Bitwise seeks SEC approval for 11 crypto ETFs covering Bittensor, Tron and DeFi tokens

• Bitwise filed for 11 crypto strategy ETFs with mixed direct and indirect exposure.
• The proposed ETFs target assets like TAO, TRX, UNI, ZEC, Aave, and other tokens.
• Bitwise remains bullish, citing ETF demand, institutions, and easing cycles.

Crypto asset manager Bitwise has taken another step toward expanding investors’ access to digital assets, filing applications with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for 11 new cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

According to regulatory filings submitted this week, the proposed products are structured as “crypto strategy” ETFs.

Unlike pure spot ETFs, each fund would combine direct exposure to a specific cryptocurrency with indirect exposure through other exchange-traded products and financial instruments.

Bitwise said that each ETF could allocate up to 60% of its assets directly into the underlying token, with the remaining portion invested in related exchange-traded products, derivatives, or other instruments designed to track the asset’s performance.

The filing also notes that the funds may use derivatives such as futures contracts and swap agreements, a structure that could allow for greater flexibility in managing exposure while operating within current regulatory constraints.

The 11 crypto ETFs targeted by Bitwise

The proposed crypto ETFs span a wide range of blockchain ecosystems and decentralised finance (DeFi) projects.

Assets named in the filing include Aave, Ethena (ENA), Hyperliquid (HYPE), NEAR, Starknet (STRK), Sui, Bittensor (TAO), Tron (TRX), Uniswap (UNI), Zcash (ZEC), and Canton (CC).

If approved, the lineup would give US investors ETF-based exposure to tokens tied to smart contract platforms, privacy-focused networks, and DeFi protocols, areas that have traditionally been harder to access through regulated investment vehicles.

The rising demand for crypto ETFs

Bitwise’s move comes amid growing demand for crypto-linked ETFs following the strong inflows into the XRP ETFs.

Those products marked a turning point for the industry, opening the door for traditional investors to gain exposure to digital assets through familiar market structures.

Building on that momentum, Bitwise has been active in rolling out new offerings.

The firm launched a spot Solana ETF in the US in October, followed by ETFs linked to XRP and Dogecoin.

It has also filed an S-1 registration statement for a spot Sui ETF and submitted an amended filing related to a Hyperliquid ETF, signalling continued efforts to broaden its crypto product suite.

Bitwise’s bullish outlook despite market volatility

The filings come after a volatile period for digital assets, with BTC and the broader crypto market experiencing weakness toward the end of last year.

But despite this, Bitwise executives have maintained a constructive long-term outlook.

Earlier this month, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan said he expects Bitcoin to break from its traditional four-year market cycle and reach new all-time highs in 2026, citing factors such as the declining impact of bitcoin halving events, expectations of lower interest rates, and fewer leverage-driven market collapses.

Hougan has also suggested that institutional participation will continue to grow, supported by clearer regulation and the expanding availability of regulated investment products like ETFs.

He added that Bitcoin’s correlation with equities could decline over time, with crypto-specific drivers, such as regulatory progress and institutional inflows, helping to support digital assets even if traditional markets face pressure.