Seventy crypto ETFs await SEC approval as altcoin funds surge

More than 70 cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are currently under review by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2025, with proposed products spanning a wide range of digital assets, including altcoins, memecoins, crypto indexes, and derivatives.

According to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, the list of applications covers assets from established cryptocurrencies like XRP (CRYPTO:XRP), Litecoin (CRYPTO:LTC), and Solana (CRYPTO:SOL) to more speculative tokens and structured products, reflecting the growing diversity of investor interest.

The SEC has extended review periods for several high-profile filings, including Grayscale’s Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) staking ETF and VanEck’s in-kind redemption models for Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) and Ether funds, with decisions now expected in June 2025.

Other applications, such as the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF, which aims to track the largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation, have also seen their review deadlines pushed to March 2025.

These delays highlight the cautious and methodical approach the SEC is taking as it evaluates the compliance and investor protection aspects of these new products.

The surge in ETF applications comes amid rising institutional interest in digital assets.

A recent report found that over 80% of institutions plan to increase their crypto allocations in 2025, though analysts caution that ETF approval does not guarantee strong demand, especially for funds focused on lesser-known altcoins.

“Having your coin get ETF-ized is like being in a band and getting your songs added to all the music streaming services,” Balchunas said.

“Doesn’t guarantee listens but it puts your music where the vast majority of the listeners are.”

Analysts expect that altcoin ETFs could attract several hundred million to $1 billion in cumulative inflows, far less than the $100 billion seen by spot Bitcoin ETFs last year.

The evolving regulatory landscape, including a more open attitude from new SEC leadership, is expected to influence the pace and outcome of these decisions.