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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-106268; File No. SR-NasdaqTX-2026-039]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq Texas, LLC; Notice of Filing, and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of, a Proposed Rule Change to Amend Rule 5711(d) (CommodityBased Trust Shares)
September 3, 2026.
On August 20, 2026, Nasdaq Texas, LLC (“Nasdaq Texas” or “Exchange”) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ( the “Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”)1, and Rule 19b-4 thereunder (“Rule 19b-4”),2 a
proposed rule change to amend Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d) to modify the generic listing
standards for Commodity-Based Trust Shares. The proposed rule change is described in Items I
and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons and is
approving the proposed rule change (the “Proposal”), on an accelerated basis.
I.
Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed
Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 5711(d) to modify the generic listing standards
for Commodity-Based Trust Shares (as defined below) to: (1) allow for a buffer of up to 15% of
the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Commodity-Based Trust Shares holdings to consist of certain
assets that do not meet the eligibility criteria under the generic listing standards; (2) add a
definition for digital commodity (as defined below); and (3) allow for actively-managed
strategies.
1
15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2
17 CFR 240.19b-4.
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Website at
https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/nasdaqtx/rulefilings, and at the principal office of the
Exchange.
II.
Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the
purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A.
Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis
for, the Proposed Rule Change
1.
Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 5711(d) to modify the generic listing standards
(“GLS”) for Commodity-Based Trust Shares3 to (1) allow for a buffer of up to 15% of the NAV
of the Commodity-Based Trust Shares holdings to consist of certain assets that do not meet the
3
The term “Commodity-Based Trust Shares” refers to a type of exchange-traded product (“ETP”) and means
a security that: (1) is issued by a trust, limited liability company, partnership, or other similar entity
(“Trust”) that, if applicable, is operated by a registered commodity pool operator pursuant to the
Commodity Exchange Act, and is not registered as an investment company pursuant to the Investment
Company Act of 1940, or series or class thereof; (2) is designed to reflect the performance of one or more
reference assets or an index of reference assets, less expenses and other liabilities; (3) in order to reflect the
performance as provided in (d)(iii)(A)(2) above, is issued by a Trust that holds (a) one or more
commodities or commodity-based assets as defined in (d)(iii)(C) below, and (b) in addition to such
commodities or commodity-based assets, may hold securities, cash, and cash equivalents; (4) is issued by
such Trust in a specified aggregate minimum number in return for a deposit of (a) a specified quantity of
the underlying commodities, commodity-based assets, securities, cash, and/or cash equivalents, or (b) a
cash amount with a value based on the next determined net asset value per Trust share; and (5) when
aggregated in the same specified minimum number, may be redeemed at a holder's request by such Trust
which will deliver to the redeeming holder (a) the specified quantity of the underlying commodities,
commodity-based assets, securities, cash, and/or cash equivalents, or (b) a cash amount with a value based
on the next determined net asset value per Trust share. See current Rule 5711(d)(iii)(A). As discussed later
in this filing, the Exchange is proposing to amend this definition to allow for actively-managed strategies.
2
GLS eligibility criteria; (2) add a definition for digital commodity (as defined below); and (3)
allow for actively-managed Commodity-Based Trust Shares. The proposed changes are
materially identical to Rule 5711(d) of the Exchange’s affiliate, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(“Nasdaq”).4 Each change is discussed in detail below.
15% Buffer and Digital Commodity
Today, the GLS in Rule 5711(d)(iii)(A)(3) contemplates that Commodity-Based Trust
Shares may hold one or more commodities5 or commodity-based assets,6 and in addition to such
commodities or commodity-based assets, may hold securities, cash, and cash equivalents.7 Rule
5711(d)(iv) sets forth specific eligibility requirements that the commodity, commodity-based
asset, and security holdings of Commodity-Based Trust Shares must meet on an initial and, with
the exception of subparagraph (A)(3) as described below, on a continuing basis. In particular,
subparagraph (A) sets forth the eligibility requirements for commodity and commodity-based
asset holdings of Commodity-Based Trust Shares. Specifically, each commodity or commodity
that underlies a commodity-based asset held by the Trust must fall into at least one of the
following categories in subparagraphs (A)(1) – (3):
4
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 105995 (July 27, 2026), 91 FR 48204 (July 30, 2026) (SRNASDAQ-032).
5
The term “commodity” is as defined in Section 1a(9) of the Commodity Exchange Act that is not an
“excluded commodity” as defined in Section 1a(19) of the Commodity Exchange Act. See Rule
5711(d)(iii)(B).
6
The term “commodity-based asset” means any future, option, or swap on a commodity. See Rule
5711(d)(iii)(C).
7
The term “cash equivalent” means short-term instruments with maturities of less than three months as
follows: (1) U.S. Government securities, including bills, notes, and bonds differing as to maturity and rates
of interest, which are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. Government agencies or
instrumentalities; (2) certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan
association; (3) bankers' acceptances, which are short-term credit instruments used to finance commercial
transactions; (4) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements; (5) bank time deposits, which
are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings and loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed
rate of interest; (6) commercial paper, which are short-term unsecured promissory notes; and (7) money
market funds. See Rule 5711(d)(iii)(D).
