- •REXShares and Osprey filed 21 new crypto ETFs, including Cardano, Avalanche, and Polkadot, many with staking-enabled features.
- •These filings, facilitated by the SEC’s streamlined spot-ETF rules, could accelerate institutional adoption and provide investors with regulated exposure to yield-bearing crypto strategies.
On October 4, 2025, REXShares and Osprey Funds jointly filed applications for 21 new cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), marking one of the most significant expansions of the U.S. crypto ETF market to date. The filings cover a broad array of altcoins, including major players like Cardano (ADA), Avalanche (AVAX), and Polkadot (DOT), as well as emerging assets such as Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Sei (SEI).
Many of these proposals incorporate staking-enabled features, reflecting growing investor interest in yield-bearing crypto strategies.
The filings, listed as “subject to completion,” include ADA + Staking, AVAX + Staking, DOT + Staking, and dedicated funds for Chainlink (LINK), Litecoin (LTC), Stellar (XLM), and several newer projects. Staking-enabled ETFs are designed to capture on-chain rewards and integrate them into net asset value calculations, offering investors the potential for additional yield beyond price appreciation.
This structure requires secure custodial solutions and operational processes to stake holdings while maintaining liquidity for redemptions, presenting a sophisticated innovation in the ETF space.
The timing of these filings follows a pivotal update by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which finalized streamlined rules for cryptocurrency spot ETFs. This regulatory change simplified the submission and review process, allowing fund providers to submit multiple proposals simultaneously instead of undergoing bespoke, case‑by‑case reviews.
As a result, REXShares and Osprey were able to launch an ambitious slate of 21 applications at once, a scale rarely seen in the U.S. crypto market.
Beyond the major altcoins, the filings also feature emerging projects like TAO, Hyperliquid (HYPE), Sei (SEI), Ethena (ENA), and SUI. While approvals remain subject to SEC review, the filings highlight the growing mainstream appetite for diversified crypto exposure and staking‑based strategies.
Institutional and retail investors alike could soon access these products in regulated ETF wrappers, providing a new avenue for participation in the altcoin ecosystem.
Technical and operational considerations aside, the potential impact of these filings is substantial. By including staking mechanisms, the ETFs offer a way to earn passive yield within a regulated product, bridging traditional finance with innovative blockchain technologies.
The presence of Cardano in particular is noteworthy, as ADA’s staking model is one of the most mature and widely adopted among proof‑of‑stake blockchains.
If approved, these ETFs could accelerate institutional adoption of altcoins and staking strategies, while expanding investor access to high‑growth sectors of the crypto market. REXShares and Osprey’s filings signal a potential turning point in U.S. crypto investment, blending yield‑focused innovation with broader altcoin exposure.
Investors and market watchers will be closely monitoring the SEC review process, fund prospectuses, and operational rollout to gauge timelines and confirm staking mechanics. As the crypto ETF landscape evolves, these 21 filings may represent a significant step toward mainstreaming altcoins and staking‑enabled investment opportunities in regulated financial markets.