Over 70 U.S. Crypto ETFs Await SEC Decisions in 2025, Covering Altcoins, Memecoins, and Derivatives
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to review more than 70 cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications this year, according to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas. The wide range of proposed funds includes strategies focused on altcoins, memecoins, crypto indexes, and derivatives-based products.
“Everything from XRP, Litecoin, and Solana to Penguins, Doge, and even 2x Melania — and everything in between,” Balchunas posted on April 21 via social media platform X. “Gonna be a wild year.”
While the sheer number of applications signals growing interest in crypto-backed ETFs, experts say actual investor demand—especially for funds tied to lesser-known or volatile tokens—remains uncertain.
A recent Coinbase and EY-Parthenon report found that over 80% of institutional investors plan to increase their crypto exposure in 2025. Still, analysts caution that ETF approval doesn’t guarantee adoption.
“Getting your coin into an ETF is like having your song added to every streaming platform—it doesn’t guarantee people will listen, but it puts you in front of the audience,” said Balchunas.
Early demand for non-Bitcoin ETFs has been modest compared to the landmark success of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which attracted more than $100 billion in net assets in their first year. In contrast, altcoin ETFs are projected to bring in a few hundred million to $1 billion, according to Katalin Tischhauser, head of research at Sygnum Bank.
That said, ETFs using derivatives and options to gain exposure to Bitcoin and Ether may attract stronger institutional interest. These structured products can enable more complex investment strategies and potentially magnify returns.
“Options on spot crypto open the door to advanced portfolio strategies and could lead to explosive upside for assets like Bitcoin,” said Jeff Park, head of alpha strategies at Bitwise Invest.
In a related move, ARK Invest announced on April 21 that it added staked Solana (SOL) to two of its existing ETFs — marking the first time spot SOL exposure has been offered to U.S. investors through an ETF structure.
With a growing pipeline of proposals and institutional momentum building, 2025 could be a pivotal year for crypto ETFs in the U.S. — if regulatory approvals keep pace.
Featured image from: cointelegraph.com