Over 100 crypto exchange-traded products are expected to launch rapidly in 2026, following new guidance from the US securities regulator that significantly shortened the processing times for new funds, as reported by a Bitwise researcher.
“We are about to move forward at an incredible pace,” stated Bitwise researcher Ryan Rasmussen during an interview with the Bankless podcast on Tuesday.
“We anticipate that more than 100 crypto-linked ETPs will debut next year, covering spot crypto, index, equities, smart beta, momentum, and more,” added Rasmussen.
Rasmussen’s forecast is based on the SEC’s release of standardized listing criteria in October, which removed the requirement for individual 19(b) approvals for qualifying crypto ETPs.
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“Essentially, it’s a guide for ETP issuers like Bitwise, indicating that if an asset meets specific criteria, they can list an ETP. We no longer face the lengthy 240-day waiting period we previously endured,” he explained.
Many in the market view the introduction of additional crypto ETPs that track altcoins as a promising indicator for the market’s future.
In August, analysts from Bitfinex noted that altcoins might not experience a significant rally until ETFs providing access beyond the top cryptocurrencies are approved.
Rasmussen pointed out that it has been nearly 15 years since Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss applied for the first Bitcoin ETF, yet only a “handful” of crypto ETPs exist in the market today.
“This is significant for investors as it broadens their options for allocation,” he remarked, comparing it to how a restaurant’s excitement often hinges on the variety of its menu:
“Imagine investors browsing a menu with only two items; they wouldn’t find it very exciting or enjoyable, but now they’ll face a menu as extensive as that of the Cheesecake Factory for ETPs.”
The total number of crypto ETPs has recently surpassed 300, according to Fineqia International.
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The new generic listing standards could pave the way for many more crypto ETP launches shortly.
On Sept. 17, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart indicated that this policy shift heralds a “wave of spot crypto ETP launches.”
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Seoyoung Kim, an associate finance professor at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, recently discussed with Cointelegraph that while the impact may be minimal on already “legitimized” assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), it could greatly enhance other crypto products.
“For futures or spot ETFs concerning digital assets not yet individually vetted, these rule adjustments could shorten the approval time from years to mere months. Naturally, the prospective ETF must still meet existing standards for ETF formation, listing, and trading,” Kim stated.
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