Bitwise explores tokenised ETF shares
Bitwise Asset Management is exploring the tokenisation of ETF shares through a new partnership with Superstate.
The asset manager announced plans to develop the capability for investors to hold shares of certain Bitwise funds in tokenised form on blockchain networks, while maintaining the same economic rights and ownership structure as traditional fund shares.
Under the proposed framework, investors would continue to purchase the same fund shares through existing channels.
However, shareholders would have the option to hold those shares either through traditional book-entry records maintained by The Depository Trust Company (DTC) or in tokenised form using Superstate's blockchain-based transfer agency infrastructure.
Importantly, the partnership focuses on modernising how ownership is recorded rather than changing the underlying investment product.
Tokenised shares would carry the same rights as traditional shares and would not be freely transferable outside the approved recordkeeping system.
Bitwise expects its Bitwise Solana Staking ETF to be the first fund potentially offered with a tokenised share option, subject to regulatory and legal approvals.