP Holders, in connection with such                  value of Financial Instruments, and (iii)
                                               Information Bulletin will reference that                   ETP Holders’ proprietary or customer                  the aggregate net value of the Money
                                               a Fund is subject to various fees and                      trades which they effect through ETP                  Market Investments held in each Fund’s
                                               expenses described in the Registration                     Holders on any relevant market.                       portfolio, if applicable. The Funds’
                                               Statement. The Information Bulletin                           The Exchange can obtain market                     website will be publicly available prior
                                               will also reference that the CFTC has                      surveillance information, including                   to the public offering of Shares and
                                               regulatory jurisdiction over the trading                   customer identity information, with                   accessible at no charge.
                                               of Bitcoin Futures Contracts traded on                     respect to transactions (including                       Moreover, prior to the commencement
                                               U.S. markets.                                              transactions in cash-settled Options)                 of trading, the Exchange will inform its
                                                  The Information Bulletin will also                      occurring on U.S. futures exchanges,                  Equity Trading Permit Holders in an
                                               disclose the trading hours of the Shares                   which are members of the ISG. Not more                Information Bulletin of the special
                                               that the NAV for the Shares will be                        than 10% of the net assets of a Fund in               characteristics and risks associated with
                                               calculated after 4:00 p.m. E.T. each                       the aggregate invested in Futures                     trading the Shares and of the suitability
                                               trading day. The Information Bulletin                      Contracts shall consist of Bitcoin                    requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–
                                               will disclose that information about the                   Futures Contracts whose principal                     E(a). The Information Bulletin will
                                               Shares will be publicly available on the                   market is not a member of the ISG or is               advise ETP Holders, prior to the
                                               Funds’ website.                                            a market with which the Exchange does                 commencement of trading, of the
                                                                                                          not have a CSSA. The intraday, closing                prospectus delivery requirements
                                               2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                          prices, and settlement prices of the                  applicable to a Fund. The Information
                                                  The basis under the Act for this                        Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be readily             Bulletin will also discuss any
                                               proposed rule change is the requirement                    available from the applicable futures                 exemptive, no-action, and interpretive
                                               under Section 6(b)(5) 23 that an                           exchange websites, automated quotation                relief granted by the Commission from
                                               exchange have rules that are designed to                   systems, published or other public                    any rules under the Act. In addition, the
                                               prevent fraudulent and manipulative                        sources, or major market data vendors                 Information Bulletin will reference that
                                               acts and practices, to promote just and                    website or on-line information services.              a Fund is subject to various fees and
                                               equitable principles of trade, to remove                      Complete real-time data for the                    expenses described in the Registration
                                               impediments to, and perfect the                            Bitcoin Futures Contracts and Options                 Statement. The Information Bulletin
                                               mechanism of a free and open market                        on Bitcoin Futures will be available by               will also reference that the CFTC has
                                               and, in general, to protect investors and                  subscription from on-line information                 regulatory jurisdiction over the trading
                                               the public interest.                                       services. CFE and CME will provide                    of Bitcoin Futures Contracts traded on
                                                  The Exchange believes that the                          delayed futures information on current                U.S. markets. The Information Bulletin
                                               proposed rule change is designed to                        and past trading sessions and market                  will also disclose the trading hours of
                                               prevent fraudulent and manipulative                        news free of charge on their websites.                the Shares and that the NAV for the
                                               acts and practices and to protect                          The specific contract specifications for              Shares will be calculated after 4:00 p.m.
                                               investors and the public interest in that                  Bitcoin Futures Contracts would also be               E.T. each trading day. The Information
                                               the Shares will be listed and traded on                    available on such websites, as well as                Bulletin will disclose that information
                                               the Exchange pursuant to the initial and                   other financial informational sources.                about the Shares will be publicly
                                               continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca                    Information regarding options will be                 available on the Funds’ website.
                                               Rule 8.200–E.                                              available from the applicable exchanges                  Trading in Shares of a Fund will be
                                                  The Exchange has in place                               or major market data vendors. Quotation               halted if the circuit breaker parameters
                                               surveillance procedures that are                           and last-sale information regarding the               in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E have been
                                               adequate to properly monitor trading in                    Shares will be disseminated through the               reached or because of market conditions
                                               the Shares in all trading sessions and to                  facilities of the CTA. The Funds’                     or for reasons that, in the view of the
                                               deter and detect violations of Exchange                    website will also include a form of the               Exchange, make trading in the Shares
                                               rules and applicable federal securities                    prospectus for the Funds that may be                  inadvisable.
