| Page Range | 43923-43932 | |
| FR Document | 2018-18578 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 43923-43932] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-18578] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-83913; File No. SR-CboeBZX-2018-001] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Order Disapproving a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade the Shares of the GraniteShares Bitcoin ETF and the GraniteShares Short Bitcoin ETF August 22, 2018. I. Introduction On January 5, 2018, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (``BZX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to list and trade the shares (``Shares'') of the GraniteShares Bitcoin ETF (``Long Fund'') and the GraniteShares Short Bitcoin ETF (``Short Fund'') (each a ``Fund'' and, collectively, ``Funds'') issued by the GraniteShares ETP Trust (``Trust'') \3\ under BZX Rule 14.11(f)(4).\4\ The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on January 18, 2018.\5\ The comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rule Change closed on February 8, 2018. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. \3\ The Trust filed a registration statement with the Commission on December 15, 2017. See Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated December 15, 2017 (File No. 333-222109) (``Registration Statement''). The Registration Statement ``will be effective as of the date of any offer and sale pursuant to the Registration Statement.'' Notice, infra note 5, 83 FR at 2705 n.7. \4\ On August 21, 2018, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposal, and on August 22, 2018, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the proposal. As discussed below, however, see Section III.E, infra, the Commission views these amendments as untimely. Furthermore, even if these amendments had been timely filed, they would not alter the Commission's conclusion that the Exchange's proposal is not consistent with the Exchange Act. See id. \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82484 (Jan. 11, 2018), 83 FR 2704 (Jan. 18, 2018) (``Notice''). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On February 22, 2018, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,\6\ the Commission designated a longer period within which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.\7\ On April 5, 2018, the Commission instituted proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act \8\ to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.\9\ The comment period and rebuttal comment period for the Order Instituting Proceedings closed on May 1, 2018, and May 15, 2018, respectively.\10\ Finally, on June 28, 2018, the Commission extended the period for consideration of the proposed rule change to September 15, 2018.\11\ As of August 21, 2018, the Commission had received 15 comments on the proposed rule change.\12\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82759 (Feb. 22, 2018), 83 FR 8719 (Feb. 28, 2018). \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82995 (Apr. 5, 2018), 83 FR 15425 (Apr. 10, 2018) (``Order Instituting Proceedings''). \10\ See id. at 15426. \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83548 (June 28, 2018), 83 FR 31246 (July 3, 2018). \12\ See Letters from Anita Desai (Apr. 6, 2018) (``Desai Letter''); Ed Kaleda (Apr. 6, 2018) (``Kaleda Letter''); Don Krohn (Apr. 7, 2018) (``Krohn Letter''); Adam Malkin (Apr. 8, 2018) (``Malkin Letter''); Shravan Kumar (Apr. 11, 2018) (``Kumar Letter''); David Barnwell (Apr. 12, 2018) (``Barnwell Letter''); Louise Fitzgerald (Apr. 18, 2018) (``Fitzgerald Letter''); Sharon Brown-Hruska, Managing Director, and Trevor Wagener, Consultant, NERA Economic Consulting (May 18, 2018) (``NERA Letter''); Alex Hales (July 8, 2018) (``Hales Letter''); Anthony C. Otenyi (July 18, 2018) (``Otenyi Letter''); V.K. Bhat (July 28, 2018) (``Bhat Letter''); Sami Santos (Aug. 7, 2018) (``Santos Letter''); Arthur Netto (Aug. 9, 2018) (``Netto Letter''); Sam M. Ahn (Aug. 17, 2018) (``Ahn Letter''); and William Rhind, CEO, GraniteShares (Aug. 20, 2018) (``GraniteShares Letter''). All comments on the proposed rule change are available on the Commission's website at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-cboebzx-2018-001/cboebzx2018001.htm. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This order disapproves the proposed rule change. Although the Commission is disapproving this proposed rule change, the Commission emphasizes that its disapproval does not rest on an evaluation of whether bitcoin, or blockchain technology more generally, has utility or value as an innovation or an investment. Rather, the Commission is disapproving this proposed rule change because, as discussed below, the Exchange has not met its burden under the Exchange Act and the Commission's Rules of Practice to demonstrate that its proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5), in particular the requirement that a national securities exchange's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.\13\ Among other things, the Exchange has offered no record evidence to demonstrate that bitcoin futures markets are ``markets of significant size.'' That failure is critical because, as explained below, the Exchange has failed to establish that other means to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices will be sufficient, and therefore surveillance-sharing with a regulated market of significant size related to bitcoin is necessary to satisfy the statutory requirement that the Exchange's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ See 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). \14\ See infra notes 31-33 and accompanying text. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Description of the Proposal The Exchange proposes to list and trade the Shares under BZX Rule 14.11(f)(4), which governs the listing and trading of Trust Issued Receipts on the Exchange.\15\ Each Fund will be a series of the Trust, and the Trust and the Funds will be managed and controlled by GraniteShares Advisors LLC (``Sponsor''). Bank of New York Mellon will serve as administrator, custodian, and transfer agent for the Funds. Foreside Fund Services, LLC will serve as the distributor of the Shares (``Distributor''). The Trust will offer Shares of the Funds for sale through the Distributor in ``Creation Units'' in transactions with ``Authorized Participants'' who have entered into agreements with the Distributor.\16\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ BZX Rule 14.11(f)(4) applies to Trust Issued Receipts that invest in ``Financial Instruments.'' The term ``Financial Instruments,'' as defined in BZX Rule 14.11(f)(4)(A)(iv), 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. \16\ See Notice, supra note 5, 83 FR at 2707. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- According to the Exchange, the Long Fund's investment objective will be to seek results (before fees and expenses) that, both for a single day and over time, correspond to the performance of lead month bitcoin futures contracts listed and traded on the Cboe Futures Exchange, Inc. (``CFE'') (``Benchmark Futures Contracts''). Conversely, the Short Fund's investment objective will be to seek results (before fees and expenses) that, on a daily basis, correspond to the inverse (- 1x) of the daily performance of the Benchmark Futures Contracts for a single day. Each Fund generally intends to invest substantially all of its assets in the Benchmark Futures Contracts and cash and cash equivalents (which would be used to collateralize the Benchmark Futures Contracts), but may invest in other U.S. exchange listed bitcoin futures contracts, as available (together [[Page 43924]] with Benchmark Futures Contracts, collectively, ``Bitcoin Futures Contracts'').\17\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \17\ See id. at 2705-06. The Bitcoin Futures Contracts include the bitcoin futures contracts listed and traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (``CME''). See id. at 2705. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange represents that no 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 neither a member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group nor a market with which the Exchange does not have a comprehensive surveillance-sharing agreement.\18\ Further, according to the Notice, in the event that position, price, or accountability limits are reached with respect to Bitcoin Futures Contracts, each Fund may invest in U.S. listed swaps on bitcoin or the Benchmark Futures Contracts (``Listed Bitcoin Swaps''). The Notice also states that, in the event that position, price, or accountability limits are reached with respect to Listed Bitcoin Swaps, each Fund may invest in over-the-counter swaps on bitcoin or the Benchmark Futures Contracts (``OTC Bitcoin Swaps,'' and together with Listed Bitcoin Swaps, collectively, ``Bitcoin Swaps'').\19\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \18\ See id. at 2709 n.26. \19\ See id. at 2706. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange asserts that ``policy concerns related to an underlying reference asset and its susceptibility to manipulation are mitigated as it relates to bitcoin because the very nature of the bitcoin ecosystem makes manipulation of bitcoin difficult.'' \20\ According to the Exchange: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \20\ Notice, supra note 5, 83 FR at 2706. The geographically diverse and continuous nature of bitcoin trading makes it difficult and prohibitively costly to manipulate the price of bitcoin and, in many instances, that the bitcoin market is generally less susceptible to manipulation than the equity, fixed income, and commodity futures markets. There are a number of reasons this is the case, including that there is not inside information about revenue, earnings, corporate activities, or sources of supply; it is generally not possible to disseminate false or misleading information about bitcoin in order to manipulate; manipulation of the price on any single venue would require manipulation of the global bitcoin price in order to be effective; a substantial over- the-counter market provides liquidity and shock-absorbing capacity; bitcoin's 24/7/365 nature provides constant arbitrage opportunities across all trading venues; and it is unlikely that any one actor could obtain a dominant market share. Further, bitcoin is arguably less susceptible to manipulation than other commodities that underlie ETPs; there may be inside information relating to the supply of the physical commodity such as the discovery of new sources of supply or significant disruptions at mining facilities that supply the commodity that simply are inapplicable as it relates to bitcoin. Further, the Exchange believes that the fragmentation across bitcoin exchanges, the relatively slow speed of transactions, and the capital necessary to maintain a significant presence on each exchange make manipulation of bitcoin prices through continuous trading activity unlikely. Moreover, the linkage between the bitcoin markets and the presence of arbitrageurs in those markets means that the manipulation of the price of bitcoin price on any single venue would require manipulation of the global bitcoin price in order to be effective. Arbitrageurs must have funds distributed across multiple bitcoin exchanges in order to take advantage of temporary price dislocations, thereby making it unlikely that there will be strong concentration of funds on any particular bitcoin exchange. As a result, the potential for manipulation on a particular bitcoin exchange would require overcoming the liquidity supply of such arbitrageurs who are effectively eliminating any cross-market pricing differences. For all of these reasons, bitcoin is not particularly susceptible to manipulation, especially as compared to other approved ETP reference assets.