Notice2026-07486

Self-Regulatory Organizations: Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend LTSE Fee Schedule To Modify Transaction Fees

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Published
April 17, 2026

Issuing agencies

Securities and Exchange Commission

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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 74 (Friday, April 17, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20739-20741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07486]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-105227; File No. SR-LTSE-2026-08]


Self-Regulatory Organizations: Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc.; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To 
Amend LTSE Fee Schedule To Modify Transaction Fees

April 14, 2026.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on March 31, 2026, Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc. (``LTSE'' or the 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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[[Page 20740]]

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') a proposed rule change to amend the LTSE Fee Schedule 
to modify transaction fees applicable to securities priced below $1.00. 
The Exchange proposes to implement the changes to the fee schedule 
pursuant to this proposal on April 1, 2026.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
website at <a href="https://longtermstockexchange.com/">https://longtermstockexchange.com/</a> and at the principal 
office of the Exchange.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on 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 self-regulatory organization 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 its Schedule of Fees to reduce the 
transaction fee for removing liquidity in securities priced below $1.00 
via a new program called the Sub-Dollar Incentive Program (``SDIP''). 
Currently, LTSE charges a fee of 0.20% of TDV for removing both 
displayed and non-displayed liquidity in securities priced below 
$1.00.\3\ The Exchange now proposes to reduce this fee to 0.00% of TDV.
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    \3\ See the Exchange's Schedule of Fees available on its website 
at: <a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6462417e8db99f8baa06952c/69a703be63c2891f46cae82a_LTSE%20Fee%20Schedule_February%2C%201%202026%20">https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6462417e8db99f8baa06952c/69a703be63c2891f46cae82a_LTSE%20Fee%20Schedule_February%2C%201%202026%20</a>(Formatting%20updated%202.2.2026).docx.pdf.
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    Through SDIP, the Exchange seeks to incentivize interaction in 
these lower-priced securities to improve price discovery, remove 
friction while creating and exiting trading positions, and increase 
overall execution volume. By eliminating taker fees in these 
securities, the Exchange will reduce transaction costs for liquidity 
takers, encouraging greater order flow and increased interaction with 
displayed liquidity.
    Increased interaction with displayed liquidity is expected to 
incentivize market participants to compete more aggressively to provide 
liquidity in these securities. The Exchange believes that this 
increased competition among liquidity providers will result in tighter 
bid-ask spreads, increased depth of book, and improved price discovery.
    Importantly, the Exchange is not proposing to change its existing 
liquidity provider rebates in securities priced below $1.00. By 
maintaining the incentives available to liquidity providers while 
eliminating fees for liquidity takers, the Exchange seeks to promote a 
more balanced and efficient market structure in which both liquidity 
provision and liquidity interaction are encouraged.
    The Exchange believes that this approach strengthens overall market 
quality by promoting fair and efficient execution. Investors, 
particularly retail investors and institutional market participants, 
benefit from more competitive pricing, lower execution costs, and 
reduced market impact. These benefits are consistent with the 
Exchange's broader objective of fostering a robust and competitive 
exchange eco-system.
    The Exchange also notes that it operates in a highly competitive 
environment in which market participants can readily direct order flow 
to competing venues. The proposed change is designed to enhance the 
Exchange's competitiveness in lower-priced securities by reducing 
transaction costs and encouraging increased participation.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\4\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(4) of the Act,\5\ in particular, in that it provides for the 
equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among 
all of its Members and issuers and other persons using its facilities; 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\6\ which requires, among other things, that 
the rules of the Exchange be 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 to protect 
investors and the public interest and are not designed to permit unfair 
discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers. The 
Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change is reasonable, 
fair and equitable, and non-discriminatory.
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    Section 6(b)(4) requires that exchange fees be reasonable and 
equitably allocated. The Exchange believes the proposed fee change is 
reasonable because it reduces transaction costs for liquidity takers in 
securities priced below $1.00, thereby encouraging increased order flow 
and execution activity. By removing taker fees in these securities, the 
Exchange reduces friction associated with entering and exiting trading 
positions, which is expected to increase overall volume.
    The Exchange further believes that the proposal is an equitable 
allocation of fees because it applies uniformly to all Members trading 
securities priced below $1.00 and does not impose disparate fees among 
similarly situated participants. In addition, the Exchange believes the 
proposed fee structure is reasonable because it maintains existing 
incentives for liquidity providers while eliminating costs for 
liquidity takers. This balanced approach is designed to enhance overall 
market quality by encouraging both the provision of liquidity and 
interaction with that liquidity.
    Section 6(b)(5) requires that exchange rules promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to a free and open 
market, and protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange 
believes the proposed rule change removes impediments to and perfects 
the mechanism of a free and open market by reducing transaction costs 
in lower-priced securities and encouraging increased interaction with 
displayed liquidity. By lowering barriers to trading, the proposal is 
expected to increase participation, improve execution quality, and 
enhance price discovery.
    The Exchange further believes that the proposal promotes just and 
equitable principles of trade by fostering competition among liquidity 
providers. As liquidity takers are incentivized to interact more 
frequently with displayed quotes, liquidity providers are expected to 
compete more aggressively on price and size, resulting in tighter 
spreads and increased display depth.
    The Exchange believes that these outcomes directly benefit 
investors by improving execution quality, reducing trading costs, and 
minimizing market impact. The proposal is not unfairly discriminatory 
because it applies equally to all Members and market

[[Page 20741]]

participants trading securities priced below $1.00.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\7\ the Exchange does 
not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
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    The Exchange operates in a highly competitive environment in which 
it must continually adjust its pricing to attract order flow. The 
proposed reduction in taker fees is designed to enhance the Exchange's 
competitiveness for trading in lower priced securities.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    This proposed rule change establishes dues, fees or other charges 
among its members and, as such, may take effect upon filing with the 
Commission pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \8\ and 
paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\9\ Accordingly, the proposed 
rule change would take effect upon filing with the Commission.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend the rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that the action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
would otherwise further the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. 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

    <bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
    <bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d3f382128602e2220202823393e0d3e282e632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a686f767f37797577777f746e695a697f79347d756c">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include 
file number SR-LTSE-2026-08 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

    <bullet> 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-LTSE-2026-08. 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 (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>). 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-LTSE-2026-08 and should be submitted on 
or before May 8, 2026.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-07486 Filed 4-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on April 17, 2026.

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