                                               laws. The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf                     downloaded. The website will include                     The proposed rule change is designed
                                               of the Exchange, or both, will                             the Shares’ ticker and CUSIP                          to perfect the mechanism of a free and
                                               communicate as needed regarding                            information, along with additional                    open market and, in general, to protect
                                               trading in the Shares, and certain                         quantitative information updated on a                 investors and the public interest in that
                                               Bitcoin Futures Contracts with other                       daily basis for each Fund. The Funds’                 it will facilitate the listing and trading
                                               markets and other entities that are                        website will include (1) Daily trading                of a new type of Trust Issued Receipt
                                               members of the ISG, and the Exchange                       volume, the prior business day’s                      based on the price of Bitcoin Futures
                                               or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or                    reported NAV and closing price, and a                 Contracts that will enhance competition
                                               both, may obtain trading information                       calculation of the premium and                        among market participants, to the
                                               regarding trading in the Shares and                        discount of the closing price or mid-                 benefit of investors and the marketplace.
                                               certain Bitcoin Futures Contracts from                     point of the Bid/Ask Price against the                As noted above, the Exchange has in
                                               such markets and other entities. In                        NAV; and (2) data in chart format                     place surveillance procedures that are
                                               addition, the Exchange may obtain                          displaying the frequency distribution of              adequate to properly monitor trading in
                                               information regarding trading in the                       discounts and premiums of the daily                   the Shares in all trading sessions and to
                                               Shares and certain Bitcoin Futures                         closing price or Bid/Ask Price against                deter and detect violations of Exchange
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                                               Contracts from markets and other                           the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for               rules and applicable federal securities
                                               entities that are members of ISG or with                   at least each of the four previous                    laws.
                                               which the Exchange has in place a                          calendar quarters. The website
                                               CSSA. The Exchange is also able to                         disclosure of portfolio holdings will be              B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                               obtain information regarding trading in                    made daily and will include, as                       Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                                                                          applicable, (i) the name, quantity, value,              The Exchange does not believe that
                                                 23 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                expiration and strike price of Bitcoin                the proposed rule change will impose


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices                                                  61107

                                               any burden on competition that is not                   rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       proposed rule change from interested
                                               necessary or appropriate in furtherance                 submission, all subsequent                            persons.
                                               of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange                 amendments, all written statements
                                                                                                                                                             I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                               notes that the proposed rule change will                with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                             Terms of Substance of the Proposed
                                               facilitate the listing and trading of a new             change that are filed with the
                                                                                                       Commission, and all written                           Rule Change
                                               type of Trust Issued Receipt based on
                                               the price of Bitcoin Futures Contracts                  communications relating to the                          This proposed rule change by the
                                               and that will enhance competition                       proposed rule change between the                      OCC would make certain revisions to
                                               among market participants, to the                       Commission and any person, other than                 OCC’s Rules and By-Laws to enhance
                                               benefit of investors and the marketplace.               those that may be withheld from the                   OCC’s existing tools to address the risks
                                                                                                       public in accordance with the                         of liquidity shortfalls and credit losses
                                               C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                               Statement on Comments on the                                                                                  and to establish new tools by which
                                                                                                       available for website viewing and                     OCC could re-establish a matched book
                                               Proposed Rule Change Received From                      printing in the Commission’s Public
                                               Members, Participants, or Others                                                                              following a default. Each of the tools
                                                                                                       Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                      proposed herein is contemplated to be
                                                 No written comments were solicited                    Washington, DC 20549 on official                      deployed by OCC in an extreme stress
                                               or received with respect to the proposed                business days between the hours of                    event that has placed OCC into a
                                               rule change.                                            10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                recovery or orderly wind-down
                                                                                                       filing also will be available for                     scenario.
