Bitwise Files for 11 Altcoin ETFs as Institutional Crypto Demand Explodes

Wall Street's crypto appetite just got a whole lot more adventurous.

Forget just Bitcoin—the real action is shifting to the altcoin frontier. Bitwise Asset Management, a heavyweight in the crypto ETF space, just fired a major salvo by filing for not one, but eleven single-asset altcoin exchange-traded funds. This isn't a tentative toe-dip; it's a full-scale institutional charge into the deeper waters of digital assets.

Beyond the Bitcoin Benchmark

The move signals a seismic shift in institutional strategy. The initial wave of demand focused on Bitcoin as a digital gold proxy—a safe, familiar anchor. Now, with regulatory frameworks maturing and investor sophistication growing, the hunt is on for alpha beyond the flagship asset. These filings target specific, established altcoins, offering pure-play exposure that bypasses the complexities of direct custody and trading.

A Calculated Gamble on Maturity

Filing for eleven funds at once is a bold statement of conviction. It suggests Bitwise sees a pipeline of latent demand waiting to be unlocked. They're betting that institutions have moved past the 'what is crypto?' phase and are now deep into the 'which cryptos?' debate. Each proposed ETF represents a vote of confidence in the individual network's utility and longevity, not just the broader crypto thesis.

It's a masterclass in product expansion—cornering the market before the crowd even arrives. After all, why build one toll booth when you can own the entire highway?

The Regulatory Gauntlet Awaits

Filing, of course, is just the opening act. The real drama unfolds in the lengthy, opaque dance with regulators. Each fund will need to clear the same high bar that Bitcoin ETFs faced, proving sufficient market depth, surveillance-sharing agreements, and resistance to manipulation. Approval is far from guaranteed, but the mere act of filing pressures the narrative, forcing the conversation about altcoins as a legitimate, securitizable asset class.

Get ready. The era of one-click, regulated exposure to the crypto ecosystem's most innovative protocols is knocking on the door. The institutions aren't just coming for Bitcoin anymore—they're coming for everything else, too. And the traditional finance playbook, always a few steps behind, is scrambling to print the tickets.

Broad Exposure to 11 Altcoins

The filing represents a significant step toward expanding regulated market access beyond major digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Bitwise currently operates the, which tracks the prices of leading cryptocurrencies. However, the newly proposed ETFs are designed to allow institutional investors to gain, rather than through a composite index.

The assets included in the application span multiple sectors of the crypto ecosystem, including decentralized finance (DeFi), LAYER 1 blockchains, and AI-related networks. The list includes:

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

Filing foris an unusually large move, even for a firm like Bitwise that has long specialized in crypto-related investment products.

Institutional Demand for Altcoins Continues to Grow

The push comes as investor interest increasingly extends beyond Bitcoin, following the strong performance and adoption of spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S.

With confidence growing in regulated crypto investment vehicles, institutions are seeking exposure torather than broad market proxies. Bitwise aims to meet this demand by offering compliant, transparent products that fit within traditional portfolio structures.

For institutional investors focused on diversification, the ability to access multiple altcoins through regulated ETFs could prove especially attractive.

Competition in the altcoin ETF space is also heating up. Rival asset manager Grayscale has reportedly filed for a Bittensor (TAO) ETF as well, highlighting an intensifying race among crypto-focused firms to bring new digital asset products to market.

Bitwise currently offers more than, and approval of these filings WOULD significantly expand its lineup. As with its existing ETFs, the company plans to list the new funds on, emphasizing that each selected asset was chosen based on in-depth research and long-term growth potential.

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