Dogecoin ETF Just Dropped: When Does Trading Actually Begin?

Another Dogecoin ETF hits the market—but the real question isn't about its existence, it's about its activation.

The Regulatory Waiting Game

Filing an ETF is one thing. Getting the green light from regulators is another. The SEC—or its international equivalents—holds the keys. They scrutinize everything from custody solutions to market manipulation safeguards. That process isn't measured in days, but in quarters. Expect a standard review period, followed by potential delays. No regulator wants to be the one who rushed a meme-coin product to market.

Behind the Scenes: The Infrastructure Hurdle

Even after regulatory approval, the launch clock doesn't start. Exchanges need to list it. Market makers need to establish liquidity. Custodians need to finalize protocols. This operational rollout is a silent, critical phase. A poorly executed launch means thin order books and wild spreads—a surefire way to kill investor interest before it begins.

The Market's Readiness Test

Timing is everything. Will this ETF debut during a crypto bull run or a bear market? Institutional appetite fluctuates wildly. A launch into a risk-off environment could see it dead on arrival. The sponsor is likely eyeing macroeconomic calendars and Bitcoin's price action, hoping for a favorable window to maximize initial inflows.

So, when will it trade? The official documents might hint at a timeframe, but treat those estimates as best-case scenarios. The real launch date gets decided in closed-door meetings and backend system tests. It arrives when the suits are confident they can handle the volume—and the inevitable volatility of an asset born from an internet joke. After all, what's finance if not taking absurdly serious bets on profoundly silly ideas?

21Shares To Launch Dogecoin ETF After Filing Final Prospectus

Crypto ETF issuer 21Shares has filed the prospectus for its dogecoin ETF, signaling plans to launch this fund this week. However, the asset manager has yet to announce a specific launch date. This will be the third spot DOGE fund to launch after Grayscale and Bitwise’s DOGE ETF, which launched last year. 

21Shares Dogecoin ETF will launch on the Nasdaq under the ticker ‘TDOG.’ crypto exchange Coinbase is listed among the Trust’s custodians alongside BitGo and Anchorage. Meanwhile, the fund will offer in-kind creations and redemptions, similar to other existing spot crypto ETFs. 21shares will charge a 0.50% management fee for the fund. 

The Dogecoin ETF will be 21Shares’ fifth spot U.S. crypto ETF, as the asset manager already offers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP ETFs. The DOGE fund’s launch is bullish for the foremost meme coin as it could attract more institutional flows into its ecosystem. However, it is worth noting that the other existing spot U.S. DOGE funds have only seen moderate demand so far. 

SoSoValue data shows that the inflows into these Dogecoin ETFs have been minimal, with these funds currently boasting net assets of just under $10 million, which is less than 1% of the meme coin’s market cap. They have also mostly recorded zero-flow days since launching, with most inflow days below $1 million. However, it is worth noting that these funds saw greater demand at the start of the year, when DOGE ROSE to around $0.15. As such, they could attract more inflows as the market recovers. 

A Generational Buying Opportunity

Crypto analyst Hokage described the current Doge price level as a generational buying opportunity amid the imminent launch of the Dogecoin ETF. This came as the analyst remarked that while the short-term is extremely hard to figure out, the long-term support will eventually get hit. His accompanying chart showed that the leading meme coin could rally to as high as $1.6 in the long term. 

The crypto analyst highlighted the potential integration of Dogecoin into Elon Musk’s X as one catalyst that could spark this run. He opined that the meme coin will eventually get integrated into X as a payment and tips feature. Hokage added that it is just a matter of time and not if. 

Related Reading: Dogecoin Is Breakout Ready: Analyst Shows Major Target For The Meme Coin King

At the time of writing, the dogecoin price is trading at around $0.137, down over 2% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.