Key Highlights
- Bitwise launched the Avalanche ETF (BAVA) in the U.S. on the NYSE to give investors exposure to Avalanche (AVAX).
- The ETF earns extra returns through staking AVAX, with an estimated average reward of about 5.4%.
- Bitwise is expanding its crypto ETF lineup with many new products with the SEC.
Bitwise Asset Management said today that it has launched an Avalanche ETF (BAVA) in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
According to the official release, the fund is designed to give inventions exposure to cryptocurrency. In short, it is created to follow the price of Avalanche (AVAX).
Staking strategy and structure
The ETF earns extra income from staking. This is where part of a cryptocurrency is locked in a blockchain system to support network operations such as transaction validation, and in return, participants receive rewards.
Bitwise said it tries to keep enough funds available so investors can still trade the ETF smoothly while some AVAX is staked.
The staking activity is handled internally by Bitwise Onchain Solutions, the company’s staking division, and it is expected to generate an average staking reward of about 5.4%, depending on network conditions. In addition, the firm mentioned that the fund carries a 0.34% sponsor fee; however, this fee is waived for the first month on the first $500 million in assets.
The fund is listed under the ticker BAVA and carries a sponsor fee of 0.34%. The fee is waived for the first month on the first $500 million of assets under management.
Why Avalanche?
Avalanche is a blockchain network that allows developers and institutions to build their own custom blockchain systems. These systems can set their own rules for how they operate, including governance and access control, while still connecting to the main Avalanche network. The system is built to support fast transaction speeds and low fees. Its total market value is around $4.1 billion.
However, Bitwise stated that the ETF is not suitable for all investors because it carries a high level of risk and can experience significant price changes.
The firm added that the ETF is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, meaning it does not have the same protections as traditional investment funds. Investors are also reminded that the ETF is not the same as directly holding AVAX.
“Avalanche is emerging as one of the leading platforms for businesses, governments, and real-world use cases,” said Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise. He added that the network allows users to maintain security and scale while keeping control and flexibility in application design.
Previous ETF launches and applications
Meanwhile, Bitwise has been actively expanding its crypto ETF products in recent months. For instance, in January 2026, the company filed multiple applications with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for new crypto ETFs.
These filings include proposals linked to assets such as Aave, Uniswap, Tron, Bittensor, NEAR, Sui, Zcash, Ethena, Hyperliquid, Starknet, and Canton. Earlier filings also included proposals for several other crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In addition, the firm recently filed to launch the first Uniswap ETF with the SEC. So far, the firm has almost 15 ETF products.
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