Grayscale, Ark Investments, Valkyrie, and VanEck have filed their Form 8-As, advancing their efforts to launch a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). This registration enables them to trade on an exchange once the product receives approval. The filings follow Fidelity's Form 8-A submission and precede the SEC's imminent decision on whether to approve a spot bitcoin ETF.

Grayscale aims to convert its GBTC fund into a spot bitcoin ETF, buoyed by an August court ruling mandating the SEC to re-evaluate their application. Other firms like BlackRock and Fidelity have also expressed interest in launching a spot bitcoin ETF over the past year.

A Grayscale spokesperson stated, "We continue to work collaboratively with the SEC to uplist GBTC to NYSE Arca as a spot bitcoin ETF and are ready to operate upon regulatory approval."

The anticipation for a spot bitcoin ETF, potentially the first in the U.S., has intensified. In late December, BlackRock and Fidelity amended their registration forms with the SEC, signaling a final push. BlackRock designated Jane Street Capital and JP Morgan Securities LLC as authorized participants. Issuers have been finalizing details of these potential ETFs, including creation and redemption models, authorized participants, and hard fork discussions.