On January 10, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued an order approving the applications of 11 different spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded products (the “Approved ETPs”) to each list and trade their shares on a national securities exchange. As a result, each Approved ETP is expected to commence trading on either the NYSE Arca, Inc., The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.  

The SEC Order represents the first time that the SEC has permitted the listing of an exchange‑traded product (“ETP”) that invests directly in a cryptocurrency — here, Bitcoin.

Read the full client alert here

Photo of Robert E. Plaze Robert E. Plaze

Robert Plaze’s experience gives him a unique understanding of the SEC and the federal securities laws affecting our clients. Following nearly 30 years in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management, most recently as Deputy Director, Bob is a partner in Proskauer’s Registered Funds…

Robert Plaze’s experience gives him a unique understanding of the SEC and the federal securities laws affecting our clients. Following nearly 30 years in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management, most recently as Deputy Director, Bob is a partner in Proskauer’s Registered Funds Group.

At the SEC, Bob was responsible for policy development and management of the key regulatory initiatives affecting investment companies and investment advisers, including rules governing fund and adviser compliance programs, money market funds, fund corporate governance, personal trading, custody and brokerage practices, prohibitions on “pay to play” practices, and protection of investor privacy. After the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, Bob was responsible for rulemaking requiring advisers to private funds to register with the SEC, providing new exemptions from registration and requiring reporting by certain exempt advisers.

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Photo of John Mahon John Mahon

John Mahon is a partner in the Registered Funds group and a member of the Investment Management practice. John has nearly 20 years of experience working with asset management clients in structuring, launching and managing regulated fund products and other permanent capital vehicles.…

John Mahon is a partner in the Registered Funds group and a member of the Investment Management practice. John has nearly 20 years of experience working with asset management clients in structuring, launching and managing regulated fund products and other permanent capital vehicles.

He represents private equity firms, credit managers and other financial sector participants in a wide range of fund formation, capital markets and securities law matters, including both public and private offerings of business development companies (BDCs) and other alternative vehicles, such as registered closed-end funds and interval funds.

John also has extensive experience in advising asset managers on the unique regulatory complexities involved in launching and managing registered funds and BDCs, including as part of larger platforms, and has sought and obtained SEC exemptive relief on behalf of numerous clients. He has been involved with more than 100 debt and equity offerings, including over 20 initial public offerings (IPOs), reflecting an aggregate of over $10 billion in total proceeds.

John’s work in securities law and mergers and acquisitions includes providing guidance to many New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq-listed companies in connection with ongoing corporate governance and SEC reporting and compliance matters. He has routinely handled issues involving tender offers, proxy solicitations, going-private transactions, and beneficial ownership reporting obligations.

John previously worked in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance, where he earned the SEC Capital Markets Award.

He is a prominent and engaged member of the investment management community. He has spoken and written on topics ranging from SEC regulations and disclosure obligations to public and private capital raising structures, 1940 Act regulated funds and M&A issues.

John has served as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School since 2009, and at the Georgetown University Law Center since 2023. He also formerly served as the chair of the Corporate Finance Committee of the Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Section of the District of Columbia Bar.

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Shaina Maldonado

Shaina L. Maldonado is an associate in the Corporate Department and a member of the Registered Funds Group.

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Photo of Adrianna Vallee Adrianna Vallee

Adrianna Vallee is an associate in the Corporate Department and a member of the Registered Funds Group.

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