The Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday asked for new written comments on a proposed spot bitcoin application from ARK Invest and 21Shares in an apparent delay that was widely expected.

Interested parties were invited to submit "written data, views, and arguments" due in 21 days.

Ark CEO Cathie Wood said earlier in the month that she had been expecting the delay.

"I think you're probably right that Aug. 13 will come and go," Wood said on Bloomberg Television. "I think the SEC, if it's going to approve a bitcoin ETF, will approve more than one at once."

The regulator is currently reviewing applications for at least eight other funds, having acknowledged most of the recent wave from asset managers including BlackRock, Fidelity, VanEck and Invesco last month. The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF was ahead of the pack, with public comment periods for the other applications just wrapping up. 

Excitement about spot bitcoin ETF

Excitement about the possibility of a spot fund triggered a rally in the price of bitcoin, which skyrocketed around 20% in the days after BlackRock's filing, but SEC Chair Gary Gensler has expressed concern about fraud and manipulation in the sector.

Grayscale, which had its proposal to convert its flagship GBTC fund into a spot bitcoin ETF rejected by the SEC, has also argued that any possible approval should include previous funds that have been disapproved.