Key Takeaways
- The investment approach outlined in the filings allocates approximately 60% of fund assets to direct holdings of the target crypto
- Each fund carries a “Strategy ETF” designation, with proposed names including Bitwise AAVE Strategy ETF, Bitwise UNI Strategy ETF etc
Bitwise Asset Management filed registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday for eleven crypto exchange-traded funds, seeking to provide regulated investment vehicles covering a diverse array of digital assets beyond the established Bitcoin and Ethereum markets.
The proposed funds target tokens spanning decentralized finance protocols, privacy-focused crypto, artificial intelligence-related projects, and emerging blockchain platforms. Specific assets include Aave, Uniswap, Zcash, Ethena, Hyperliquid, Near Protocol, Starknet, Sui, Bittensor, and Tron, representing sectors that have attracted growing attention from crypto-native investors but remain largely inaccessible through traditional investment products.
As per reports, each fund carries a “Strategy ETF” designation, with proposed names including Bitwise AAVE Strategy ETF, Bitwise UNI Strategy ETF, and Bitwise ZEC Strategy ETF, among others. Registration documents indicate an anticipated effective date of March 16, 2026, contingent upon regulatory approval, though ticker symbols and fee structures have not yet been disclosed.
The investment approach outlined in the filings allocates approximately 60% of fund assets to direct holdings of the target cryptocurrency, with remaining capital deployed across other crypto-focused exchange-traded products or potentially derivatives instruments. This structure balances direct exposure with risk management tools that institutional investors typically require.
These applications arrive as cryptocurrency exchange-traded products experience substantial growth in the United States.
Data from the Investment Company Institute shows assets under management in crypto ETFs surpassed $15 billion in late 2025, demonstrating sustained institutional and retail demand for regulated digital asset exposure. Bitwise’s expansion into altcoin-specific funds extends this trend beyond the Bitcoin and Ethereum products that currently dominate the category.
The filings reflect strategic positioning ahead of anticipated regulatory clarity. The CLARITY Act and additional crypto legislation are expected to advance through Congress in 2026, potentially establishing clearer frameworks for digital asset classification and oversight. Bitwise also appears to be preparing product offerings that could launch into a more defined regulatory environment.
Several proposed funds also concentrate on decentralized finance infrastructure. The Aave and Uniswap ETFs would track tokens powering leading DeFi protocols — Aave operates as a decentralized lending platform while Uniswap functions as an automated market maker facilitating peer-to-peer token exchanges. These protocols collectively process billions of dollars in transactions but remain difficult for traditional investors to access directly.
Privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash represents another category within the filings. Unlike transparent blockchains where transaction details are publicly visible, Zcash offers optional privacy features through advanced cryptographic techniques. A dedicated Zcash ETF would provide exposure to privacy-preserving blockchain technology through a regulated vehicle.
AI-linked tokens also feature prominently. The proposed Bittensor ETF would track a decentralized machine learning network, while other filings cover blockchain platforms positioning themselves as infrastructure for next-generation applications.
The practical advantages for investors center on operational simplification. Direct crypto ownership requires managing private keys, securing wallet infrastructure, and navigating exchanges that may lack robust consumer protections.
ETFs eliminate these technical barriers while maintaining exposure to asset price movements, making them particularly attractive to wealth managers, retirement accounts, and investors uncomfortable with self-custody requirements.
Professional fund management introduces additional benefits. Unlike individual investors who must monitor markets and rebalance positions manually, ETF structures provide continuous oversight by experienced teams familiar with cryptocurrency market dynamics. This becomes especially valuable in volatile or rapidly evolving sectors where individual tokens may face technical issues, governance disputes, or security vulnerabilities.
However, Bitcoin’s continued market dominance—hovering around 60% of total cryptocurrency market capitalization—suggests altcoins face challenges attracting sustained capital flows.
The SEC has not commented on the applications, and approval timelines remain uncertain.