VanEck to launch NODE ETF in bid to broaden crypto exposure

VanEck, a global asset management firm, plans to launch a new cryptocurrency-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) under the NODE ticker on May 14. The ETF will include various types of stocks and will have several investments closely related to digital assets.

According to Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research and Portfolio Manager for the VanEck Smart Contract Leaders Fund, these stocks will include data centers, cryptocurrency exchanges, and Bitcoin miners.

Labeled the Onchain Economy ETF, NODE is a bridge for investors to access the growing digital asset economy without directly holding crypto. It will offer diversified exposure to public companies building blockchain-based infrastructure.

VanEck’s NODE ETF to actively target 30–60 crypto-focused stocks

Matthew Sigel recently shared an X post claiming that NODE will be actively managed with the goal of holding 30 to 60 names from a stock universe of over 130 connected to the digital asset economy. 

According to his analysis, the world economy is transitioning to a digital basis, and the actual businesses constructing that future are those actively exposed to equity that NODE offers.

Moreover, NODE will allow investors to wager on the digital asset market without purchasing individual stocks, similar to VanEck, BlackRock, and Fidelity’s well-known spot Bitcoin ETFs. 

Notably, this was VanEck’s most recent cryptocurrency venture. It all began in January when the company submitted its initial ETF application.

Based on the filing, the exchange-traded fund intended to allocate at least 80% of its net assets to digital transformation companies and/or digital asset instruments to achieve its investment goal. 

These digital asset instruments included commodity futures contracts, exchange-traded commodity-linked instruments (such as options and options on futures contracts), swaps, and exchange-traded pooled investments.

VanEck HODL AUM hits $1.2B and altcoin products gain traction

VanEck’s spot Bitcoin ETF, ticker symbol HODL, has about $1.2 billion in assets under management. This resulted from the growing popularity of exchange-traded funds that track Bitcoin among retail investors and financial advisors since their launch in January 2024.

VanEck has pioneered launching or presenting investment opportunities linked to alternative digital assets. In addition to being the first company to file to list a Solana ETF last year, it released the first ETF prospectus to list a BNB fund earlier this month.

To increase its exposure, NODE will invest through a Cayman Islands subsidiary that permits indirect access to commodity futures, swaps, and other vehicles while adhering to U.S. tax regulations. The fund will exclude stablecoins and limit investments in the subsidiary to 25% of its total assets per quarter.

It is evident that the cryptocurrency industry still has much untapped investment potential. To illustrate, potential issuers also hope to introduce ETFs that track well-known altcoins like Litecoin, Solana, and XRP in addition to the already-launched spot Ethereum ETFs.

Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More