3
•
(1) the commodity trades on a market that is an Intermarket Surveillance Group
("ISG") member; provided that the Exchange may obtain information about trading in
such commodity from the ISG member; or
•
(2) the commodity underlies a futures contract that has been made available to trade
on a designated contract market for at least six months; provided that the Exchange
has a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement, whether directly or through
common membership in ISG, with such designated contract market; or
•
(3) on an initial basis only, an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) designed to provide
economic exposure of no less than 40% of its NAV to the commodity lists and trades
on a national securities exchange.
The current GLS therefore requires that all commodity or commodity-based asset
holdings of the Commodity-Based Trust Share must qualify under one or more of the above
eligibility criteria. These criteria are generally designed to ensure that the Exchange can obtain
information regarding trading in the commodities or commodities underlying commodity-based
assets held by the Trust issuing the Commodity-Based Trust Shares, which would assist in
monitoring trading in such Shares on the Exchange and to deter and detect violations of
Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws, thereby making the Commodity-Based
Trust Shares less readily susceptible to fraud and manipulation.
In addition, subparagraph (B) of Rule 5711(d)(iv) sets forth the eligibility requirements
for the Trust’s security holdings. Specifically, if the Trust holds any securities, each security held
by the Trust would need to meet the criteria of Rule 5735 (Managed Fund Shares), Sections
b(1)(A) and (B), or if the security is a listed option, trades on an ISG market. Essentially, the
GLS requires that the security holdings of the Commodity-Based Trust Shares be either an equity
4
security or a fixed income security, as defined in Rule 5735(b)(1)(A) and (B), respectively, and
meet the listing standards thereunder, or if the security holdings are listed options, they trade on
an ISG market. The Commission previously found that the generic listing standards for Managed
Fund Shares consistent with the Exchange Act, including the requirements relating to component
equity and fixed income securities underlying Managed Fund Shares.8 Further, with respect to
listed options, ISG membership would help to ensure the availability of information necessary to
detect and deter potential manipulations and other trading abuses, thereby making the
Commodity-Based Trust Shares less readily susceptible to manipulation.
The Exchange now proposes to amend Rule 5711(d)(iv) to allow up to 15% of the NAV
of the Commodity-Based Trust Shares holdings to consist of certain assets that do not meet the
GLS eligibility criteria in subparagraph (A) and (B) of Rule 5711(d)(iv) as described above.
Specifically, new subparagraph (C) of Rule 5711(d)(iv) will provide that notwithstanding the
eligibility requirements described above, up to 15% of the NAV of the Commodity-Based Trust
Shares holdings in the aggregate may consist of (i) digital commodities that do not meet the
criteria in subparagraph (A) of Rule 5711(d)(iv), or (ii) securities that do not meet the criteria in
subparagraph (B) of Rule 5711(d)(iv). For purposes of calculating the 15% limitation, any
derivatives held by the Trust will be calculated based on its gross notional value.9
8
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320 (July 27, 2016)
(NYSEARCA-2015-110) (approving NYSE Arca's generic listing standards for Managed Fund Shares);
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78396 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49698 (July 28, 2016) (SR-BATS2015-100) (approving BZX's generic listing standards for Managed Fund Shares); Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 78918 (Sep. 23, 2016), 81 FR 67033 (Sep. 29, 2016) (SR-NASDAQ-2016-104) (approving
Nasdaq's generic listing standards for Managed Fund Shares).
9
Today, the Exchange similarly calculates percentage limitations on listed and over-the-counter (“OTC”)
derivatives in its Managed Fund Shares rule based on the aggregate gross notional value of the listed and
OTC derivatives. See Rule 5735(b)(1)(D) and (E).
5
In connection with the proposed adoption of the 15% buffer, the Exchange also proposes
to add a definition for “digital commodity” in new subparagraph (D) of Rule 5711(d)(iii). In
connection with this change, the Exchange will also renumber current subparagraphs (D) – (J) to
proposed subparagraphs (E) – (K). As proposed, the term “digital commodity” will mean a
commodity that is a digital asset and is intrinsically linked to and derives its value from the
programmatic operation of a functional crypto system, as well as supply and demand dynamics,
rather than from the expectations of profits from the essential managerial efforts of others. The
Exchange is adopting this definition to make clear what types of digital assets may be included
within the 15% buffer described above. The Exchange notes that the proposed definition of
digital commodity is informed by the joint interpretative guidance issued by the SEC and the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), effective March 23, 2026.10 The Exchange
represents that to the extent legislation is enacted defining “digital commodity” or a substantially
similar term, the Exchange will submit a rule filing to conform the definition in the GLS to the
statutory definition. The proposed changes would effectively exclude other commodities such as
non-fungible assets or non-fungible collectibles from being included in the 15% buffer for
generically listed Commodity-Based Trust Shares. However, this would not preclude the
Exchange from submitting a 19b-4 rule filing to seek the listing and trading of a CommodityBased Trust Share that holds other commodities, including commodities that fall outside of the
definition of digital commodity, if it determines to do so at a later date. The Exchange notes that
generic listing standards are generally intended to apply to products that were known and
contemplated at the time of adoption (e.g., Commodity-Based Trust Shares holding digital
10
See “Application of the Federal Securities Laws to Certain Types of Crypto Assets and Certain
Transactions Involving Crypto Assets,” 91 FR 13714 (March 23, 2026).