\21\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \21\ Id. The Notice also asserts that the susceptibility of the underlying futures contracts to manipulation is mitigated by the ``significant liquidity that the Exchange expects to exist in the market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts.'' \22\ The Notice asserts that the market for bitcoin futures will be ``sufficiently liquid to support numerous ETPs shortly after launch,'' citing ``numerous conversations with market participants, issuers, and discussions with personnel of CFE.''\23\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \22\ Id. \23\ Id. at 2710. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. Discussion A. The Applicable Standard for Review The Commission must consider whether the Exchange's proposal is consistent with Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5), which requires, in relevant part, that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed ``to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices'' and ``to protect investors and the public interest.'' \24\ Under the Commission's Rules of Practice, the ``burden to demonstrate that a proposed rule change is consistent with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations issued thereunder . . . is on the self-regulatory organization [`SRO'] that proposed the rule change.'' \25\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). \25\ Rule 700(b)(3), Commission Rules of Practice, 17 CFR 201.700(b)(3). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The description of a proposed rule change, its purpose and operation, its effect, and a legal analysis of its consistency with applicable requirements must all be sufficiently detailed and specific to support an affirmative Commission finding,\26\ and any failure of an SRO to provide this information may result in the Commission not having a sufficient basis to make an affirmative finding that a proposed rule change is consistent with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations.\27\ Moreover, ``unquestioning reliance'' on an SRO's representations in a proposed rule change is not sufficient to justify Commission approval of a proposed rule change.\28\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \26\ See id. \27\ See id. \28\ See Susquehanna Int'l Group, LLP v. Securities and Exchange Commission, 866 F.3d 442, 447 (D.C. Cir. 2017). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Preventing Fraudulent and Manipulative Practices 1. Applicable Legal Standard To approve the Exchange's proposal to list the Shares, the Commission must be able to find that the proposal is, consistent with Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5), ``designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.'' \29\ As the Commission recently explained in an order disapproving a listing proposal for the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust (``Winklevoss Order''), although surveillance- sharing agreements are not the exclusive means by which an exchange- traded product (``ETP'') listing exchange can meet its obligations under Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5), such agreements are a widely used means for exchanges that list ETPs to meet their obligations, and the Commission has historically recognized their importance.\30\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \29\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). \30\ Order Setting Aside Action by Delegated Authority and Disapproving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendments No. 1 and 2, To List and Trade Shares of the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83723 (July 26, 2018), 83 FR 37579, 37580 (Aug. 1, 2018) (SR-BatsBZX-2018-30). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commission has therefore determined that, if the listing exchange for an ETP fails to establish that other means to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices will be sufficient, the listing exchange must enter into a surveillance-sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size because ``[s]uch agreements provide a necessary deterrent to manipulation because they facilitate the availability of information needed to fully investigate a manipulation if it were to occur.'' \31\ [[Page 43925]] Accordingly, a surveillance-sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size is required to ensure that, in compliance with the Exchange Act, the proposal is ``designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.'' \32\ In this context, the Commission has interpreted the terms ``significant market'' and ``market of significant size'' to include a market (or group of markets) as to which (a) there is a reasonable likelihood that a person attempting to manipulate the ETP would also have to trade on that market to successfully manipulate the ETP, so that a surveillance-sharing agreement would assist the ETP listing market in detecting and deterring misconduct, and (b) it is unlikely that trading in the ETP would be the predominant influence on prices in that market.\33\ Thus, a surveillance-sharing agreement must be entered into with a ``significant market'' to assist in detecting and deterring manipulation of the ETP, because someone attempting to manipulate the ETP is reasonably likely to also engage in trading activity on that ``significant market.'' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \31\ Id. (citing Amendment to Rule Filing Requirements for Self- Regulatory Organizations Regarding New Derivative Securities Products, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 40761 (Dec. 8, 1998), 63 FR 70952, 70954, 70959 (Dec. 22, 1998) (File No. S7-13-98)). \32\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). \33\ See Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37594. This definition is illustrative and not exclusive. There could be other types of ``significant markets'' and ``markets of significant size,'' but this definition is an example that will provide guidance to market participants. See id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although the Winklevoss Order applied these standards to a commodity-trust ETP based on bitcoin, the Commission believes that these standards are also appropriate for an ETP based on bitcoin futures. When approving the first commodity-futures ETP, the Commission specifically noted that ``[i]nformation sharing agreements with primary markets trading index components underlying a derivative product are an important part of a self-regulatory organization's ability to monitor for trading abuses in derivative products.'' \34\ And the Commission's approval orders for commodity-futures ETPs consistently note the ability of an ETP listing exchange to share surveillance information either through surveillance-sharing agreements or through membership by the listing exchange and the relevant futures exchanges in the Intermarket Surveillance Group.\35\ While the Commission in those orders did not explicitly undertake an analysis of whether the related futures markets were of ``significant size,'' the exchanges proposing commodity-futures ETPs on a single reference asset or benchmark generally made representations regarding the trading volume of the [[Page 43926]] underlying futures markets,\36\ and the [[Page 43927]] Commission was in each of those cases dealing with a large futures market that had been trading for a number of years before an exchange proposed an ETP based on those futures.\37\ And where the Commission has considered a proposed ETP based on futures that had only recently begun trading,\38\ the Commission specifically addressed whether the futures on which the ETP was based--which were futures on an index of well-established commodity futures--were illiquid or susceptible to manipulation.\39\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \34\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53105 (Jan. 11, 2006), 71 FR 3129, 3136 (Jan. 19, 2006) (SR-Amex-2005-059). Additionally, the Winklevoss Order discusses the broader history and importance of surveillance-sharing agreements relating to derivative securities products, quoting Commission statements dating from 1990 on. See Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37592-94. \35\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53105 (Jan. 11, 2006), 71 FR 3129, 3136 (Jan. 19, 2006) (SR-Amex-2005-059) (approval order noted that Amex's ``Information Sharing Agreement with the NYMEX and the CBOT and [Amex's] Memorandum of Understanding with the LME, along with the Exchange's participation in the ISG, in which the CBOT participates . . . create the basis for the Amex to monitor for fraudulent and manipulative practices in the trading of the Shares''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53582 (Mar. 31, 2006), 71 FR 17510, 17518 (Apr. 6, 2006) (SR-Amex-2005-127) (approval order noted that Amex's ``comprehensive surveillance sharing agreements with the NYMEX and ICE Futures . . . create the basis for the Amex to monitor for fraudulent and manipulative practices in the trading of the Units'' and that ``[s]hould the USOF invest in oil derivatives traded on markets such as the Singapore Oil Market, the Exchange represents that it will file a proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b) of the [Exchange] Act, seeking Commission approval of [Amex's] surveillance agreement with such market''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54013 (June 16, 2006), 71 FR 36372, 36378-79 (June 26, 2006) (NYSE-2006-17) (approval order noted that NYSE's ``comprehensive surveillance sharing agreements with the NYMEX, the Kansas City Board of Trade, ICE Futures, and the LME . . . create the basis for the NYSE to monitor for fraudulent and manipulative trading practices'' and that ``all of the other trading venues on which current Index components and CERFs are traded are members of the ISG''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54450 (Sept. 14, 2006), 71 FR 55230, 55236 (Sept. 21, 2006) (SR-Amex-2006-44) (approval order noted that ``CME, where the futures contract for each of the current Index components is traded, is a member of the ISG'' and that in the event of new fund investments in ``foreign currency futures contracts traded on futures exchanges other than CME, [Amex] must have a CSSA with that futures exchange or the futures exchange must be an ISG member''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55029 (Dec. 29, 2006), 72 FR 806, 809-10 (Jan. 8, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006-76) (approval order noted that Amex's ``Comprehensive Surveillance Sharing Agreement with the ICE Futures, LME, and NYMEX, . . . and membership in the Intermarket Surveillance Group (`ISG') creates the basis for the Amex to monitor fraudulent and manipulative practices in the trading of the Shares''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56880 (Dec. 3, 2007), 72 FR 69259, 69261 (Dec. 7, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006-96) (approval order noted that Amex has ``information sharing agreements with the InterContinental Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and the New York Mercantile Exchange and may obtain market surveillance information from other exchanges, including the Chicago Board of Trade, London Metals Exchange, and the New York Board of Trade through the Intermarket Surveillance