Beyond Bitcoin & Ethereum: Bitwise Files for 11 New Altcoin ETFs, Signaling Major Crypto Expansion

An ETF heavyweight just made a massive bet on the future of crypto—and it's not on the usual suspects.

Bitwise Asset Management has officially filed with regulators to launch a suite of 11 new exchange-traded funds, each targeting a single cryptocurrency beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. This isn't a broad-basket fund; it's a precision strike aimed at bringing individual altcoins directly to the traditional stock market.

The Strategy: Single-Asset Saturation

The move bypasses the slow, committee-driven process of creating a multi-coin ETF. Instead, Bitwise is pushing for targeted vehicles that would let institutional and retail investors gain pure exposure to specific altcoins through a familiar, regulated wrapper. Think of it as a direct listing for crypto protocols, but through Wall Street's backdoor.

Why This Matters Now

This filing is a direct challenge to the regulatory status quo. It argues that the market for these digital assets has matured—liquidity is deeper, custody is more secure, and the investor demand is undeniable. It's a play for legitimacy, aiming to pull altcoins further from the speculative fringe and into the portfolio mainstream.

The Ripple Effect on Finance

Approval would fundamentally reshape access. Financial advisors who can't touch a crypto exchange could allocate client funds with a simple ticker. It would validate the entire 'altcoin' thesis for a skeptical old-guard audience still wondering if crypto is more than just Bitcoin. Of course, it also gives the traditional finance crowd a new, fee-generating product to sell—because why solve a problem simply when you can wrap it in a prospectus and charge 95 basis points?

The filing is a bold declaration: the crypto ecosystem is bigger than two coins. Whether regulators agree will determine if 2026 becomes the year altcoins finally get their seat at the institutional table—or just another lesson in Wall Street's endless appetite for repackaging risk.

Bitwise is making a strong move to broaden crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The asset manager has filed applications with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for 11 new altcoin-focused ETFs. This signals growing confidence that demand is shifting toward a wider range of digital assets.

The proposed ETFs cover a variety of crypto sectors, including DeFi, privacy coins, layer-1 blockchains, and AI-linked tokens. Tokens listed in the filings include AAVE, Uniswap (UNI), Zcash (ZEC), Ethena (ENA), Hyperliquid (HYPE), Sui (SUI), NEAR, Starknet, TRON (TRX), Canton, and Bittensor (TAO). If approved, the funds could launch around mid-March 2026.

Hybrid Structure for Regulatory Approval

Rather than launching pure spot ETFs for all assets, Bitwise is using a hybrid structure that regulators are familiar with. Each fund would hold at least 60% of its assets directly in the crypto tokens. The rest could include futures, derivatives, or exchange-traded products linked to the same tokens.

This approach balances direct market exposure with liquidity and operational flexibility. For investors, it provides stronger exposure than futures-only ETFs while remaining within the SEC’s comfort zone.

Why ZEC, SUI, and TAO ETFs Matter

Some assets in the filings highlight areas of growing institutional interest. Zcash (ZEC) is a privacy-focused token gaining attention again, following Grayscale’s move to convert its ZEC Trust into a spot ETF. SUI remains a focus after Bitwise hinted at a fully spot-based SUI product. The TAO ETF strategy targets AI-linked crypto, which has seen growing adoption and reduced token inflation.

Momentum Builds for Altcoin ETFs

These filings follow Bitwise’s recent ETF launches, including the first U.S. spot solana ETF, and XRP and Dogecoin-linked funds. Amendments for Hyperliquid also hint that a HYPE ETF could come sooner than expected.

With 11 new proposals, Bitwise is testing the SEC’s willingness to approve altcoin ETFs. If successful, these funds could open a major pathway for regulated investment in altcoins.