6
commodities). They are not intended to apply to novel products or materially distinct structures
that were not considered when the standards were adopted. As it relates to the GLS for
Commodity-Based Trust Shares, the products that were known and contemplated at the time of
adoption included, for example, Commodity-Based Trust Shares holding digital commodities.
The Exchange therefore believes it is appropriate to delineate the scope of what can be included
in the 15% buffer to digital commodities.
As proposed, the GLS will still require that at least 85% of the NAV of the CommodityBased Trust Shares holdings be comprised of assets that are already allowed under the GLS.11
Further, the Trust must otherwise comply with all applicable requirements of the GLS (e.g., Rule
5711(d)(v)’s website disclosure requirements) in order for the Commodity-Based Trust Share to
be generically listed. The sponsor of the Commodity-Based Trust Share must monitor
compliance with this 85% threshold daily, and must promptly notify the Exchange if the
Commodity-Based Trust Share breaches this requirement.12
The following examples illustrate how the 15% buffer will be applied:
1. A Commodity-Based Trust Share (“CBTS”) holds $95 million in market value of
Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and XRP, which all presently qualify as eligible commodities
under Rule 5711(d)(iv)(A)(2) and (3) (i.e., each commodity underlies a futures
contract that has been trading on an ISG market for at least 6 months, and has an ETF
11
Specifically, the Exchange will still require that at least 85% of the NAV of the Commodity-Based Trust
Shares holdings consist of (i) commodities, commodity-based assets, and securities that meet the eligibility
criteria in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of Rule 5711(d)(iv), and/or (ii) cash and cash equivalents.
12
The Exchange notes that generally speaking, a company with securities listed under the Rule 5700 Series
must provide the Exchange with prompt notification after the company becomes aware of any
noncompliance by the company with the requirements of the Rule 5700 Series. See Rule 5701(d). Further,
the Commodity-Based Trust Shares rule requires that an issuer of Commodity-Based Trust Shares must
notify the Exchange of any failure to comply with the continued listing requirements. See Supplementary
Material .03 to Rule 5711(d).
7
that provides at least 40% economic exposure to the commodity). The CBTS also
holds $5 million in market value in several digital commodities that do not presently
qualify as eligible commodities under the GLS. Because at least 95% of the Trust’s
NAV ($95 million / $100 million = 95%) meets the eligibility criteria under Rule
5711(d)(iv)(2) and (3), and the additional 5% consists of digital commodities that do
not meet the eligibility criteria, consistent with the 15% buffer, the CBTS would
qualify under the proposed generic criteria.
2. A CBTS holds gold and gold futures contracts. Both assets presently qualify as an
eligible commodity or commodity-based asset under Rule 5711(d)(iv)(A)(2) because
the commodity (gold) underlies gold futures contracts that are listed and trading on an
ISG market for at least six months. The gold held by the Trust has a market value of
$80 million. The gold futures contract trading unit size is 100 troy ounces and an
ounce of gold is currently worth $4,000. The Trust holds 100 gold futures contracts
with a gross notional value of $40 million (100 contracts * 100 troy ounces * $4,000).
Both the gold and gold futures holdings of $120 million in total (100% of NAV)
would meet the eligibility criteria under Rule 5711(d)(iv)(A)(2). As such, the CBTS
would qualify under the proposed generic criteria.
3. A CBTS holds bitcoin and OTC call options on a bitcoin ETF. Bitcoin presently
qualifies as an eligible commodity under Rule 5711(iv)(A)(2) and (3) (i.e., bitcoin
underlies a futures contract that has been trading on an ISG market for at least 6
months, and has an ETF that provides at least 40% economic exposure to bitcoin).
The bitcoin held by the Trust currently has a market value of $100 million. The Trust
also holds 5,000 OTC call options (with each option contract representing 100 shares)
8
on a bitcoin ETF with a current market price of $80 per share, resulting in a gross
notional value of $40 million (5,000 option contracts * 100 option contract multiplier
* $80 share price). Because these options are traded over-the-counter rather than on
an ISG market, they do not meet the GLS eligibility criteria for securities under Rule
5711(d)(iv)(B). Accordingly, only the bitcoin holdings of $100 million or ~71% of
NAV ($100 million / $140 million = 71.42%) would meet the GLS eligibility criteria
under Rule 5711(d)(iv)(A)(2) and (3). While the CBTS could hold up to 15% of OTC
options under the 15% buffer, here, the OTC options exceed the 15% limitation.
Accordingly, the CBTS would not qualify under the proposed generic criteria.