Group''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55632 (Apr. 13, 2007), 72 FR 19987, 19988 (Apr. 20, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006-112) (approval order noted that Amex ``currently has in place an Information Sharing Agreement with the NYMEX and ICE Futures'' and that if ``USNG invests in Natural Gas Interests traded on other exchanges, the Amex represented that it will seek to enter into Information Sharing arrangements with those particular exchanges''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57456 (Mar. 7, 2008), 73 FR 13599, 13601 (Mar. 13, 2008) (NYSEArca-2007-91) (approval order noted that NYSEArca ``can obtain market surveillance information, including customer identity information, with respect to transactions occurring on the NYM, the Kansas City Board of Trade, ICE, and the LME, pursuant to its comprehensive information sharing agreements with each of those exchanges'' and that ``[a]ll of the other trading venues on which current Index components are traded are members of the ISG''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57838 (May 20, 2008), 73 FR 30649, 30652, (May 28, 2008) (SR- NYSEArca-2008-09) (approval order noted that NYSEArca ``may obtain information via the ISG from other exchanges who are members or affiliate members of the ISG,'' that NYSEArca ``has an information sharing agreement in place with ICE Futures,'' and that NYSEArca will file a proposed rule change ``if the Fund invests in EUAs . . . that constitute more than 10% of the weight of the Fund where the principal trading market for such component is not a member or affiliate member of the ISG or where the Exchange does not have a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with such market''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63635 (Jan. 3, 2011), 76 FR 1489, 1491 (Jan. 10, 2011) (NYSEArca-2010-103) (approval order noted that ``with respect to Fund components traded on exchanges, not more than 10% of the weight of such components in the aggregate will consist of components whose principal trading market is not a member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group or is a market with which [NYSEArca] does not have a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66553 (Mar. 9, 2012), 77 FR 15440, 15444 (Mar. 15, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-04) (approval order noted that NYSEArca ``can obtain market surveillance information, including customer identity information, from ICE [Futures] and CME, which are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67223 (June 20, 2012), 77 FR 38117, 38124 (June 26, 2012) (NYSEAmex-2012-24) (approval order noted that NYSEAmex ``can obtain market surveillance information, including customer identity information, with respect to transactions occurring on exchanges that are members of ISG, including CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX . . . and ICE Futures US,'' that NYSEAmex ``currently has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with each of CME, NYMEX, ICE Futures Europe, and KCBOT,'' and that ``while the Fund may invest in futures contracts or options on futures contracts which trade on markets that are not members of ISG or with which [NYSEAmex] does not have in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement, such instruments will never represent more than 10% of the Fund's holdings''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 73561 (Nov. 7, 2014), 79 FR 68329, 68330 (Nov. 14, 2014) (NYSEArca-2014-102) (approval order noted that ``FINRA may obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares and Coal Futures from such markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which [NYSEArca] has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement'' and that ``CME is a member of the ISG''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82390 (Dec. 22, 2017), 82 FR 61625, 61631, 61634 (Dec. 28, 2017) (NYSEArca-2017-107) (approval order noted that NYSEArca ``may obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and Freight Futures from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which [NYSEArca] has in place a CSSA'' and that ``not more than 10% of the net assets of the Fund in the aggregate invested in Freight Futures or options on Freight Futures shall consist of derivatives whose principal market is not a member of the ISG or is a market with which [NYSEArca] does not have a CSSA''). \36\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62213 (June 3, 2010), 75 FR 32828 (June 9, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-22) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) Corn futures volume on Chicago Board of Trade (``CBOT'') for 2008 and 2009 (through November 30, 2009) was 59,934,739 contracts and 47,754,866 contracts, respectively, and as of March 16, 2010, CBOT open interest for corn futures was 1,118,103 contracts, and open interest for near month futures was 447,554 contracts; (ii) the corn futures contract price was $18,337.50 ($3.6675 per bushel and 5,000 bushels per contract), and the approximate value of all outstanding contracts was $20.5 billion; (iii) as of March 16, 2010, open interest in corn swaps cleared on CBOT was approximately 2,100 contracts, with an approximate value of $38.5 million; and (iv) the position limits for all months is 22,000 corn contracts, and the total value of contracts if position limits were reached would be approximately $403.5 million (based on the $18,337.50 contract price), Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61954 (Apr. 21, 2010), 75 FR 22663, 22664 n.10 (Apr. 29, 2010)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63610 (Dec. 27, 2010), 76 FR 199 (Jan. 3, 2011) (SR- NYSEArca-2010-101) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) As of June 14, 2010, there was VIX futures contracts open interest on CFE of 88,366 contracts, with a contract price of $25.55 and value of open interest of $2,257,751,300; (ii) total CFE trading volume in 2009 in VIX futures contracts was 1,143,612 contracts, with average daily volume of 4,538 contracts; and (iii) total volume year-to-date (through May 31, 2010) was 1,399,709 contracts, with average daily volume of 13,458 contracts, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63317 (Nov. 16, 2010), 75 FR 71158, 71159 n.9 (Nov. 22, 2010)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63753 (Jan. 21, 2011), 76 FR 4963 (Jan. 27, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-110) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) Natural gas futures volume on New York Mercantile Exchange (``NYMEX'') for 2009 and 2010 (through October 29, 2010) was 47,864,639 contracts and 52,490,180 contracts, respectively; (ii) as of October 29, 2010, NYMEX open interest for natural gas futures was 794,741 contracts, and open interest for near month futures was 47,313 contracts; (iii) the contract price was $40,380 ($4.038 per MMBtu and 10,000 MMBtu per contract), and the approximate value of all outstanding contracts was $32.1 billion; (iv) the position limits for all months is 12,000 natural gas contracts and the total value of contracts if position limits were reached would be approximately $484.56 million (based on the $40,380 contract price); and (v) as of October 29, 2010, open interest in natural gas swaps cleared on NYMEX was approximately 2,618,092 contracts, with an approximate value of $26.4 billion ($4.038 per MMBtu and 2,500 MMBtu per contract), Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63493 (Dec. 9, 2010), 75 FR 78290, 78291 n.11 (Dec. 15, 2010)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63869 (Feb. 8, 2011), 76 FR 8799 (Feb. 15, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-119) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) WTI crude oil futures volume on NYMEX for 2009 and 2010 (through November 30, 2010) was 137,352,118 contracts and 156,155,620 contracts, respectively; (ii) as of November 30, 2010, NYMEX open interest for WTI crude oil was 1,342,325 contracts, and open interest for near month futures was 323,184 contracts; (iii) the position limits for all months is 20,000 WTI crude oil contracts and the total value of contracts if position limits were reached would be approximately $1.68 billion (based on the $84.11 contract price); and (iv) the contract price was $84,110 ($84.11 USD per barrel and 1,000 barrels per contract), and the approximate value of all outstanding contracts was $112.9 billion, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63625 (Dec. 30, 2010), 76 FR 807, 808 n.11 (Jan. 6, 2011)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65134 (Aug. 15, 2011), 76 FR 52034 (Aug. 19, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2011-23) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) As of January 31, 2011, there was VIX futures contracts open interest on CFE of 163,396 contracts with a value of open interest of $3,461,984,900; (ii) total CFE trading volume in 2010 in VIX futures contracts was 4,402,616 contracts, with average daily volume of 17,741 contracts; and (iii) total volume year-to-date (through January 31, 2011) was 779,493 contracts, with average daily volume of 38,975 contracts, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64470 (May 11, 2011), 76 FR 28493, 28494 n.12 (May 17, 2011)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65136 (Aug. 15, 2011), 76 FR 52037 (Aug. 19, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2011-24) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) Natural gas futures volume on NYMEX for 2009 and 2010 (through December 31, 2010) was 47,864,639 contracts and 64,350,673 contracts, respectively; (ii) as of December 31, 2010, NYMEX open interest for all natural gas futures was 772,104 contracts, and the approximate value of all outstanding contracts was $35,664,257,310 billion [sic]; (iii) open interest as of December 31, 2010 for the near month contract was 166,757 contracts and the near month contract value was $7,345,645,850 ($4.405 per MMBtu and 10,000 MMBtu per contract); (iv) the position accountability limits for all months is 12,000 natural gas contracts and the total value of contracts if position accountability limits were reached would be approximately $528,600,000 million (based on the $4.405 contract price); and (v) as of December 31, 2010, open interest in natural gas swaps cleared on NYMEX was approximately 1,493,013 contracts, with an approximate value of $16,463,384,003 ($4.411 per MMBtu and 2,500 MMBtu per contract), Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64464 (May 11, 2011), 76 FR 28483, 28484 n.11 (May 17, 2011)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65344 (Sept. 15, 2011), 76 FR 58549 (Sept. 21, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2011-48) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) Wheat futures volume on CBOT for 2010 and 2011 (through April 29, 2011) was 23,058,783 contracts and 8,860,135 contracts, respectively; (ii) as of April 29, 2011, open interest for wheat futures was 456,851 contracts; (iii) the wheat contract price was $40,062.50 (801.25 cents per bushel and 5,000 bushels per contract), and the approximate value of all outstanding contracts was $18.3 billion; (iv) the position limits for all months was 6,500 wheat contracts and the total value of contracts if position limits were reached would be approximately $260.4 million (based on the $40,062.50 contract price); (v) soybean futures volume on CBOT for 2010 and 2011 (through April 29, 2011) was 36,962,868 contracts and 16,197,385 contracts, respectively; (vi) as of April 29, 2011, open interest for soybean futures was 572,959 contracts; (vii) the soybean