Nasdaq Files for Grayscale’s Hedera ETF—What It Could Mean for HBAR’s Future

In a major development for the cryptocurrency market, Nasdaq has officially filed a 19b-4 form with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list and trade Grayscale’s spot Hedera (HBAR) ETF.

This move has generated significant excitement, particularly within the Hedera community, as it could pave the way for the institutional adoption of HBAR. Over the past seven days, HBAR has experienced a 17.5% surge, reflecting growing investor confidence.

Understanding the ETF Approval Process

For an ETF to trade on a major stock exchange, it must first receive SEC approval. The 19b-4 form is a crucial regulatory document that allows stock exchanges to introduce new investment products such as ETFs.

Once the SEC acknowledges the filing, the approval process officially begins. While approval timelines can vary, the submission of this form marks a significant step toward making HBAR ETFs available to mainstream investors.

Why HBAR’s ETF Has Strong Approval Prospects

This is not the first time Nasdaq has sought SEC approval for an HBAR ETF. Previously, a 19b-4 form was filed on behalf of Canary Capital’s spot Hedera ETF, signaling ongoing efforts to bring HBAR-based ETFs to market.

Renowned ETF analyst Eric Balchunas has predicted that Hedera and Litecoin ETFs have some of the best chances of securing SEC approval compared to other altcoin ETFs. If approved, this could further cement HBAR’s position as a legitimate institutional asset.

What Makes Hedera Unique?

Unlike traditional blockchains, Hedera operates on a “hashgraph” consensus mechanism, which is designed to be:

Faster – Processes transactions more efficiently than conventional blockchain networks.
More Secure – Reduces vulnerabilities compared to traditional blockchain architectures.
Scalable – Capable of handling high transaction volumes with lower costs.

Jonathan Dotan, founder of EQTYLAB, highlighted Hedera’s enterprise-grade infrastructure, stating:

“Hedera’s enterprise-grade infrastructure, backed by a Council of global leaders like Dell Technologies, sets it apart from other blockchains by providing the scalability and security essential for bringing Verifiable Compute to market.”

Market Implications for HBAR

At the time of writing, HBAR continues to show bullish momentum, driven by the ETF filing and growing confidence in its enterprise adoption potential. If the Grayscale Hedera ETF gains SEC approval, it could lead to increased institutional investment, potentially pushing HBAR’s price even higher.

Investors will be closely watching for SEC updates, as approval could be a game-changer for Hedera’s mainstream adoption.