The Exchange notes that the proposed 15% buffer for Commodity-Based Trust Shares is
consistent with the thresholds recently approved by the Commission for similar digital
commodity-based ETPs.13 In those filings, the Commission approved the listing and trading of
digital commodity-based ETPs holding a diversified portfolio of underlying digital commodities
that tracked transparent, rules-based indexes. There, the Commission found that the requirement
that the Trusts hold at least 85% of its investments in assets approved by the Commission to
underlie an ETP as primary investments (and the rest of its assets in other digital commodities)
would enable adequate surveillance of the Shares on the Exchange, and found that the
Exchange’s rules were designed to prevent fraud and manipulation.14 Although the ETPs in the
13
See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 103996 (September 17, 2025) (SR-NYSEARCA-2024-87)
(Order Setting Aside Action by Delegated Authority and Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified
by Amendment No. 1, to Amend NYSE Arca Rule 8.500-E (Trust Units) and to List and Trade Shares of
the Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund LLC under Amended NYSE Arca Rule 8.500-E (Trust Units))
(“Grayscale Order”); and 104212 (November 18, 2025) (SR-NYSEARCA-2024-98) (Order Setting Aside
Action by Delegated Authority and Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No.
1, to Amend NYSE Arca Rule 8.500-E (Trust Units) and to List and Trade Shares of the Bitwise 10 Crypto
Index ETF under Amended NYSE Arca Rule 8.500-E (Trust Units)) (“Bitwise Order”).
14
See Grayscale Order and Bitwise Order, supra note 13.
9
Grayscale Order and Bitwise Order were listed under a different listing rule for Trust Units,15 the
Exchange believes that the policy rationale applies with equal force to Commodity-Based Trust
Shares listed under Rule 5711(d). Here, the Exchange is proposing to require that at least 85% of
the NAV of the Trust’s holdings be composed of assets that already qualify under the GLS (i.e.,
commodities, commodity-based assets, and securities that meet the eligibility criteria in Rule
5711(d)(iv) as well as cash and cash equivalents). These eligibility criteria are designed to assist
the Exchange in monitoring trading in such Shares on the Exchange, thereby mitigating risks
around fraud and manipulation. Also the Exchange is proposing to limit the 15% buffer to just
digital commodities and securities that do not meet the eligibility criteria. The Exchange
therefore believes that its proposal similarly strikes an appropriate balance between ensuring that
the primary exposure of the ETP is to assets meeting established eligibility standards approved
by the Commission, and allowing limited exposure to certain additional assets that enhance
diversification and flexibility without undermining market integrity or investor protection.
Actively-Managed Commodity-Based Trust Shares
Rule 5711(d)(iii)(A)(2) currently requires Commodity-Based Trust Shares to be designed
to reflect the performance of one or more reference assets or an index of reference assets, less
expenses, and other liabilities. In other words, Commodity-Based Trust Shares are required to be
passively managed under the GLS. The Exchange now proposes to delete paragraph (A)(2) and a
similar provision in paragraph (A)(3) in order to allow for both passively- and actively-managed
strategies. The Exchange will also make non-substantive changes to renumber the paragraphs in
the definition of Commodity-Based Trust Shares to reflect the deletion of paragraph (A)(2). The
Exchange also proposes in proposed paragraph (A)(2) (currently paragraph (A)(3)) to add the
15
“Trust Units” are listed on the Exchange under Rule 5711(i).
10
phrase “consistent with the Trust’s investment objective and policies” to align with language in
the Exchange’s Managed Fund Shares rule in Rule 5735(c)(1), which governs the listing of
actively-managed ETFs today.
The Exchange also proposes to implement additional requirements around material nonpublic information in Rule 5711(d)(x) that would apply specifically to actively-managed
Commodity-Based Trust Shares. In particular, proposed Rule 5711(d)(x)(3) will provide that any
person associated with, or is an agent of (including Reporting Authority (defined below)), the
Trust who has access to non-public information regarding the portfolio of the Commodity-Based
Trust Shares, including any change thereto, must be subject to procedures designed to prevent
the use and dissemination of material non-public information regarding the portfolio. In
connection with this change, the Exchange proposes to add a definition for Reporting Authority
in proposed Rule 5711(d)(iii)(L), which would provide that the term “Reporting Authority” with
respect to Commodity-Based Trust Shares means an institution or reporting service designated
by the Exchange or the Trust as the official source for calculating and reporting information
relating to the CBTS, including, but not limited to, its portfolio, the amount of any cash
distribution to holders of Commodity-Based Trust Shares, net asset value, or other information
relating to the issuance, redemption or trading of Commodity-Based Trust Shares. Each
Commodity-Based Trust Shares may have more than one Reporting Authority, each having
different functions.16 In connection with the foregoing changes, the Exchange will also make a
non-substantive change to renumber existing Rule 5711(d)(x)(3) to (4). These additional
requirements are substantively rooted in the current prohibitions against the use and
dissemination of material non-public information within the Exchange’s rules governing
16
See, e.g., Rule 5735(c)(4) (Managed Fund Shares) for similar provisions.