contract price was $69,700.00 (1394 cents per bushel and 5,000 bushels per contract), and the approximate value of all outstanding contracts was $39.9 billion; (viii) the position limits for all months is 6,500 soybean contracts and the total value of contracts if position limits were reached would be approximately $453 million (based on the $69,700.00 contract price); (ix) sugar futures volume on ICE Futures for 2010 and 2011 (through April 29, 2011) was 27,848,391 contracts and 9,045,069 contracts, respectively; (x) as of April 29, 2011, open interest for sugar futures was 570,948 contracts; (xi) the sugar contract price was $24,920.00 (22.25 cents per pound and 112,000 pounds per contract), and the approximate value of all outstanding contracts was $14.2 billion; and (xii) the position limits for all months is 15,000 sugar contracts and the total value of contracts if position limits were reached would be approximately $373.8 million (based on the $24,920.00 contract price), Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64967 (July 26, 2011), 76 FR 45885, 45886 n.10, 45888 n.20, 45890 n.24 (Aug. 1, 2011)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66553 (Mar. 9, 2012), 77 FR 15440 (Mar. 15, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-04) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) As of December 30, 2011, open interest in AUD/USD futures contracts traded on CME was $11.56 billion, and AUD/USD futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 123,006 contracts; (ii) as of December 30, 2011, open interest in CAD/USD futures contracts traded on CME was $11.66 billion, and CAD/USD futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 89,667 contracts; (iii) as of December 30, 2011, open interest in CHF/USD futures contracts traded on CME was $4.99 billion, and CHF/ USD futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 40,955 contracts; (iv) futures contracts based on the U.S. Dollar Index (``USDX'') were listed on November 20, 1985, and options on the USDX futures contracts began trading on September 3, 1986; (v) as of December 30, 2011, open interest in USDX futures contracts traded on ICE Futures was $5.44 billion, and USDX futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 30,341 contracts; (vi) as of December 30, 2011, open interest in EUR/USD futures contracts traded on CME was $46.12 billion, and EUR/USD futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 336,947 contracts; and (vii) as of December 30, 2011, open interest in JPY/ USD futures contracts traded on CME was $25.75 billion, and JPY/USD futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 113,476 contracts, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66180 (Jan. 18, 2012), 77 FR 3532, 3534-35 (Jan. 24, 2012)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68165 (Nov. 6, 2012), 77 FR 67707 (Nov. 13, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-102) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) Gold and silver futures contracts traded on Commodity Exchange, Inc. (``COMEX'') are the global benchmark contracts and most liquid futures contracts in the world for each respective commodity; (ii) as of March 15, 2012, open interest in gold futures contracts and silver futures contracts traded on CME was $23.7 billion and $8.5 billion, respectively; (iii) gold futures contracts and silver futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 138,964 contracts and 63,913 contracts, respectively; (iv) CME constitutes the largest regulated foreign exchange marketplace in the world, with over $100 billion in daily liquidity; (v) as of March 15, 2012, open interest in Euro futures contracts and Yen futures contracts traded on CME and, for Dollar futures contracts, on ICE Futures, were $42.7 billion, $20.8 billion, and $4.8 billion, respectively; and (vi) Euro futures contracts, Yen futures contracts, and Dollar futures contracts had an average daily trading volume in 2011 of 325,103, 106,824, and 27,258 contracts, respectively, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67882 (Sept. 18, 2012), 77 FR 58881, 58883 n.10, 58883 n.14 (Sept. 24, 2012)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81686 (Sept. 22, 2017), 82 FR 45643, 45646 (Sept. 29, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-05) (order approving the listing and trading of the Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 3x Shares and Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3x Shares, citing to NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) The oil contract market was of significant size and liquidity, and had average daily volume of 650,000 contracts and daily open interest of 450,000 contracts; (ii) the Sponsor is registered as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC and is a member of the National Futures Association, and (iii) the CFTC has regulatory jurisdiction over the trading of futures contracts traded on U.S. markets); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82390 (Dec. 22, 2017), 82 FR 61625 (Dec. 28, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-107) (notice of proposed rule change included NYSE Arca's representations that: (i) Freight futures liquidity has remained relatively constant, in lot terms, over the last five years with approximately 1.1 million lots trading annually; (ii) open interest currently stood at approximately 290,000 lots across all asset classes representing an estimated value of more than $3 billion, and, of such open interest, Capesize contracts accounted for approximately 50%, Panamax for approximately 40%, and Handymax for approximately 10%, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81681 (Sept. 22, 2017), 82 FR 45342, 45345 (Sept. 28, 2017)). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53582 (Mar. 31, 2006), 71 FR 17510 (Apr. 6, 2006) (SR-Amex-2005-127) (notice of proposed rule change included Amex's representations that: (i) WTI light, sweet crude oil contract, listed and traded at NYMEX, trades in units of 42,000 gallons (1,000 barrels), and annual daily contract volume on NYMEX from 2001 through October 2005 was 149,028, 182,718, 181,748, 212,382 and 242,262, respectively; (ii) annual daily contract volume on ICE Futures for Brent crude contracts from 2001 through October 2005 was 74,011, 86,499, 96,767, 102,361 and 120,695 respectively; (iii) annual daily contract volume on NYMEX for heating oil futures from 2001 through October 2005 was 41,710, 42,781, 46,327, 51,745 and 52,334, respectively; (iv) annual daily contract volume on NYMEX for natural gas contracts from 2001 through October 2005 was 47,457, 97,431, 76,148, 70,048 and 77,149, respectively; and (v) annual daily contract volume on NYMEX for gasoline contracts from 2001 through October 2005 was 38,033, 43,919, 44,688, 51,315 and 53,577, respectively, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53324 (Feb. 16, 2006), 71 FR 9614, 9618 (Feb. 24, 2006)); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55632 (Apr. 13, 2007), 72 FR 19987 (Apr. 20, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006-112) (notice of proposed rule change included Amex's representations that annual daily contract volume on NYMEX for natural gas contracts from 2001 through October 2006 was 47,457, 97,431, 76,148, 70,048, 76,265, and 102,097, respectively, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55372 (Feb. 28, 2007), 72 FR 10267, 10268 (Mar. 7, 2007)). \37\ For example, corn futures began trading in 1877, see https://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/historical-first-trade-dates.html, and the first ETP based on corn futures was approved for listing and trading in 2010. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62213 (June 3, 2010), 75 FR 32828 (June 9, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2010- 22). VIX futures began trading in 2004, see http://cfe.cboe.com/cfe-products/vx-cboe-volatility-index-vix-futures/contract-specifications, and the first ETPs based on VIX futures were approved for listing and trading in 2010. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63610 (Dec. 27, 2010), 76 FR 199 (Jan. 3, 2011) (SR- NYSEArca-2010-10). Natural gas futures began trading in 1990, see https://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/historical-first-trade-dates.html, and the first ETP based on natural gas was approved for listing and trading in 2007. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55632 (Apr. 13, 2007), 72 FR 19987 (Apr. 20, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006- 112). Crude oil futures began trading in 1983, see https://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/historical-first-trade-dates.html, and the first ETP based on crude oil futures was approved for listing and trading in 2006. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53582 (Mar. 31, 2006), 71 FR 17510 (Apr. 6, 2006) (SR-Amex-2005-127). Wheat futures, sugar futures, and soybean futures began trading in 1877, 1914, and 1936, respectively, see https://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/historical-first-trade-dates.html and https://www.theice.com/publicdocs/ICE_Sugar_Brochure.pdf, and the first ETPs based on each of these commodity futures were approved for listing and trading in 2011. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65344 (Sept. 15, 2011), 76 FR 58549 (Sept. 21, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2011- 48). U.S. Dollar Index futures began trading in 1985, https://www.theice.com/publicdocs/futures_us/ICE_Dollar_Index_FAQ.pdf, and the first ETPs based on U.S. Dollar Index futures was approved for listing and trading in 2007. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55292 (Feb. 14, 2007), 72 FR 8406 (Feb. 26, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006-86). Australian Dollar futures and Euro futures began trading in 1987 and 1999, respectively, and Canadian Dollar futures, Swiss Franc futures, and Yen futures began trading in 2002, see https://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/historical-first-trade-dates.html, and the first ETPs based on each of these individual currency futures were approved for listing and trading in 2012. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66553 (Mar. 9, 2012), 77 FR 15440 (Mar. 15, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-04). Silver futures and gold futures began trading in 1933 and 1974, respectively, see https://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/historical-first-trade-dates.html, and the first ETPs based on each of these commodity futures were approved for listing and trading in 2006. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55029 (Dec. 29, 2006), 72 FR 806 (Jan. 8, 2007) (SR- Amex-2006-76). Freight futures have been cleared since 2005, and the first ETP based on freight futures was approved for listing and trading in 2017. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82390 (Dec. 22, 2017), 82 FR 61625, 61626 n.6 (Dec. 28, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2017- 107) (noting that ``Freight Futures have been cleared since 2005''). \38\ The Exchange filed its proposal less than one month after bitcoin futures began trading on either CME or CFE. \39\ At issue were futures on an index comprising futures on crude oil, Brent crude oil, natural gas, heating oil, gasoline, gas oil, live cattle, wheat, aluminum, corn, copper, soybeans, lean hogs, gold, sugar, cotton, red wheat, coffee, standard lead, feeder cattle, zinc, primary nickel, cocoa, and silver. