After Bitcoin and Ethereum, the Next Wave of Cryptocurrency ETFs Is Coming

The approval of U.S. Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs last year was just the beginning: major issuers are planning to launch a wider variety of U.S. funds

Major issuers are planning to launch a wider variety of U.S. funds designed to directly track the prices of a variety of cryptocurrencies including Dogecoin, Solana, XRP, and even TRUMP coin following the approval of U.S. Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs last year.

Recently, traditional financial giant Franklin Templeton submitted a proposal for an XRP spot ETF, which is undoubtedly an important signal in the field of cryptocurrency ETFs. Although cryptocurrency native institutions such as Grayscale, Bitwise, and WisdomTree have previously submitted similar applications, the entry of Franklin Templeton marks the official entry of traditional financial giants into this emerging field.

Asset management giant Franklin Templeton, which manages about $1.5 trillion in assets, is applying to list an ETF that would track the price of XRP, the cryptocurrency issued by Ripple Labs. The filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday follows several other firms' applications to list similar products, highlighting the growing interest in crypto-linked investment products.

Franklin Templeton is applying to list the Franklin Variable Trust as an ETF, focusing on XRP. The company is also seeking to list a cryptocurrency index fund, potentially expanding the offerings beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The move comes as the SEC faces a backlog of applications for spot cryptocurrency ETFs, with several major issuers already submitting proposals. Earlier this week, the DEGI (R) variable trust applied to list a Bitcoin plus token ETF, while Rex Shares and Osprey Funds filed applications for a Solana ETF and a Dogecoin ETF.

The approval of U.S. Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs last year was just the beginning, paving the way for a broader variety of crypto-linked investment products in the market.

Solana ETF

The spot Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF) could be a potential alternative to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

The proposed funds include the VanEck Solana Trust, 21Shares Core Solana ETF, Canary Solana ETF, and Bitwise Solana ETF, which will directly track the price of Solana.

Franklin Templeton filed its S-1 registration statement in February, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) filed a listing rule change application on behalf of Franklin Templeton in March.

Additionally, some proposed Solana futures ETFs, such as the ProShares Short Solana, ProShares 2x Solana, and Vol Shares’ Solana ETF, would enable investors to make more complex bets on Solana’s price movements.

However, Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart said that spot and futures Solana ETFs may not start trading in the United States until 2026 because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) still needs to evaluate a batch of spot Solana ETF applications. The SEC admitted Grayscale's Solana ETF application on February 6 and is seeking public comments on the application, which one analyst said marked the agency's entry into "new territory."

The SEC typically takes 240 to 260 days to make a decision, but litigation over whether Solana is a security could prolong the process. Nevertheless, if the spot Solana ETF is approved, the investment funds it attracts could be huge. JPMorgan analysts predict that the Solana ETF could bring in $4 billion to $8 billion in investment.

Dogecoin ETF

Some issuers have expressed plans to launch spot Dogecoin ETFs.

Rex Shares applied to launch the Rex-Osprey DOGE ETF in January, and Bitwise Asset Management also registered a Dogecoin ETF entity in Delaware. In addition, cryptocurrency investment company Grayscale also plans to launch a Dogecoin ETF, and launched the Dogecoin Trust Fund at the end of January, and then submitted an application to convert it into an ETF.

The SEC approved Grayscale’s application in February but delayed its decision in March, extending the deadline for a final decision to May 21.

Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, said in January that a spot Dogecoin ETF could theoretically launch as early as April, depending on a rule that enables federal regulators to weigh investment product proposals in a quick 75-day period, rather than the typical eight- to nine-month review period.

XRP ETF

Funds centered around Ripple-related XRP, such as the Rex-Osprey XRP ETF, the Canary XRP ETF, and the 21Shares Core XRP Trust, are under review.

In early February, Chicago-based Cboe Exchange applied to federal regulators to list and trade four spot XRP ETFs, showing growing investor interest in funds tracking Ripple Labs’ crypto assets. Franklin Templeton also joined the ranks in March.

The SEC acknowledged multiple XRP ETF applications at the end of February and said it would submit its comments within 21 days. If the XRP ETF is approved, JPMorgan analysts expect these funds could bring in $3 billion to $6 billion in investments.

Additionally, XRP futures ETFs such as ProShares Short XRP and ProShares 2x XRP are also under consideration, with the former allowing investors to short XRP and the latter enabling investors to make leveraged bets on XRP’s future price movements.