11
actively-managed ETFs, and would apply to anyone associated with, or is an agent of, the Trust
who has access to non-public information regarding the Trust’s portfolio. These proposed
requirements would apply in addition to what is already required under Rule 5711(d)(x).17 The
proposed requirements would provide additional protection against the potential misuse of
material, non-public information relating to the Trust’s actively-managed portfolio.
Additionally, while the actively-managed Commodity-Based Trust Share would be
subject to the existing trading halt requirements of Rule 5711(d)(ix), proposed Rule
5711(d)(ix)(B) will provide that if the Exchange becomes aware that the information required by
paragraph (v)(A) is not disseminated to all market participants at the same time, it will halt
trading in the Commodity-Based Trust Shares until such time as the information required by
paragraph (v)(A) is available to all market participants.18 The Exchange also proposes to make
aligning changes in Rule 5711(d)(ix)(A)(3), which currently provides that the Exchange may halt
trading during the day in which the interruption to the information set forth in Rule 5711(d) is
17
See Rule 5735(g) (Managed Fund Shares) (setting forth firewall and procedure requirements that apply to
the investment adviser to the investment company issuing Managed Fund Shares and to personnel who
make decisions on the investment company’s portfolio composition). See also Rules 5704(b)(1)(B)(i)
(Exchange Traded Fund Shares) (setting forth firewall and procedure requirements that apply to the
investment adviser to an Exchange Traded Fund and to personnel who make decisions on the Exchange
Traded Fund’s portfolio composition) and 5704(b)(1)(B)(ii) (setting forth procedure requirements that
apply to the “Reporting Authority” that provides information relating to the Exchange Traded Fund’s
portfolio). Nasdaq [sic] Rule 5704(a)(1)(C) defines “Reporting Authority” to mean Nasdaq [sic], a whollyowned subsidiary of Nasdaq [sic], or an institution or reporting service designated by Nasdaq or its
subsidiary as the official source for calculating and reporting information relating to Exchange Traded
Fund Shares series, including, but not limited to, any current index or portfolio value; the current value of
the portfolio of any securities required to be deposited in connection with issuance of Exchange Traded
Fund Shares; the amount of any dividend equivalent payment or cash distribution to holders of Exchange
Traded Fund Shares, net asset value, and other information relating to the issuance, redemption or trading
of Exchange Traded Fund Shares.
18
Pursuant to paragraph (v)(A) of Rule 5711(d), the Trust must disclose prominently on its website, which is
publicly available and free of charge, the following information: (A) Before the opening of regular trading
on the Exchange, for the Trust’s commodities, commodity-based assets, securities, cash and cash
equivalent, to the extent applicable: (1) ticker symbol; (2) identifier; (3) description of the holding; (4) the
quantity of each commodity, commodity-based asset, security, cash, and cash equivalent held; and (5)
percentage weighting of the Trust's assets.
12
not being disclosed in accordance with the requirements of Rule 5711(d)(v), and that if the
interruption persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange would halt trading
no later than the beginning of the trading day following the interruption. The Exchange now
proposes to add a proviso at the end of this Rule that if the Exchange becomes aware that the
information required by paragraph (v)(A) is not disseminated to all market participants at the
same time, it will halt trading pursuant to proposed subparagraph (B), as described above. This
additional trading halt requirement is substantively identical to the Exchange’s rule governing
the listing and trading of actively managed ETFs, and would apply in addition to what is required
under Rule 5711(d)(ix).19 This additional trading halt requirement will help ensure that all
market participants have transparency relating to the Trust’s underlying portfolio, which
information is key to pricing the Commodity-Based Trust Shares, and that no market participant
has an unfair informational advantage. Ensuring such transparency relating to the Trust’s
underlying portfolio for all market participants will help facilitate a fair and orderly market for
the Commodity-Based Trust Shares, as well as help to ensure that the Commodity-Based Trust
Shares are not susceptible to manipulation.
Actively-managed ETFs have become a significant and growing segment of the U.S. and
global ETF markets. For example, in 2024, around 49% of all ETFs launched globally were
active, and in the U.S., active ETF launches outnumbered index launches by nearly 4:1.20 Active
ETFs in the U.S. represent the vast majority of total ETF launches in 2025,21 with over a third of
19
See Rule 5735(d)(2)(D) (Managed Fund Shares).
20
See “Decoding active ETFs,” BlackRock, available at
https://www.ishares.com/us/literature/whitepaper/decoding-active-etfs.pdf.
21
See “How active ETFs are unlocking innovation and opportunity for investors,” BlackRock, available at
https://www.ishares.com/us/insights/active-etf-investors (“Active ETFs accounted for 88% of all U.S.listed ETF launches through June 2025, and 51% of global ETF launches.”); see also “Monthly Active ETF
Monitor (August 31, 2025),” J.P.Morgan, available at https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-
13
U.S. ETF inflows coming from active strategies over the past two years.22 By the end of 2025,
approximately 83% of the year’s new ETFs were actively managed.23 The Exchange believes
that these figures demonstrate substantial market demand in actively-managed strategies, and
that this proposal would benefit investors by providing a transparent, regulated investment
vehicle as an alternative to less regulated avenues that investors could use to obtain commodity
(including digital commodity) exposure.