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53659 (Apr. 17, 2006), 71 FR 21074, 21080 (Apr. 24, 2006) (SR-NYSE-2006-17) (notice of proposed rule change to list shares of iShares GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust). The Commission concluded that requirements of Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5) had been met because concerns about manipulation would be addressed by the arbitrage relationship between the new index futures and the existing component futures, as well as the ETP listing exchange's comprehensive surveillance-sharing agreements not only with the market for the index futures, but also with the markets for the component futures. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54013 (June 16, 2006), 71 FR 36372, 36379 (June 26, 2006) (SR-NYSE-2006- 17) (order approving listing of shares of iShares GSCI Commodity- Indexed Trust). Additionally, the approval order for the ETP noted that, if the volume in any futures contract that was part of the reference index fell below a specified multiple of production of the underlying commodity, that contract's weight in the index would decrease. See id. at 36374. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accordingly, the Commission examines below whether the representations by the Exchange, and the comments received from the public, support a finding that the Exchange has entered into a surveillance-sharing agreement with a market of significant size relating to bitcoin, the asset underlying the proposed ETPs, or that alternative means of preventing fraud and manipulation would be sufficient to satisfy the requirement of Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5) that the proposed rule change be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices. 2. Comments Received One commenter asserts that data on a week's activity on the Gemini exchange, which provides a critical input for the CFE bitcoin futures, show substantial quantities of bitcoin are bought and sold all at once. The commenter believes that this behavior does not appear to be the result of natural trading and in the long run would prevent true price discovery.\40\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \40\ See Malkin Letter, supra note 12, at 1-2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One commenter states that commencing an ETP without allowing the market to adjust to the cash-settled futures products would be akin to ``putting the cart before the horse'' and seems to be an attempt to appease institutional investors.\41\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \41\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One commenter states that the market for bitcoin derivatives other than bitcoin exchange-traded futures appears to be developing and that financial institutions are reportedly moving toward launching bitcoin- related trading desks and other operations. This commenter believes that the proposed offering of both long and short ETPs raises the possibility that market makers in bitcoin-related derivatives could make two-sided markets if interest in the long and short ETPs is similar in magnitude. The commenter further believes that interest outside of the bitcoin ETPs may be sufficient to motivate market makers to maintain bitcoin derivatives desks.\42\ In addition, the commenter suggests that questions about bitcoin derivatives markets can be addressed through market depth analyses, discussions with potential bitcoin derivatives liquidity providers, and analyses of order and trade data across CME and CFE to determine the plausibility of simultaneous liquidity collapses on both bitcoin future markets.\43\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \42\ See NERA Letter, supra note 12, at 2. \43\ See id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six commenters assert that there is manipulation in the bitcoin market.\44\ One commenter states that it is widely known in the cryptocurrency [[Page 43928]] community that volatility in the bitcoin market is the result of manipulation through the coordinated use of high-frequency trading across multiple exchanges.\45\ Another commenter asserts that it is common knowledge that the bitcoin market is being manipulated and asserts that BitConnect, which was recently shut down and had promised risk-free annual returns of up to 120%, is an example of Ponzi and multi-level marketing schemes that are too common. This commenter argues that the Commission should not send the wrong signal to bitcoin manipulators--who, the commenter asserts, currently operate with impunity--by approving a bitcoin ETP.\46\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \44\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Fitzgerald Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Kumar Letter, supra note 12; Krohn Letter, supra note 12; Barnwell Letter, supra note 12, at 2; Bhat Letter, supra note 12. \45\ See Barnwell Letter, supra note 12, at 2. \46\ See Kumar Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One commenter asserts that, in an unregulated market, a small minority can manipulate the price of bitcoin and other ``altcoins'' and that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are freely manipulated by players who hold a disproportionate amount of cryptocurrencies or access to fiat currencies. This commenter cites data showing that 4.11% of bitcoin addresses own 96.53% of all the bitcoin in circulation, that the top four addresses control 3.13% of all bitcoin currently in distribution (worth over $4 billion), and that 115 individuals control bitcoin worth over $24 billion.\47\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \47\ See Fitzgerald Letter, supra note 12, at 1-2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One commenter asserts that widespread pump-and-dump schemes organized through the messaging platform ``Telegram'' are evidence of manipulation.\48\ This commenter further cites an inquiry by then-New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman into cryptocurrency exchanges and the use of trading ``bots'' on those exchanges to manipulate the market, and asserts that such activity can drive prices above fair market value by over 300%. The commenter notes the Kraken exchange's refusal to cooperate with this inquiry and believes that this refusal should pose serious questions for investors and the Commission about the Kraken exchange's operations, particularly after the Kraken exchange recently exited the Japanese market due to regulatory requirements.\49\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \48\ See id. at 2. \49\ See id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One commenter states that a commonly cited factor mitigating possible susceptibility to manipulation is the securities exchanges' own surveillance procedures, in addition to the futures exchanges' surveillance procedures and market surveillance and oversight by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC''). This commenter cites statements by the CFTC that it has the legal authority and means to police certain spot markets for fraud and manipulation through ``heightened review'' collaboration with exchanges, that exchanges will provide the CFTC surveillance team with trade settlement data upon request, and that the exchanges will enter into information-sharing agreements with spot market platforms and monitor trading activity on the spot markets. The commenter also states that the Gemini exchange has announced that it would use Nasdaq's market surveillance system to monitor its marketplace.\50\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \50\ See NERA Letter, supra note 12, at 4-5. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This commenter further asserts that market surveillance is generally a prerequisite to identifying potential market manipulation and discourages market manipulation. The commenter believes that the emergence of institutionalized market surveillance on both futures and spot markets is a positive sign for the long-term future of bitcoin markets.\51\ The commenter suggests that the Commission, in coordination with the CFTC, self-regulatory organizations, bitcoin futures exchanges, and bitcoin spot market platforms, could gather market surveillance data to conduct an independent analysis of trade and settlement patterns and determine whether potentially manipulative trading practices occur on bitcoin spot and futures markets.\52\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \51\ See id. at 5. \52\ See id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A commenter asserts that bitcoin ETPs should be structured in such a way that the funds own bitcoin directly, because this commenter believes that cryptocurrency ETPs that are based on futures or other derivatives would invite manipulation of prices. A bitcoin ETP that holds the underlying cryptocurrency directly, this commenter states, would be simpler, more transparent, and less subject to complex and destabilizing trading strategies.\53\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \53\ See Krohn Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Sponsor asserts that the operation of, and risks posed by, an ETP that seeks to track the performance of a bitcoin futures contract, are relatively straightforward and similar to the operation and risks involved with many existing commodity-futures-based ETPs, and that the Commission has not raised concerns about the risk of market manipulation in the underlying commodity markets, even when the risk is disclosed in the offering document for a commodity-futures-based ETP, or when the production of the underlying commodity is dominated by relatively few players operating under a common organization.\54\ The Sponsor also asserts that CFE and CME surveil their markets to ensure that they are free from manipulation, other price distortion, or disorderly trading or expiration of futures contracts and that it is not necessary for the Exchange to enter into surveillance-sharing agreements with the underlying bitcoin spot markets.\55\ The Sponsor states that investors should only consider the price of the Bitcoin Futures Contracts, rather than the price of bitcoin itself,\56\ but also concedes that, to the extent price manipulation is possible in the underlying market and affects the price of the futures contracts, the NAV of the Funds would be affected as well.\57\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \54\ See GraniteShares Letter, supra note 12, at 1-2. The Commission notes that the Sponsor did not submit its comment letter until 97 days after the close of the comment period under the Order Instituting Proceedings. \55\ See id. at 2 & n.2, 6. \56\ See id. at 8. \57\ See id. at 6, 8. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Sponsor asserts that CFE and CME have specific and well- established trading and clearing rules to maintain an orderly and continuous market for bitcoin futures contracts that is supported by market makers providing continuous two-sided markets throughout the day.\58\ The Sponsor concedes that bitcoin futures contracts have limited operating histories, but asserts that the market infrastructure for these contracts is at least as advanced as that underlying the futures contracts used by a previously approved ETP that invests in freight futures contracts, noting that bitcoin futures trade with an electronic order book, while freight futures trade by voice orders, and asserting that the daily dollar volume in bitcoin futures contracts over a two-month period exceeds that of freight futures contracts.\59\ The Sponsor asserts that CFE and CME are significant markets based on the existing market as well as the trading infrastructure.