21Shares, a major crypto asset manager, has officially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list and trade shares of its 21Shares Polkadot Trust on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The filing, submitted under Nasdaq Rule 5711(d), proposes the creation of a commodity-based trust ETF that would provide investors with exposure to Polkadot (DOT) without requiring them to hold the cryptocurrency directly​.

Details of the 21Shares Polkadot ETF Filing

According to the official 19b-4 filing, the 21Shares Polkadot Trust is structured as a Delaware statutory trust and will be passively managed to track the price of Polkadot (DOT), using the CME CF Polkadot-Dollar Reference Rate – New York Variant as its pricing benchmark. Coinbase Custody has been appointed as the official custodian to secure the DOT holdings​.

The ETF does not engage in leverage or derivatives and is solely designed to provide exposure to Polkadot’s market performance. Investors will be able to buy and sell shares of the trust through traditional brokerage accounts, simplifying access to Polkadot as an investment.

Why Polkadot?

Polkadot is a layer-0 blockchain network that enables cross-chain communication and interoperability between different blockchains. It is known for its scalability, security, and governance mechanisms, making it an attractive asset for institutional investors. The decision to launch a Polkadot ETF aligns with 21Shares’ strategy of expanding crypto investment options and offering regulated access to promising blockchain ecosystems​.

Regulatory Approval and Market Impact

With 21Shares continuing to expand its crypto-based ETF offerings, the proposed Polkadot ETF on Nasdaq reflects the increasing integration of digital assets into traditional finance. The SEC’s decision will be closely watched, as it could influence the regulatory outlook for future cryptocurrency ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

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