Key Highlights
- ARK Invest has withdrawn its ARK Crypto Active ETF registration and will not launch the fund for now.
- However, the firm continues investing heavily in crypto-related companies like Coinbase, Circle, Bullish, Robinhood, and Block across its other ETFs.
- CEO Cathie Wood sees crypto as a “good source of diversification” and believes tokens like Bitcoin offer higher returns compared with traditional assets.
ARK Invest, an asset management firm led by Cathie Wood, has withdrawn several post-effective amendments for its ARK Crypto Active ETF registration, saying it has decided not to proceed with the fund launch at this time.
According to the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the withdrawal was formally filed between July 2025 and February 2026 under Form N-1A. The company also confirmed that no shares were issued or sold under these amendments.
“The Trust respectfully submits that withdrawal of the Amendments is consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors,” Kellen Carter, Chief Compliance Officer at ARK Investment, said in the filing. However, the filing states this does not affect any other series of the Trust, and all other funds continue to operate normally.
Which filings were withdrawn?
The letter lists several post-effective amendment numbers tied to the ARK Crypto Active ETF registration.
The submission types shown include 485APOS and 485BXT, both commonly used for post-effective amendments to investment company registration statements.
ARK keeps investing in crypto indirectly
The filing does not provide a detailed explanation beyond saying ARK will not proceed at this time. It also does not rule out a future refile, a revised product structure, or another attempt later. Even though the ETF will not launch for now, ARK Invest continues to invest heavily in cryptocurrency-related companies through other funds.
Earlier this year, the firm purchased $21.5 million worth of shares in Coinbase, Circle Internet, and Bullish. These purchases were made across its Innovation ETF (ARKK) and Blockchain and Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF).
Specifically, ARK also added 129,446 shares of Circle valued at $9.2 million, 42,179 shares of Coinbase worth $9.15 million, and 88,533 shares of Bullish totaling $3.17 million, despite the market experiencing a drop at the time, with Bitcoin falling from above $100K to $90K.
In short, the company’s strategy has long been to buy shares when prices dip, while expecting that more crypto adoption and trading activity will increase over time.
The firm also invested in other crypto-linked companies, including Robinhood, CoreWeave, Bitmine Immersion Technologies, and Block, spending tens of millions across multiple funds. This continued a trend from February, when ARK purchased about $72 million in crypto stocks as Bitcoin briefly fell under $75,000.
Cathie Wood sees crypto as diversification
Meanwhile, this strategy aligns with Cathie Wood’s beliefs in cryptocurrency, highlighting that tokens like Bitcoin are a “good source of diversification” for investors. According to a previous report, she said that Bitcoin continues to offer higher returns relative to risk compared with traditional assets, even amid debates about its volatility.
She described the U.S. economy as a “coiled spring,” weakened by restrictive monetary policy but positioned for a rebound as inflation cools and productivity improves.
Regardless, ARK’s ongoing purchases in crypto-related equities show that, even without the Crypto Active ETF, the firm remains committed to digital assets through its broader fund portfolio.
Also Read: UBS Moves Closer to Crypto Services With New U.S. Charter