2.
Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,24 in
general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,25 in particular, in that it is
designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect
investors and the public interest.
The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market, and, in general to protect investors and the public interest because it would facilitate the
listing and trading of additional Commodity-Based Trust Shares, which would enhance
competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace.
aem/americas/us/en/insights/etf-insights/monthly-active-etf.pdf (“60 active ETFs were launched in August.
Active ETFs represent 85% of total ETF launches in 2025.”).
22
See “Decoding active ETFs,” BlackRock, available at
https://www.ishares.com/us/literature/whitepaper/decoding-active-etfs.pdf (“31% of net asset inflows come
from actively managed strategies,” sourcing BlackRock Global Business Intelligence data through June
2024); see also “Monthly Active ETF Monitor (August 31, 2025),” J.P.Morgan, available at
https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/americas/us/en/insights/etf-insights/monthly-activeetf.pdf (“Over 37% of ETF flows in 2025 have gone into active strategies”).
23
See “2025 ETF & ETP Market Trends: Flow and Tell year in review,” BlackRock, available at
https://www.ishares.com/us/insights/2025-etf-market-trends-record-flows.
24
15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
25
15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
14
As discussed above, the Exchange is requiring at least 85% of the NAV of the Trust’s
holdings to be composed of assets that already qualify under the GLS (i.e., cash, cash
equivalents, as well as commodities, commodity-based assets, and securities that meet the
eligibility criteria in Rule 5711(d)(iv)). By requiring that the primary exposure of CommodityBased Trust Shares be in assets meeting established eligibility criteria under this Rule, the
Exchange believes that its proposal will ensure flexibility for product innovation while
maintaining robust investor protections. As discussed above, these eligibility criteria are
generally designed to ensure that the Exchange can obtain information regarding trading in the
assets held by the Trust issuing the Commodity-Based Trust Shares. This, in turn, would assist in
monitoring the trading in such Shares on the Exchange and to deter and detect violations of
Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws, thereby making Commodity-Based Trust
Shares less readily susceptible to fraud and manipulation.
The Exchange also believes it is consistent with the Act to add the definition of digital
commodity in the GLS, and to clearly delineate that the proposed 15% buffer could only include
digital commodities that do not meet the GLS eligibility criteria as well as securities that do not
meet the GLS eligibility criteria. As discussed above, this approach provides appropriate
specificity as to the types of assets that may be included in the buffer, while maintaining
flexibility for product innovation. With novel products that were not contemplated at the time of
adoption, the Exchange may submit an individual 19b-4 rule filing to seek the listing and trading
of such Commodity-Based Trust Shares if it determines to do so at a later date.
The Exchange also believes that the proposed expansion of the GLS to allow for activelymanaged Commodity-Based Trust Shares is consistent with the Act. The Exchange notes that the
Commission recently approved individual 19b-4 for the listing and trading of an actively-
15
managed Commodity-Based Trust Share under Rule 5711(d).26 In the iShares Approval Order,
the Commission found that the requirements under Rule 5711(d), coupled with the additional
firewall and trading halt representations made by the Exchange regarding the listing and trading
of the actively-managed product, were designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices and to protect investors and the public interest consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act.27 Notably, the Commission cited a prior approval order where it had stated in the context of
ETFs that “the mere addition of active management to a portfolio that would otherwise qualify
for generic listing as an index-based ETF should not affect the portfolio’s susceptibility to
manipulation or the availability of arbitrage between the ETF and its underlying portfolio.”28 The
Exchange agrees with the Commission when it stated that this principle holds true for
Commodity-Based Trust Shares as well,29 and believes that the proposed amendments to the
GLS to permit actively-managed Commodity-Based Trust Shares are therefore consistent with
the Act.
As discussed above, the Exchange is adopting safeguards around trading halts and
material-non public information that are already in place for other actively-managed products
26
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 105582 (May 29, 2026), 91 FR 33252 (June 3, 2026) (SRNASDAQ-2025-085) (Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to List and Trade Shares of the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF under
Nasdaq Rule 5711(d) (Commodity-Based Trust Shares)) (“iShares Approval Order”). See also Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 105681 (June 12, 2026), 91 FR 36629 (June 17, 2026) (SR-NYSEARCA-202577) (Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2 Thereto, To
List and Trade Shares of the T. Rowe Price Active Crypto ETF under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E (Generic)
Commodity-Based Trust Shares).
27
See iShares Approval Order at 33253.
28
See iShares Approval Order at 33253 (citing to Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 78396 (July 22,
2016), 81 FR 49698, 49702 (July 28, 2016) (SR-BATS-2015-100) (Order Approving Generic Listing
Standards for Managed Fund Shares); and 78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320, 49324-25 (July 27, 2016)
(SR-NYSEArca-2015-110) (Order Approving Generic Listing Standards for Managed Fund Shares)).
