The operator of the new York stock exchange Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), probably, again will move the launch of its platform for trading bitcoin futures Bakkt, writes CoinDesk.
According to the latest statement, the opening of trading on the Bakkt scheduled for January 24. However, ICE has not yet received the official permission of the Commission on trade commodity futures U.S. (CFTC), and the pace of review by the regulator suggests that at the appointed time it is your verdict can not stand.
This, however, does not mean that ultimately the authorities will not approve the initiative. Familiar with the work of the Commission, the source said that even 30 Jan looks quite probable date, that is, the delay can be measured in a few days.
In particular, the CFTC should give Bakkt the exclusive right to possession bitcoins customers to its own infrastructure. Usually the regulator requires that storage assets customers used banks, trust companies or authorised intermediary in futures transactions.
The CFTC staff has completed the review of a request Bakkt grant of exclusive rights and referred it to the commissioners on Friday, said one of the sources. Now the Commission must vote to allow the proposal to stage public comment, which will last 30 days. After that, commissioners will probably take a few more days for consideration of the comments and making immediate decisions on the proposal.
The problem is that next Monday and Tuesday – days off for Federal employees in the United States. Thus, if the commissioners do not want to go to work at the weekend, the earliest, when they will be able to vote for the admission of the proposal to the stage of collecting public comments is Wednesday, 26 December.
Accordingly, they will not be able to adhere to deadlines and to approve the launch Bakkt by 24 January, even if they do not study the comments received. The U.S. Senate this Friday concluded its meeting, did not vote on the draft resolution on the temporary extension of the government’s work until February 8, 2019, which jeopardizes the possibility of the functioning of some departments and may cause further delays decision on Bakkt.
It is expected that ICE will release the official notification on the postponement of the launch of bitcoin futures, but it will not happen before next week, said another source.
Previously it was assumed that Bakkt will be launched in December, but last month the company said that this is impossible, citing the “volume of interest” and “work that needs to be done to put the pieces back together”.
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