Ether jumps 20% on renewed optimism for an ETF, bitcoin also rallies

Cryptocurrencies rose Tuesday amid a late surge in optimism around the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s decisions on spot ether exchange-traded funds applications, the first of which is due this week.

Ether led the rally, rising 11% to $3,744.43, according to Coin Metrics. On Monday, it rocketed 20%.

Meanwhile, bitcoin added 2% and was trading at about $71,350, extending an 8% gain from the previous day. The flagship cryptocurrency has been rising since last week’s April CPI reading showed inflation eased from the previous month, which could open the door again to rate cuts in the U.S. This week’s rally has pushed bitcoin above $70,000 for the first time in more than a month.

Crypto-related equities rode the wave. Coinbase and Robinhood each rose about 2% in premarket trading, adding to Monday’s gains of 8% and 9%, respectively. MicroStrategy, a proxy for the bitcoin price, added 1%. Bitcoin miners also gained slightly, with Riot Platforms and Iren (formerly known as Iris Energy) each advancing 2%, and Marathon Digital and CleanSpark each ticking higher by 1%.

Investors are reconsidering the probability that the SEC greenlights spot ether ETF applications amid reports that the SEC has requested key document updates from potential ETF issuers and exchanges. The previous consensus was that such funds would likely not be approved.

“ETH spiked upwards shortly after rumors started circulating that the SEC might approve spot ETH ETFs this week after all,” said Bartosz Lipiński, CEO at Cube Exchange.

“Much like with spot bitcoin ETFs being approved earlier in the year, though, this feels to me like a ‘buy the rumor, sell the news’ type situation and I would imagine a rally through this Thursday … and then at least a brief selloff regardless of whether or not the funds are approved,” he added.

A spokesperson for the SEC said the agency doesn’t comment on individual filings.

Final decisions on applications by VanEck and Ark Invest are due this Thursday and Friday, respectively.

BlackRock, Fidelity, Invesco, Grayscale and Bitwise Asset Management also have applications awaiting decisions this year.