\60\ The Sponsor further concedes that, if the Funds hit position limits in Bitcoin Futures Contracts, this would potentially affect the trading and liquidity of the Shares, but asserts that this risk is disclosed to investors in the Registration Statement, that other commodity-futures- based ETPs face similar risks, and that interest from investors in the Shares would support [[Page 43929]] development of the bitcoin futures market.\61\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \58\ See id. at 2-3, 8-9. \59\ See id. at 3. \60\ See id. at 8-9. \61\ See id. at 7. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Analysis The Exchange asserts that the price of bitcoin is inherently resistant to manipulation,\62\ offering, in summary fashion, a list of arguments that are exactly the same as arguments that it or commenters already raised with respect to previous proposals for bitcoin-based ETPs.\63\ The Commission comprehensively addressed each of these arguments in the Winklevoss Order, finding in each case that the Exchange had failed to carry its burden to demonstrate that the argument was correct,\64\ and finding overall that the Exchange ``ha[d] not demonstrated that the structure of the spot market for bitcoin is uniquely resistant to manipulation.'' \65\ Given that the Exchange has merely repeated these arguments, providing no elaboration or support, the Commission would have no basis--other than ``unquestioning reliance'' on the Exchange's representations--on which to come to a different conclusion here.\66\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \62\ See supra notes 20-21 and accompanying text. \63\ See Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37582-84 (Section III.B.1(a) of the order). \64\ See id. at 37584-87 (Section III.B.1(b) of the order). \65\ See id. at 37584. \66\ See supra note 28 and accompanying text (discussing the holding of Susquehanna Int'l Group, LLP v. Securities and Exchange Commission). Additionally, the Trust's Registration Statement acknowledges that bitcoin spot markets have been the subject of fraud and security breaches, that the ``nature of the assets held at Bitcoin Exchanges make them appealing targets for hackers,'' and that the bitcoin spot markets' exposure to ``fraud and security breaches . . . could have a negative impact on the Bitcoin Futures Contracts in which the Funds invest.'' See Registration Statement, supra note 3, at 9. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Sponsor concedes that manipulation of the underlying bitcoin markets may affect the value of the Shares,\67\ but argues that the risk of manipulation has been disclosed to investors and that the Commission has not raised similar concerns in connection with previously approved commodity-futures ETPs, even when the risk of manipulation has been disclosed to investors or when the underlying commodity market was controlled by relatively few players.\68\ But the Commission, as it stated in the Winklevoss Order, is not applying a ``cannot be manipulated'' standard to ETPs.\69\ Rather, the Commission has held that--absent a showing that the underlying assets for an ETP are inherently resistant to manipulation, or that other means of surveillance will suffice--a listing exchange must demonstrate that it has entered into a surveillance-sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size relating to the underlying asset.\70\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \67\ See supra note 57 and accompanying text. \68\ See supra note 54 and accompanying text. \69\ See Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37582. \70\ See id. The Sponsor argues that it is not necessary for the Exchange to enter into a surveillance-sharing agreement with an underlying bitcoin trading venue, but the Commission has not asserted that such a surveillance-sharing agreement is necessary. Instead, the Commission has held in the Winklevoss Order ``that-- when the spot market is unregulated--the requirement of preventing fraudulent and manipulative acts may possibly be satisfied by showing that the ETP listing market has entered into a surveillance- sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size in derivatives related to the underlying asset.'' Id. at 37600 (emphasis added). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange asserts that its existing surveillance procedures and its ability to share surveillance information with U.S. futures exchanges are sufficient to meet the requirements of Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5).\71\ One commenter also asserts that the exchange's own surveillance procedures, along with market surveillance and oversight by the CFTC, can mitigate manipulation.\72\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \71\ See Notice, supra note 5, 83 FR at 2709. \72\ See supra notes 50-51 and accompanying text. This commenter also suggests that the Commission--in coordination with the CFTC, SROs, futures markets, and bitcoin spot platforms--could gather market surveillance data to independently analyze whether manipulative practices occur on bitcoin spot and futures platforms. See supra note 52 and accompanying text. As noted above, however, it is the Exchange that bears the burden to demonstrate that its proposal is designed to ``prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.'' See supra notes 25-28 and accompanying text. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- While the Exchange would, pursuant to its listing rules, be able to obtain certain information regarding trading in the Shares and in the underlying bitcoin or any bitcoin derivative through registered market makers,\73\ this trade information would be limited to the activities of market participants who trade on the Exchange. Furthermore, neither the Exchange's ability to surveil trading in the Shares nor its ability to share surveillance information with other securities exchanges trading the Shares would give the Exchange insight into the activity and identity of market participants who trade in bitcoin futures contracts or other bitcoin derivatives or who trade in the underlying bitcoin spot markets, where a substantial majority of trading, the Commission concluded in the Winklevoss Order, ``occurs on unregulated venues overseas that are relatively new and that, generally, appear to trade only digital assets.'' \74\ Thus, consistent with its determination in the Winklevoss Order,\75\ and with the Commission's previous orders approving commodity-futures ETPs,\76\ the Commission believes that the Exchange must demonstrate that it has in place a surveillance-sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size related to bitcoin, because ``[s]uch agreements provide a necessary deterrent to manipulation because they facilitate the availability of information needed to fully investigate a manipulation if it were to occur.'' \77\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \73\ See Notice, supra note 5, 83 FR at 2709 (``In addition to the existing obligations under Exchange rules regarding the production of books and records . . ., the registered Market Maker in Trust Issued Receipts shall make available to the Exchange such books, records or other information pertaining to transactions by such entity or registered or non-registered employee affiliated with such entity for its or their own accounts for trading the underlying physical commodity, related commodity futures or options on commodity futures, or any other related commodity derivatives, as may be requested by the Exchange.''). \74\ Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37580. \75\ See id. at 37591 (finding that ``traditional means'' of surveillance were not sufficient in the absence of a surveillance- sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size related to the underlying asset). \76\ See supra note 35 and accompanying text (noting previous commodity-futures ETPs where surveillance sharing in place between ETP listing exchange and underlying futures exchanges). \77\ Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37580 (quoting Amendment to Rule Filing Requirements for Self-Regulatory Organizations Regarding New Derivative Securities Products, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 40761 (Dec. 8, 1998), 63 FR 70952, 70954, 70959 (Dec. 22, 1998) (File No. S7-13-98)). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange represents that it is able to share surveillance information with CME and CFE, which are bitcoin futures markets regulated by the CFTC, through membership in the Intermarket Surveillance Group.\78\ And the Sponsor asserts that CFE and CME surveil their markets to ensure that they are free from manipulation, other price distortion, or disorderly trading,\79\ and that CFE and CME are ``significant markets'' based on their structure and volume.\80\ Nonetheless, the Commission must disapprove the proposal, because the evidence in the record does not support a conclusion that CME's and CFE's bitcoin futures markets are markets of significant size. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \78\ See https://www.isgportal.org/isgPortal/public/members.htm (listing the current members and affiliate members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group). \79\ See supra note 55 and accompanying text. \80\ See supra notes 59-60 and accompanying text. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Order Instituting Proceedings sought comment on whether the CME and CFE bitcoin futures markets are markets of significant size,\81\ but the Exchange has not responded to any of the questions in the Order Instituting Proceedings, and the only analysis of [[Page 43930]] the underlying futures markets the Notice provides is the generic statement that, ``based on numerous conversations with market participants, issuers, and discussions with personnel of CFE,'' the Exchange ``expects that the market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts will be sufficiently liquid to support numerous ETPs shortly after launch.'' \82\ The Sponsor argues that the daily volume in the Bitcoin Futures Contracts, based on a two-month sample period, exceeds that of the futures contracts underlying a previously approved commodity-futures ETP investing in freight futures, adding that the Bitcoin Futures Contracts trade on an electronic order book, whereas the freight futures trade by voice, and that the trading infrastructure of the CME and CFE makes them significant markets.\83\ The Sponsor further asserts that, if the Funds hit position limits in the Bitcoin Futures Contracts, although it could impact trading and liquidity in the Shares, the interest in the Shares would support further development of the bitcoin futures market.\84\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \81\ See Order Instituting Proceedings, supra note 9, 83 FR at 15427. \82\ Notice, supra note 5, 83 FR at 2710; see also supra note 23 and accompanying text. The Exchange sought to remove this representation from its proposal in Amendment No. 2. See infra note 128. \83\ See supra notes 59-60 and accompanying text. \84\ See supra note 61 and accompanying text. