Bitwise Files For Stablecoin and Tokenization ETF Targeting Thanksgiving Launch

April 22, 2024, Brazil. In this photo illustration, the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF logo is displayed on a smartphone screen

Bitwise filed a prospectus on Sept. 16 for a stablecoin and tokenization exchange-traded fund (ETF) structured as a 40 Act fund, positioning for potential launch around Thanksgiving. The proposed fund tracks the Bitwise Stablecoin and Tokenization Index through two equally weighted sleeves targeting companies and assets poised to benefit from stablecoin adoption and asset tokenization growth.

The equity sleeve allocates up to 50% in companies across five categories: stablecoin issuers, infrastructure providers, payment processors, tokenization exchanges, and stablecoin-oriented retailers. Companies face tiered weight restrictions based on business exposure levels. Tier 1 firms with substantial stablecoin business receive 15% caps, Tier 2 companies with material exposure get 8% limits, and Tier 3 entities with limited involvement face 3% restrictions.

The fund selects 20 companies from the top two tiers and, if necessary, adds up to 10 Tier 3 companies. The crypto asset sleeve invests in exchange-traded products that provide blockchain infrastructure exposure. The assets must represent at least 1% market share in stablecoins or tokenization. The fund reserves 5% for oracle tokens that connect blockchains to external systems, with the largest constituent capped at 22.5% of the index. The fund rebalances quarterly and concentrates primarily in information technology companies.

The preliminary filing does not disclose management fees. As of Sept. 16, Bitwise operated $15 billion in crypto assets across 30 investment products, including spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted that the prospectus filing used the Investment Company Act of 1940. The 40 Act filings typically face shorter regulatory review periods, potentially allowing launches within months rather than years, which is why Balchunas’ prediction regarding a short approval window is plausible.

The structure mirrors filings from REX-Osprey, such as their Dogecoin and XRP ETFs set to launch this week, along with products tied to TRUMP, BONK, and Bitcoin. The filing reflects companies trying to capture the growing institutional interest in the tokenization of real-world assets. This includes stablecoins, which recently reached $287 billion in supply.