29
See iShares Approval Order at 33253.
16
listed and trading on the Exchange today.30 Further, these actively-managed Commodity-Based
Trust Shares would be subject to the same requirements under the GLS that are currently
applicable to passively-managed strategies, including requirements related to portfolio
transparency, valuation, and dissemination. Consistently applying listing standards across
products with economic exposures to the same underlying commodities levels the playing field
between issuers, which should promote competition and would more readily afford investors
greater investment options. The Exchange believes that extending the GLS to accommodate
actively-managed strategies would further this objective by enabling additional issuers to bring
innovative products to market through a transparent, regulated framework.
B.
Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on
competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Instead, the
Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would facilitate the listing and trading of
additional types of Commodity-Based Trust Shares pursuant to generic listing standards,
provided that the applicable requirements are satisfied. Accordingly, the proposal is designed to
facilitate product innovation and efficient listing processes, thereby enhancing competition
among issuers and listing venues, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace.
C.
Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule
Change Received from Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were either solicited or received.
30
See supra notes 17 and 19.
17
III.
Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the
foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments
may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Electronic Comments:
•
Use the Commission’s internet comment form
(https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
•
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include file number
SR-NasdaqTX-2026-039 on the subject line.
Paper Comments:
•
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to file number SR-NasdaqTX-2026-039. This file number should be
included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all
comments on the Commission’s internet website (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies
of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange.
Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only
information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or
withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright
protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-NasdaqTX-2026-039 and should be
submitted on or before [INSERT DATE 21 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE
FEDERAL REGISTER].
18
IV.
Commission’s Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule
Change
After careful review, the Commission finds that the Proposal is consistent with the Act
and rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.31 In particular,
the Commission finds that the Proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,32 which
requires, among other things, that the Exchange’s rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest and are not designed to permit
unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
The Proposal conforms the Exchange’s rules to the changes the Commission previously
considered and approved for generic listing standards for Commodity-Based Trust Shares.33 As
explained in those past approvals, an exchange-traded product (“ETP”) that holds at least 85% of
its investments in commodities approved by the Commission to underlie an ETP as primary
investments enables adequate surveillance of the shares by the listing exchange. Likewise, the
mere addition of active management to a portfolio that would otherwise qualify for generic
listing as an index-based ETF does not affect the portfolio’s susceptibility to manipulation or the
availability of arbitrage between the ETF and its underlying portfolio.
31
In approving the Proposal, the Commission has considered the Proposal’s impact on efficiency,
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
32
15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
33
See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 105995 (July 27, 2026), 91 FR 48204 (July 30, 2026) (SR–
NASDAQ–2026–032) (Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment
No. 1, to Amend Nasdaq Rule 5711(d) (Commodity-Based Trust Shares)); 106001 (July 28, 2026), 91 FR
48462 (July 31, 2026) (SR–NYSEArca–2026–42) (Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order
Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, to Amend
NYSE Arca Rule 8.201–E (Generic) Commodity-Based Trust Shares); and 106011 (July 29, 2026), 91 FR
48957 (Aug. 3, 2026) (SR-CboeBZX-2026-061) (Notice of Filing, and Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of, a Proposed Rule Change to Amend 14.11(e)(4) (Commodity-Based Trust Shares)).
19
Rule 19b–4(e) provides that the listing and trading of a new derivative securities product
by a national securities exchange shall not be deemed a proposed rule change pursuant to
paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 19b–434 if the Commission has approved, pursuant to Section 19(b) of
the Act,35 the exchange’s trading rules, procedures, and listing standards for the product class
that would include the new derivatives securities product, and the exchange has a surveillance
program for the product class.36 The Exchange proposes to amend its generic listing standards
for Commodity-Based Trust Shares to include the 15% buffer and active-management that the
Commission has previously considered and approved in separate Rule 19b–4 filings.
Accordingly, the Proposal fulfills the intended objective of Rule 19b–4(e) by permitting
Commodity-Based Trust Shares that satisfy the requirements previously found to be consistent
with the Act to commence trading without public comment and Commission approval.37 The
Exchange’s ability to rely on Rule 19b–4(e) to list and trade additional Commodity-Based Trust
Shares that meet the applicable requirements and minimum standards will reduce the time frame
for bringing the shares to market and thereby reduce the burdens on issuers and other market
participants, while also promoting competition.38
Similarly, the Exchange’s proposed additional trading halt and firewall provisions are
consistent with the Act.39 Because Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d) currently contemplates only
34
17 CFR 240.19b-4(c)(1).
35
15 U.S.C. 78s(b).
36
See 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
37
The failure of any particular Commodity-Based Trust Shares to satisfy the proposed generic listing
standards pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) would not preclude the Exchange from submitting a separate filing
pursuant to Section 19(b) to list and trade those Commodity-Based Trust Shares. See Nasdaq Texas Rule
5711(d)(i).
