Nasdaq seeks approval to list CoinShares ETFs in XRP and Litecoin

Nasdaq has filed Forms 19b-4 with the SEC to list and trade two new CoinShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs): the CoinShares XRP ETF and the CoinShares Litecoin ETF. These products would provide investors with regulated exposure to XRP and Litecoin (LTC), two of the most established crypto assets in the market.

CoinShares, one of the leading European investment firms specializing in digital assets, is seeking to expand into the US market, leveraging a more favorable regulatory environment under the new administration. This filing follows its submission of S-1 forms with the SEC last month, which initiated the approval process for its XRP and Litecoin spot ETFs.

CoinShares is not alone in the race for crypto ETFs. Large asset managers in the US are also aligning their strategies while awaiting regulatory approval. Last week, Cboe filed four Form 19b-4s to allow the listing and trading of XRP spot ETFs managed by WisdomTree, Bitwise, 21Shares, and Canary in the US.

For Litecoin, the proposed ETF could become the first cryptocurrency spot ETF approved during the Trump administration, according to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas. Unlike other crypto assets that have faced legal disputes with the SEC, Litecoin has a potential regulatory advantage. The CFTC has classified it as a commodity in its lawsuit against KuCoin, which exempts it from SEC securities regulations.

The market also reflects optimistic expectations. According to Polymarket, the probability of Litecoin’s ETF being approved this year is over 80%, indicating growing investor interest in its launch.