Bitwise’s Crypto ETF Push Signals a New Financial Frontier and 2026 Could Be Even Bigger

As the crypto markets mature, Bitwise Asset Management is emerging as one of the most ambitious institutional bridges between digital assets and traditional finance. After years of offering diversified crypto index funds and the first U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, Bitwise has dramatically expanded its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include a growing lineup of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to a broad range of native blockchain tokens, a move that underscores how deeply digital assets are penetrating mainstream markets.

From Multi-Crypto Index to Altcoin-Focused Funds

Bitwise’s flagship product, the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW), now trading on NYSE Arca, tracks a basket of major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, Litecoin, Sui, Avalanche and Polkadot, offering diversified exposure to the largest digital ecosystems by market capitalization.

But Bitwise is not stopping there. On December 30, 2025, the firm filed applications for 11 new strategy ETFs with the SEC targeting a variety of native blockchain tokens that go far beyond the traditional Bitcoin and Ethereum exposure:

• Aave (AAVE)
• Uniswap (UNI)
• Zcash (ZEC)
• Sui (SUI)
• NEAR Protocol (NEAR)
• Starknet (STRK)
• Tron (TRX)
• Bittensor (TAO)
• Canton (CC)
• Ethena (ENA)
• Hyperliquid (HYPE)

These filings represent a strategic leap into altcoin, DeFi and emerging blockchain ecosystems. By structuring these products as hybrid-model ETFs, typically investing around **60 % in direct holdings of the underlying token and the remainder in related exchange-traded products or derivatives, Bitwise is positioning itself to deliver regulated crypto exposure across multiple sectors of the blockchain landscape.

What These Products Mean for the Market

Bitwise’s push is notable for several reasons. First, it extends regulated investment exposure well beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, historically the primary focus of institutional asset managers, into areas tied to decentralized finance, infrastructure protocols and privacy-focused coins. Second, this broad ETF slate suggests a growing regulatory comfort with crypto instruments, particularly as the SEC works toward more standardized approval processes for digital asset securities.

The breadth of Bitwise’s filings reflects the expanding economic role of decentralized protocols and their tokens, positioning these products as potential tools for portfolio diversification, risk-managed allocation, and institutional participation without direct token custody complexities.

Who’s Next and Where Tokenization Might Lead

Other traditional ETF issuers could follow Bitwise’s lead and Pecu Novus may be on the radar for future product issuances. As tokenization of real-world assets gains traction and blockchain utility expands, ETFs could evolve to incorporate tokenized asset baskets, digital utility products or even Digital Basket Tokens (DBTs) that offer real-time transparency of holdings, a feature many investors have long sought in both crypto and traditional ETF markets, which was launched on the Pecu Novus blockchain in 2024. This transparency could significantly boost trust and visibility across asset classes as tokenization becomes more prevalent.

Meanwhile, Tidal Financial Group, a respected player in the traditional fund space, has not yet publicly launched crypto ETFs but is widely viewed by analysts as a logical next entrant given the expanding institutional appetite for digital asset exposure. A firm like Tidal joining the crypto ETF landscape would further cement the transition of digital assets into mainstream financial products and broaden the pool of regulated investment vehicles available through traditional brokerage platforms.

The Evolving Game

What’s clear is that the ETF narrative in crypto is evolving from a narrow focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum to a much broader mosaic of blockchain exposure, one that includes layer-1 networks, DeFi tokens, privacy coins and application-level ecosystems. Bitwise’s aggressive filing strategy and success with diversified products position it at the forefront of this transformation. As regulated investment vehicles proliferate and blockchain innovation deepens, the firms that embrace transparency, regulatory alignment and broad token exposure will shape the next wave of institutional adoption.

In this context, 2026 could easily become remembered as the year crypto truly integrated into traditional investment universes, not just as a speculative asset class, but as a regulated infrastructural component of diversified portfolios. By expanding both the range of tokens and the sophistication of ETF structures, Bitwise and its peers are helping institutional and retail investors alike gain new, regulated access to the blockchain economy.