According to CoinDesk, 2025 is anticipated to be a significant year for cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as highlighted by Laser Digital, the digital asset arm of Nomura. The company suggests that over a dozen crypto ETFs could be introduced in the U.S. this year, contingent upon approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The report from Laser Digital last week indicated that asset managers have already submitted 12 filings to the SEC. Among the proposed products are a ProShares ETF that measures the S&P 500's return in bitcoin, a combined bitcoin/ether ETF, and products based on litecoin, XRP, and Solana. Laser Digital predicts that a bitcoin/ether ETF is likely to receive approval first.
The successful launch of spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. in January of the previous year set a promising precedent. Blackrock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) managed to gather approximately $53 billion in assets under management within its first 11 months, surpassing all prior ETF launches. The report also notes that with the appointment of crypto-friendly Paul Atkins as the new chairman of the SEC and the departure of Gary Gensler, the ongoing legal challenges against crypto companies are expected to diminish. This shift in leadership is seen as increasing the likelihood of approval for these new ETFs.
Laser Digital forecasts that the ETF market will continue to expand in terms of assets under management (AUM) and will experience broader adoption by institutional investors in 2025. This growth is anticipated to be further supported by President-elect Donald Trump, who is expected to return to office with a team of regulators favorable to cryptocurrency. Additionally, asset manager Grayscale has expressed intentions to convert its Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL) into an ETF by December, signaling further developments in the crypto ETF landscape.