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whether an underlying market is a ``market of significant size,'' however, does not depend on whether a market operates by electronic or voice trading, and it does not depend solely on trading volume in isolation from the broader context of the underlying market. Moreover, to the extent that isolated trading volume is relevant, the Commission does not believe that a two-month sample is sufficient to establish that a market is of significant size. Instead, as noted above and stated in the Winklevoss Order, the Commission interprets a ``significant market'' or ``market of significant size'' to be ``a market (or group of markets) as to which (a) there is a reasonable likelihood that a person attempting to manipulate the ETP would also have to trade on that market to successfully manipulate the ETP, so that a surveillance-sharing agreement would assist the ETP listing market in detecting and deterring misconduct, and (b) it is unlikely that trading in the ETP would be the predominant influence on prices in that market.'' \85\ Neither the Exchange nor the Sponsor has provided an analysis of whether the CME or CFE meets this standard, and the Sponsor's assertion that the bitcoin futures markets will grow to accommodate demand for the Funds (which are two of nine recently proposed bitcoin futures ETPs),\86\ this speculative statement does not provide a basis for the Commission to conclude that CME and CFE are currently markets of significant size.\87\ Thus, there is no basis in the record on which the Commission can conclude that the bitcoin futures markets are markets of significant size. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \85\ See supra note 33 and accompanying text (quoting Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37594). \86\ See Notice, supra note 5 (proposing two GraniteShares bitcoin-futures ETPs); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82350 (Dec. 19, 2017), 82 FR 61100 (Dec. 26, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-139) (proposing two ProShares bitcoin-futures ETPS); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82532 (Jan. 18, 2018), 83 FR 3380 (Jan. 24, 2018) (SR-NYSEArca-2018-02) (proposing five Direxion bitcoin-futures ETPs). \87\ With respect to the Sponsor's argument that daily volume in the Bitcoin Futures Contracts over a two-month period exceeds that of futures contracts underlying a previously approved commodity- futures ETP, the Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF, the Commission notes that the futures in question had been trading for at least a dozen years before the ETP was proposed, see supra note 37 (SR- NYSEArca-2017-107), and that the exchange proposing that ETP had provided not just daily volume figures, but had provided statistics on open interest, yearly volume, and distribution of open interest across contract types and had represented that liquidity had remained relatively constant over a five-year period. See supra note 36. Moreover, in approving the Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF, the Commission noted that the listing exchange had represented that ``the Freight Futures trade on well-established, regulated markets that are members of the ISG'' and found that the exchange would be able to ``share surveillance information with a significant regulated market for trading futures on dry bulk freight.'' Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82390, supra note 35, 82 FR at 61633. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Publicly available data show that the median daily notional trading volume, from inception through August 10, 2018, has been 14,185 bitcoins on CME and 5,184 bitcoins on CFE, and that the median daily notional value of open interest on CME and CFE during the same period has been 10,145 bitcoins and 5,601 bitcoins, respectively.\88\ But while these futures contract figures are readily available, meaningful analysis of the size of the CME or CFE markets relative to the underlying bitcoin spot market is challenging, because reliable data about the spot market, including its overall size, are unavailable.\89\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \88\ These volume figures were calculated by Commission staff using data published by CME and CFE on their websites. \89\ See Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37601. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commission also notes that in recent testimony CFTC Chairman Giancarlo characterized the volume of the bitcoin futures markets as ``quite small.'' \90\ Additionally, the President and COO of CFE, recently acknowledged in a letter to the Commission staff that ``the current bitcoin futures trading volumes on Cboe Futures Exchange and CME may not currently be sufficient to support ETPs seeking 100% long or short exposure to bitcoin.'' \91\ These statements reinforce the Commission's conclusion that there is insufficient evidence to determine that the CME and CFE bitcoin futures markets are markets of significant size. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \90\ CFTC Chairman Giancarlo testified: ``It is important to put the new Bitcoin futures market in perspective. It is quite small with open interest at the CME of 6,695 bitcoin and at Cboe Futures Exchange (Cboe) of 5,569 bitcoin (as of Feb. 2, 2018). At a price of approximately $7,700 per Bitcoin, this represents a notional amount of about $94 million. In comparison, the notional amount of the open interest in CME's WTI crude oil futures was more than one thousand times greater, about $170 billion (2,600,000 contracts) as of Feb[.] 2, 2018 and the notional amount represented by the open interest of Comex gold futures was about $74 billion (549,000 contracts).'' See Written Testimony of J. Christopher Giancarlo, Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Before the Senate Banking Committee at text accompanying nn. 14-15 (Feb. 6, 2018). See also Winklevoss Order, supra note 30, 83 FR at 37601 (citing Giancarlo testimony). \91\ Letter from Chris Concannon, President and COO, Cboe Global Markets, to Dalia Blass, Director, Division of Investment Management, Commission, at 5 (Mar. 23, 2018), available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/cboe-global-markets-innovation-cryptocurrency.pdf. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although this conclusion is dispositive with respect to the Exchange's proposal, the Commission will also address the Exchange's representation that no more than 10% of the net assets of a Fund in the aggregate invested in bitcoin futures contracts will be invested in contracts whose principal market is neither a member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group nor a market with whom the Exchange has a comprehensive surveillance-sharing agreement.\92\ The Commission does not believe that this representation would function as a meaningful limitation when, according to the Notice, there is no minimum amount of a Fund that must be invested in such contracts. According to the Notice, in the event position, price, or accountability limits are reached with respect to bitcoin futures contracts, each Fund may invest in listed and OTC swaps on bitcoin or the Benchmark Futures Contracts.\93\ The Notice does not establish any limit on the Funds' holdings of these other bitcoin-related derivatives; it provides no analysis of the size and liquidity of markets for those derivatives; and it does not discuss whether the Exchange has the ability to share surveillance information with the markets for these derivatives. Thus, as to what might be a substantial proportion of the Funds' portfolios under the Notice, the [[Page 43931]] Commission cannot conclude that surveillance-sharing would be available, that the related markets would be regulated, or that the related markets would be of significant size.\94\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \92\ See supra note 18 and accompanying text. \93\ See Notice, supra note 5, 83 FR 2706; see also supra note 19 and accompanying text. \94\ As discussed below, see Section III.E, infra the exchange has filed two untimely amendments to the proposal, each of which would have limited the Funds' investments to the Bitcoin Futures Contracts. Even if these amendments had been timely, however, the Commission would still determine that the proposal was not consistent with the Exchange Act. See id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additionally, while one commenter suggests that the market for bitcoin derivatives other than exchange-traded futures appears to be developing--and that the offering of long and short bitcoin ETPs ``raises the possibility that market makers in Bitcoin derivatives could make two-sided markets if interest in the long and short ETFs is similar in magnitude'' \95\--these speculative statements do not provide a basis for the Commission to conclude that the non-exchange- traded bitcoin derivatives market is now, or may eventually be, of significant size. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \95\ See supra notes 42-43 and accompanying text. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commission therefore concludes that Exchange has not demonstrated that it has entered into a surveillance-sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size related to bitcoin, or that, given the current absence of such an agreement, the exchange's own surveillance procedures described above would, by themselves, be sufficient to satisfy the requirement of Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5) that an exchange's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.\96\ While CME and CFE are regulated markets for bitcoin derivatives, there is no basis in the record for the Commission to conclude that these markets are of significant size. Additionally, because bitcoin futures have been trading on CME and CFE only since December 2017, the Commission has no basis on which to predict how these markets may grow or develop over time, or whether or when they may reach significant size. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \96\ See 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although the Exchange has not demonstrated that a regulated bitcoin futures market of significant size currently exists, the Commission is not suggesting that the development of such a market would automatically require approval of a proposed rule change seeking to list and trade shares of an ETP holding bitcoins as an asset. The Commission would need to analyze the facts and circumstances of any particular proposal and examine whether any unique features of a bitcoin futures market would warrant further analysis before approval. C. Protecting Investors and the Public Interest 1. Comments Received One commenter believes that, while the Commission should deny the proposed ETPs, it should regulate this environment to stop individual consumers from coming to financial harm.\97\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \97\ See Fitzgerald Letter, supra note 12, at 2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One commenter suggests that the Commission could address some of its concerns about the proposed ETPs by working with self-regulatory organizations, and in particular FINRA, to create bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related asset suitability requirements. In addition, this commenter suggests that targeted disclosure requirements could make investors aware of volatility, discourage retail investors from investing more than a small portion of their portfolio in cryptocurrency-related assets, and present historical scenarios to retail investors to demonstrate how an instrument such as a particular bitcoin ETP would have performed over time. This commenter believes that suitability requirements are less prescriptive than an effective ban on a class of product and that they could balance the Commission's interest in protecting retail investors against its interest in allowing cryptocurrency-related asset markets to continue to develop in regulated markets where the Commission can observe their performance closely.