The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked issuers of proposed ETFs tied to XRP, Litecoin, Solana, Cardano, and Dogecoin to withdraw their 19b-4 filings. This request follows the approval of new “generic listing standards” that remove the need for individual 19b-4 forms. Instead, the streamlined framework allows exchanges to list crypto ETFs under the same umbrella rules, provided the tokens meet existing criteria.
What Is a 19b-4 Filing?
A 19b-4 filing is the formal request an exchange makes to the SEC to change its rules, often to list a new product such as an ETF. In the past, every new crypto ETF required one of these filings, creating long delays and multiple rounds of review. The SEC’s new approval of generic listing standards makes this step unnecessary, cutting down red tape.
Deadlines Approaching
Several issuers already had decision deadlines in October and November. With the withdrawal of 19b-4 filings, these deadlines no longer apply. Instead, issuers must now rely solely on the S-1 registration process, the document that provides detailed information about the ETF to investors.
What It Means for XRP
The timing has drawn attention because XRP is seen as a strong candidate for an ETF. The change does not delay approvals indefinitely, but it does shift the process.
Without 19b-4 deadlines, the SEC can approve, or reject, applications at any time based on the S-1 filings.
The Road Ahead
Analysts say the move is not a setback. Rather, it signals that the SEC’s new framework is now active and ready to be used. For XRP and other tokens, the next steps depend on how quickly issuers update their filings under the streamlined process. Investors should not expect extensions in October. Instead, the window has either opened wide, or closed until next year, depending on how the SEC proceeds.