                                               III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                                                                       inspection and copying at the principal
                                               Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                                                                           II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                                                                                       office of the Exchange. All comments
                                               Commission Action                                       received will be posted without change.               Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                                  Within 45 days of the date of                        Persons submitting comments are                       Proposed Rule Change
                                               publication of this notice in the Federal               cautioned that we do not redact or edit
                                               Register or within such longer period                                                                           In its filing with the Commission,
                                                                                                       personal identifying information from
                                               up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may                                                                       OCC included statements concerning
                                                                                                       comment submissions. You should
                                               designate if it finds such longer period                                                                      the purpose of and basis for the
                                                                                                       submit only information that you wish
                                               to be appropriate and publishes its                                                                           proposed rule change and discussed any
                                                                                                       to make available publicly. All
                                               reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which                                                                    comments it received on the proposed
                                                                                                       submissions should refer to File
                                               the self-regulatory organization                        Number SR–NYSEArca–2017–139 and                       rule change. The text of these statements
                                               consents, the Commission will:                          should be submitted on or before                      may be examined at the places specified
                                                  A. By order approve or disapprove the                January 16, 2018.                                     in Item IV below. OCC has prepared
                                               proposed rule change, or                                                                                      summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B),
                                                                                                         For the Commission, by the Division of              and (C) below, of the most significant
                                                  B. institute proceedings to determine                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                               whether the proposed rule change                                                                              aspects of these statements. All terms
                                                                                                       authority.24
                                               should be disapproved.                                                                                        with initial capitalization not defined
                                                                                                       Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                                                                             here have the same meaning set forth in
                                               IV. Solicitation of Comments                            Assistant Secretary.                                  OCC’s By-Laws and Rules.3
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2017–27690 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am]
                                                 Interested persons are invited to                                                                           (A) Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                               submit written data, views, and                                                                               Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                               arguments concerning the foregoing,                                                                           Proposed Rule Change
                                               including whether the proposed rule
                                                                                                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               1. Purpose
                                               change is consistent with the Act.
                                                                                                       COMMISSION
                                               Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                           Background
                                               the following methods:                                  [Release No. 34–82351; File No. SR–OCC–
                                                                                                       2017–020]                                               The purpose of this proposed rule
                                               Electronic Comments                                                                                           change is to make certain revisions to
                                                  • Use the Commission’s internet                      Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                    OCC’s Rules and By-Laws Laws that are
                                               comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Options Clearing Corporation; Notice                  designed to enhance OCC’s existing
                                               rules/sro.shtml); or                                    of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change                   tools to address the risks of liquidity
                                                  • Send an email to rule-comments@                    Concerning Enhanced and New Tools                     shortfalls and credit losses and to
                                               sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 for Recovery Scenarios                                establish tools by which OCC could re-
                                               NYSEArca–2017–139 on the subject                        December 19, 2017.                                    establish a matched book following a
                                               line.                                                      Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                default. Each of the tools proposed
                                               Paper Comments                                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934                       herein is contemplated to be deployed
                                                                                                       (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder 2               by OCC in an extreme stress event that
                                                  • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                        has placed OCC into a recovery or
                                                                                                       notice is hereby given that on December
                                               to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   18, 2017, The Options Clearing                        orderly wind-down scenario. Each of
                                               Commission, 100 F Street NE,                            Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with the                  the proposed revisions also is designed
                                               Washington, DC 20549–1090.                              Securities and Exchange Commission                    to further OCC’s compliance, in whole
                                               All submissions should refer to File                    (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                    or in part, with the provisions of the
                                               Number SR–NYSEArca–2017–139. This                       change as described in Items I, II and III            Commission’s rules identified
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                                               file number should be included on the                   below, which Items have been prepared                 immediately below.
                                               subject line if email is used. To help the              by OCC. The Commission is publishing                    On September 28, 2016, the
                                               Commission process and review your                      this notice to solicit comments on the                Commission adopted amendments to
                                               comments more efficiently, please use
                                               only one method. The Commission will                      24 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            3 OCC’s By-Laws and Rules can be found on
                                               post all comments on the Commission’s                     1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              OCC’s public website: http://optionsclearing.com/
                                               internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                     2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 about/publications/bylaws.jsp.



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Document Created: 2017-12-23 03:08:28
Document Modified: 2017-12-23 03:08:28
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation82 FR 61100 

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