\98\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \98\ See NERA Letter, supra note 12, at 5-6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Several commenters assert that the Commission should deny the proposed ETPs to help protect the public from exposure to financial risk from an unregulated market.\99\ One commenter asserts that, while the risk posed by the cash-settled futures products is mostly contained, a bitcoin ETP would expose the public to significant financial risk due to a highly volatile, unregulated, and manipulated market in bitcoin as well as cryptocurrencies in general.\100\ Several commenters further believe that before the Commission approves a bitcoin ETP, there should be a proper legal and regulatory framework put in place by a suitable governmental body to prevent manipulation and protect the public.\101\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \99\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Kumar Letter, supra note 12; Malkin Letter, supra note 12, at 2. \100\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1. \101\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1, 2; Kumar Letter, supra note 12; Malkin Letter, supra note 12, at 2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Analysis The Exchange asserts that approval of the proposal would enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and that it would protect investors by permitting them to seek exposure to bitcoin through efficient and transparent ETPs.\102\ The Exchange also states that the Funds would enhance the security afforded to investors as compared to a direct investment in bitcoin.\103\ Other commenters suggest that the Commission should either seek to regulate the underlying bitcoin markets,\104\ or should seek to protect investors through disclosure requirements or suitability standards, rather than disapproving a bitcoin-ETP proposal.\105\ Several other commenters, however, assert that approval of a bitcoin-based ETP would expose investors to risks from unregulated bitcoin markets.\106\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \102\ See Notice, supra note 5, 83 FR at 2710-11. \103\ See id. at 2710. \104\ See supra note 97 and accompanying text. \105\ See supra note 98 and accompanying text. \106\ See supra notes 99-101 and accompanying text. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commission acknowledges that, compared to trading in unregulated bitcoin spot markets, trading a bitcoin-based ETP on a national securities exchange may provide some additional protection to investors, but the Commission must consider this potential benefit in the broader context of whether the proposal meets each of the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, the Commission must disapprove a proposed rule change filed by a national securities exchange if it does not find that the proposed rule change is consistent with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act--including the requirement under Section 6(b)(5) that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices. Thus, even if a proposed rule change would provide certain benefits to investors and the markets, the proposed rule change may still fail to meet other requirements under the Exchange Act. For the reasons discussed above, the Exchange has not met its burden of demonstrating an adequate basis in the record for the Commission to find that the proposal is consistent with Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5), and, accordingly, the Commission must disapprove the proposal. [[Page 43932]] D. Other Comments Comment letters also addressed the following topics:The desire of investors to gain access to bitcoin through an ETP; \107\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \107\ See Kaleda Letter, supra note 12; Santos Letter, supra note 12; Netto Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- investor understanding about bitcoin; \108\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \108\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Kumar Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the valuation of bitcoin and price differentials across bitcoin trading venues; \109\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \109\ See Kumar Letter, supra note 12; Malkin Letter, supra note 12; Bhat Letter, supra note 12; GraniteShares Letter, supra note 12, at 6-7, 10-11. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the intrinsic value of bitcoin; \110\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \110\ See Ahn Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the reliability of bitcoin as a store of value; \111\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \111\ See Otenyi Letter, supra note 12; Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the volatility of bitcoin prices; \112\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \112\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Malkin Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Bhat Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the regulation of bitcoin spot markets; \113\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \113\ See Barnwell Letter, supra note 12, at 2; Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Fitzgerald Letter, supra note 12, at 1; Kumar Letter, supra note 12; Malkin Letter, supra note 12, at 1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the operation and valuation of the proposed ETPs; \114\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \114\ See NERA Letter, supra note 12, at 1-3, 5; GraniteShares Letter, supra note 12, at 3, 5-6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- arbitrage between the price of the Shares and the underlying portfolio instruments; \115\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \115\ See GraniteShares Letter, supra note 12, at 8. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the ability of the Funds to meet redemption orders; \116\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \116\ See id. at 7. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the custody of the assets of the Funds; \117\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \117\ See id. at 3. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the effect on the Funds of a fork in the bitcoin blockchain; \118\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \118\ See id. at 6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the potential impact of Commission approval of the proposed ETP on the price of bitcoin and on the U.S. economy; \119\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \119\ See Krohn Letter, supra note 12; Hales Letter, supra note 12; Santos Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the leadership role that the United States might play in the cryptocurrency space if the Commission were to approve the proposed ETP; \120\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \120\ See Hales Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the utility of a bitcoin ETP as a global tool for wealth distribution; \121\ and --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \121\ See Otenyi Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- the legitimacy that Commission approval of the proposed ETP might confer upon bitcoin as a digital asset.\122\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \122\ See Desai Letter, supra note 12, at 1, 2; Kumar Letter, supra note 12; Santos Letter, supra note 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ultimately, however, additional discussion of these tangential topics is unnecessary, as they do not bear on the basis for the Commission's decision to disapprove the proposal. E. The Exchange's Untimely Amendments to the Proposal As noted above, the deadline for rebuttal comments in response to the Order Instituting Proceedings was May 15, 2018.\123\ On August 21, 2018, however, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 with the Commission, stating that the amendment ``amends and replaces in its entirety the proposal as originally submitted on January 5, 2018.'' Then, on August 22, 2018, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 with the Commission, stating that the amendment ``amends and replaces in its entirety Amendment No. 1 as submitted on August 21, 2018, which amended and replaced in its entirety the proposal as originally submitted on January 5, 2018.'' Because these amendments were filed months after the deadline for comments on the proposed rule change, the Commission deems Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2 to have been untimely filed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \123\ See supra note 10 and accompanying text. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even if these amendments had been timely filed, however, the Commission would still conclude that the Exchange had not met its burden to demonstrate that its proposal is consistent with Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5). The change that the amendments made to the proposal was to limit the investments of the Funds to Bitcoin Futures Contracts, which trade on CFE and CME, eliminating the Funds' ability to invest in listed or unlisted swaps on bitcoin or on the Benchmark Futures Contracts.\124\ Although CFE and CME are ``regulated markets,'' the record, as discussed above, does not provide a basis for the Commission to conclude that CFE and CME are regulated markets ``of significant size'' in Bitcoin Futures Contracts.\125\ Therefore, even if the Exchange's amendments were timely filed, the Commission would be unable to find, based on the record, that the Exchange had entered into a surveillance-sharing agreement with a regulated market of significant size related to bitcoin.\126\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \124\ The Sponsor also represents in its August 20, 2018, comment letter that the Funds would invest only in Bitcoin Futures Contracts. See GraniteShares Letter, supra note 12, at 5. \125\ See supra notes 78-91 and accompanying text. \126\ Additionally, even though the Exchange's amendments would have removed the representation in the Notice that the Exchange expects significant liquidity to exist in the market for Bitcoin Futures Contracts, based on numerous conversations with market participants, issuers, and discussions with personnel of CFE, see supra notes 23 & 82 and accompanying text, the elimination of this representation would not alter the Commission's conclusion that the Exchange has not met its burden to demonstrate that CFE and CME are markets ``of significant size.'' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. Basis for Disapproval The record before the Commission does not provide a basis for the Commission to conclude that the Exchange has met its burden under the Exchange Act and the Commission's Rules of Practice to demonstrate that its proposed rule change is consistent with Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5).\127\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \127\ In disapproving the proposed rule change, the Commission has considered its impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Conclusion For the reasons set forth above, the Commission does not find, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange, and in particular, with Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act. It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, that proposed rule change SR-CboeBZX-2018-001 is disapproved. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\128\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \128\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brent J. Fields, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-18578 Filed 8-27-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 43923 |