Zug-based 21Shares is looking to enter the US market in partnership with Cathy Wood’s Ark Investment Management.
Star investor Cathie Wood’s Ark Investment Management and Switzerland-based 21Shares intend to launch a cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund in the U.S, an application to the Securities and Exchange Commission shows.
First reported by «Bloomberg» (behind paywall), the fund called ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, will track the S&P Global Bitcoin Index.
Ark Stake in 21Shares
Wood invested in cryptocurrency exchange-traded product specialist 21Shares and joined its board in May. When she joined 21Shares its assets had surged to $2 billion from less than $30 million a year earlier.
The Ark brand could help that number to rise further through the U.S. fund. Across the Atlantic, $6.5 trillion dollars are managed in ETFs compared with $1.475 trillion in Europe.
SEC Reservations
However, Wood and 21Shares may have to wait a while before the fund can launch. According to Bloomberg, 14 applicants for cryptocurrency ETFs are awaiting a decision from the SEC. The regulator also has considerable reservations about cryptocurrency funds which could end up in the hands of retail investors.