38
Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d), as modified by the Proposal, also continues to require the Exchange to
maintain surveillance procedures for Commodity-Based Trust Shares, consistent with the requirements of
Rule 19b-4(e). 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e). See Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d)(viii)(B).
39
15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
20
passive management,40 the Exchange proposes changes designed to address active management
of Commodity-Based Trust Shares, namely provisions related to (1) trading halts if CommodityBased Trust Shares’ portfolio information41 is not disseminated to all market participants at the
same time,42 and (2) procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic portfolio information. The Exchange’s proposed changes are substantively identical to
Nasdaq Texas’s rule governing the listing and trading of actively managed ETFs,43 and apply in
addition to what is already required under Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d)(ix). The additional trading
halt provision will help to ensure that all market participants have transparency relating to the
Commodity-Based Trust Shares’ underlying portfolio, which information is key to pricing the
shares and that no market participant has an unfair informational advantage. Ensuring such
40
See, e.g., Nasdaq Texas Rules 5711(d)(viii)(B)(2) and 5711(d)(ix)(A)(1), requiring the Exchange to initiate
delisting procedures and halt trading if the value of the underlying reference asset(s) or index is not made
widely available on at least a 15-second basis from a source unaffiliated with the sponsor or the trust;
Nasdaq Rule 5711(d)(x)(1), requiring that if the value of a Commodity-Based Trust Share is based on an
index that is maintained by a broker-dealer, the broker-dealer erect and maintain a firewall around the
personnel responsible for the maintenance of such index or who have access to information concerning
changes and adjustments to the index; and Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d)(x)(2), requiring that any advisory
committee, supervisory board, or similar entity that advises an index licensor or administrator or that makes
decisions regarding the index composition, methodology, and related matters must implement and
maintain, or be subject to, procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material, non-public
information regarding the applicable index.
41
See supra note 18.
42
See supra note 19 and accompanying text.
43
See Nasdaq Texas Rules 5735(d)(2)(D) (Managed Fund Shares) (setting forth trading halt requirements if
certain information with respect to a series of Managed Fund Shares is not disseminated to all market
participants at the same time); 5750(d)(2)(D)(ii) (Proxy Portfolio Shares) (setting forth trading halt
requirement if certain information with respect to a series of Proxy Portfolio Shares is not being made
available to all market participants at the same time). See also Nasdaq Texas Rules 3735(g) (Managed Fund
Shares) (setting forth firewall and procedure requirements that apply to the investment adviser to the
investment company issuing Managed Fund Shares and to personnel who make decisions on the investment
company’s portfolio composition); 5704(b)(1)(B)(i) (Exchange-Traded Fund Shares) (setting forth firewall
and procedures requirements that apply to the investment adviser to an Exchange-Traded Fund and to
personnel who make decisions on the Exchange-Traded Fund’s portfolio composition); 5704(b)(1)(B)(ii)
(Exchange-Traded Fund Shares) (setting forth procedure requirements that apply to the “Reporting
Authority” that provides information relating to the Exchange-Traded Fund’s portfolio) and 5750(b)(6)
(Proxy Portfolio Shares) (setting forth procedures and firewall requirements that apply to any person or
entity, including a Reporting Authority, who has access to nonpublic information regarding the fund’s
portfolio). Further, these requirements are substantially similar to requirements applicable to activelymanaged Commodity-Based Trust Shares previously approved by the Commission. See supra note 26.
21
transparency relating to the underlying portfolio for all market participants will help facilitate a
fair and orderly market for the Commodity-Based Trust Shares, as well as help to ensure that the
Commodity-Based Trust Shares are not susceptible to manipulation. Likewise, the additional
firewall provision will provide additional protection against the potential misuse of material,
non-public information relating to a Commodity-Based Trust Share’s actively-managed
portfolio.
Finally, Commodity-Based Trust Shares listed pursuant to Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d),
as modified by the Proposal, would be required to comply with all applicable requirements of
Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d). In addition, all Commodity-Based Trust Shares listed under Nasdaq
Texas Rule 5711(d) will be subject to the rules and procedures of the Exchange that currently
govern the trading of equity securities on the Exchange.44 The Exchange would continue to be
required to submit a rule filing with the Commission when seeking to list and trade CommodityBased Trust Shares that do not meet the generic listing standards under Nasdaq Texas Rule
5711(d), as proposed to be modified.
For the same reasons discussed above, the Commission finds good cause, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,45 for approving the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day
after the date of publication of the notice of the filing thereof in the Federal Register.
Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,46 to
approve the Proposal on an accelerated basis.
44
See Nasdaq Texas Rule 5711(d)(ii).
45
15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
46
15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
22
V.
Conclusion
This approval order is based on all of the Exchange’s representations and descriptions in
the Proposal, which the Commission has evaluated as discussed above. For the reasons set forth
above, the Commission finds, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,47 that the Proposal is
consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to
a national securities exchange, and in particular, with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.48
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,49 that the proposed rule
change (SR–NasdaqTX–2026–039) be, and hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.50
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
47
15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)
48
15 U.S.C.78f(b)(5).
49
15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
50
17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
23
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.