Crypto ETFs to Surge in U.S. as SEC Eases Approval Rules

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Asset managers are rushing to launch cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States after regulators streamlined the approval process, potentially ushering in a wave of new products tied to digital assets.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced updated standards for ETFs last week, a move expected to encourage demand for funds linked not just to bitcoin and ethereum but also to cryptocurrencies such as solana, XRP, and even dogecoin.

Bitcoin and ethereum ETFs were launched in 2024 under stricter rules, but the new standards lower barriers for issuers. Currently, 21 ETFs in the U.S. hold bitcoin, ethereum, or both, with dozens of new filings pending for funds tied to other coins. Analysts expect the first products under the new rules—likely ETFs tied to solana and XRP—to launch in early October.

“We’ve got about a dozen filings with the SEC now, and more coming,” said Steven McClurg, founder of Canary Capital Group. “We’re all getting ready for a wave of launches.”

The SEC’s changes eliminate the need for case-by-case reviews of each ETF application. Instead, any fund meeting preset standards can move forward automatically. Approval timelines are expected to shrink to 75 days or less, compared with up to 270 days previously.

Industry insiders say the fourth quarter of 2025 could be a breakout period for crypto ETF issuers. Grayscale Investments has already converted its private fund into a public ETF, the Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5, holding bitcoin, ethereum, XRP, solana, and cardano.

To qualify for approval, ETFs must meet at least one of three main criteria: the underlying cryptocurrency must either trade on a regulated market, have U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated futures contracts with at least six months of trading history, or already be tied to another ETF with at least 40% direct exposure to the coin.

However, questions remain about investor appetite for funds tied to lesser-known tokens. “There will be a flood of tokens that many folks have never heard of, and instead of years as with bitcoin, there will be weeks or months to provide that education,” said Kyle DaCruz of asset manager VanEck.

TikTok Collected Sensitive Data on Canadian Children, Probe Reveals

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TikTok has pledged to strengthen safeguards to keep children off its platform after a Canadian investigation concluded that the company failed to adequately block underage users and protect their personal information.

The inquiry, led by Canada’s federal privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne along with privacy watchdogs in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta, found that hundreds of thousands of Canadian children used TikTok annually despite the platform’s minimum age requirement of 13.

Investigators also determined that TikTok collected sensitive personal data from “a large number” of children and used it for marketing and content-targeting purposes. “TikTok collects vast amounts of personal information about its users, including children. This data is being used to target the content and ads that users see, which can have harmful impacts, particularly on youth,” Dufresne said at a press conference.

In response, TikTok agreed to adopt stricter age-verification systems, improve transparency about how user data is used, and prevent advertisers from directly targeting anyone under 18, except through broad categories such as language or approximate location. The company also expanded the privacy information available to Canadian users.

A TikTok spokesperson said the company was pleased regulators accepted several of its proposals to “further strengthen” protections for Canadian users, while noting disagreement with some of the findings. The spokesperson did not specify which ones.

The case comes amid growing global scrutiny of TikTok due to concerns about its ties to China. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, and governments worldwide—including the EU and the U.S.—have taken steps to restrict or ban the app on official devices.

In Canada, the government launched a review of TikTok’s planned expansion in 2023, which ultimately led to an order demanding the company shut down its Canadian operations over national security risks. TikTok is challenging that order.

Disney+ to Raise Subscription Prices for Fourth Straight Year

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Walt Disney announced it will increase subscription prices for Disney+ in the United States starting next month, marking the fourth consecutive year of price hikes for its flagship streaming platform.

Beginning October 21, the ad-supported Disney+ plan will rise by $2 to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free premium tier will increase by $3 to $18.99. Annual premium subscriptions will also see a $30 jump, reaching $189.99.

According to Disney’s website, bundled packages that combine Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ will also be subject to price increases.

The company has been under increased public scrutiny after controversy erupted over the temporary removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC, which even triggered boycott calls against Disney services.

Since its launch in November 2019 at $6.99 per month, Disney+ has steadily raised prices as part of a broader strategy to offset streaming losses and establish the service as a key growth driver. Last year, the streaming business turned profitable for the first time.

This latest round of hikes follows a 38% increase in December 2022 and further raises in October 2023 and 2024, solidifying Disney’s pattern of annual price adjustments.