ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF Rule Change to Generic Listing Standards
Summary
Cboe BZX Exchange filed a proposed rule change with the SEC to transition the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF from an individual approval order to the recently approved generic listing standards for Commodity-Based Trust Shares under Rule 14.11(e)(4). The exchange seeks comment on whether the Fund meets the requirements for generic listing.
What changed
The SEC published notice of Cboe BZX's proposed rule change to amend the listing framework for the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ticker: ARKB). The Exchange proposes to move the Fund from its current specific approval order to operating under the Amended Rule 14.11(e)(4) generic listing standards for Commodity-Based Trust Shares. The filing cites compliance with Section 6(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act regarding market integrity and investor protection.
The public may submit comments on this proposed rule change. Broker-dealers and financial advisers active in ETF distribution should review the proposal to assess whether the transition to generic standards affects their due diligence processes or client advisory obligations. No immediate compliance deadline applies while the proposal is under review.
What to do next
- Submit public comments to SEC if your organization has interests in the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF listing
- Review internal policies for ETF due diligence to assess impact of generic listing standard transition
- Monitor SEC proceedings for final approval or requests for additional information
Source document (simplified)
Content
March 30, 2026. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), (1) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, (2) notice is hereby given that on March 25, 2026, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “BZX”) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have
been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed
rule change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“BZX” or the “Exchange”) is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”)
a proposed rule change to amend the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (the “Fund”), shares (“Fund Shares”) of which have been approved
by the Commission to list and trade on the Exchange pursuant to BZX Rule 14.11(e)(4) under an approval order, to permit the
Fund to list and trade under the generic listing standards of that rule.
The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the Commission's website (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml), the Exchange's website (https://www.cboe.com/us/equities/regulation/rule_filings/bzx/), and at the principal office of the Exchange.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule
change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the
most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Commission has previously approved the listing and trading of shares for the Fund under Rule 14.11(e)(4), (3) and the Fund currently lists and trades on the Exchange. The Exchange now proposes to transition this Fund to operate under
the recently Commission-approved generic listing standards for Commodity-Based Trust Shares pursuant to Rule 14.11(e)(4) (“Amended
Rule 14.11(e)(4)”). (4) The Fund will meet the requirements of Amended Rule 14.11(e)(4) and will be required to comply with the continued listing
requirements set forth in such Rule.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable
to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act. (5) Specifically,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) [(6)]() requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote
just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) [(7)]() requirement that the rules of an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers,
or dealers.
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest because it would provide for the transition of the
Fund from being listed pursuant to the Bitcoin ETP Approval Order to Amended Rule 14.11(e)(4) instead. The proposed change
would allow the Fund Shares to continue listing and trading on the Exchange and permit the Fund to operate in reliance on
the generic listing standards in Amended Rule 14.11(e)(4) instead of the terms of the Bitcoin ETP Approval Order, thereby
facilitating the continued listing and trading of exchange-traded products that will enhance competition among market participants,
to the benefit of investors and the marketplace. The Fund will meet the requirements of Amended Rule 14.11(e)(4) and will
be required to comply with the continued listing standards set forth in Amended Rule 14.11(e)(4).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. As discussed above, the proposed change is intended to facilitate the
continued listing and trading of the Fund on the Exchange, thereby promoting competition among exchange-traded products to
the benefit of investors and the marketplace.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or
Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act (8) and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) (9) thereunder. Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the
public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; or (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on
which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act (10) and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) (11) thereunder.
A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) (12) normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), (13) the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with protection of investors and the public interest.
The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposed rule change may become operative
immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection
of investors and the public interest because it will allow the Exchange to implement the proposed rule change without delay,
thereby providing for the continued listing and trading of the Fund Shares, and does not introduce any novel regulatory issues.
Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing. (14)
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such
rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection
of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission
will institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the
proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include file number SR-CboeBZX-2026-020 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
- Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to file number SR-CboeBZX-2026-020. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection.
All submissions should refer to file number SR-CboeBZX-2026-020 and should be submitted on or before April 23, 2026.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority. (15)
Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2026-06353 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
Footnotes
(1) 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
(2) 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
(3) See Securities Exchange Act No. 99306 (January 10, 2024) 89 FR 3008 (January 17, 2024) (Order Granting Accelerated Approval of
Proposed Rule Changes, as Modified by Amendments Thereto, To List and Trade Bitcoin-Based Commodity-Based Trust Shares and
Trust Units) (the “Bitcoin ETP Approval Order”).
(4) See Securities Exchange Act No. 103995 (September 17, 2025) 90 FR 45414 (September 22, 2025) (SR-CboeBZX-2025-104) (Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Changes, as Modified by Amendments Thereto, To Adopt Generic Listing Standards for Commodity-Based
Trust Shares).
(5) 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
(6) 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
(7) Id.
(8) 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
(9) 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
(10) 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
(11) 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of
its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
(12) 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
(13) 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
(14) For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission also has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
(15) 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12) and (59).
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