Crypto industry groups are pressing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to write tailored rules for novel crypto ETFs, arguing that products built on digital assets do not fit cleanly into frameworks designed for conventional funds.

Crypto groups are urging the SEC to craft rules specific to novel crypto ETFs rather than force them into existing categories. The push is being made through the SEC’s public comment process on rulemaking file S7-2026-24, where market participants can respond to proposed regulations.

Reporting on the filings identifies groups including Grayscale, a16z, and the Crypto Council for Innovation among those weighing in on the SEC’s approach to ETF restrictions, according to Crypto Briefing. The debate centers on how the agency reviews products that do not resemble familiar fund structures.

“Tailored rules” in practical terms means approval criteria written for the specific mechanics of crypto ETFs, rather than a one-size-fits-all standard. Industry commenters argue that legacy ETF requirements can be a poor fit for assets that trade and settle differently from equities. The issue is part of a broader regulatory conversation that also produced the SEC’s earlier crypto rule proposals.

Why Crypto Groups Want the SEC to Tailor ETF Rules

The core of the effort is a call for the SEC to design regulation that fits crypto-linked exchange-traded products directly, instead of applying standards drafted for traditional securities. The request was submitted through the agency’s public comment file S7-2026-24, where market participants can respond to proposed rulemaking.

The pushback focuses on how the SEC reviews products that do not resemble conventional fund structures. As covered in reporting on the filings, groups including Grayscale, a16z, and the Crypto Council for Innovation are among those weighing in on the agency’s approach to ETF restrictions.

Industry commenters say rules written for traditional funds can be a poor match for crypto-linked products because the assets involved trade and settle differently from equities. That difference is part of why the groups are asking for product-specific criteria rather than a generic framework, especially as the SEC’s review process continues to shape what kinds of digital-asset funds can come to market.

What Makes Novel Crypto ETFs Hard to Fit Under Existing Rules

The term “novel” refers to products whose exposures, custody arrangements, or market structure differ from conventional funds. Coverage of the comments frames the dispute as one over how far the SEC’s review of novel ETFs should reach, as reported by crypto.news.

Product complexity versus regulatory complexity

On the product side, crypto ETFs raise questions about how underlying assets are held and valued, issues that traditional ETF models rarely confront. On the regulatory side, the challenge is that existing categories were not written with these mechanics in mind, creating friction when issuers seek approval.

The tension mirrors debates seen in other rulemakings, including the fight over stablecoin rules ahead of the CLARITY Act markup. The groups’ argument, as covered by Decrypt, is that forcing novel structures through frameworks built for other instruments risks mismatched standards rather than better investor protection.

What Tailored SEC Rules Could Mean for the Crypto ETF Market

If the SEC adopts rules built for these products, the most direct effect would be on how quickly and on what terms new crypto ETFs receive approval. The comment file remains open, meaning the outcome depends on how the agency weighs the submissions.

For issuers and investors, clearer criteria could influence which products are filed and how they compete for investor access. That matters in a market where the line between familiar fund structures and newer crypto-linked products is still being defined in real time. The regulatory direction here sits alongside other shifts in the U.S. digital-asset rulebook, including the CFTC’s move to scrap its no-deny settlement rule. Until the SEC responds to the comments, the standards governing novel crypto ETFs remain unsettled.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.