Hashdex Seeks SEC Approval to Add Litecoin to Crypto Index ETF

Key Takeaways:

  • Litecoin’s inclusion challenges the Bitcoin-Ethereum dominance, pushing investors to reconsider diversification strategies.
  • Hashdex’s move could open the door for major investors to explore altcoins, reshaping crypto investment priorities.
  • Litecoin’s inclusion challenges the Bitcoin-Ethereum dominance, pushing investors to reconsider diversification strategies

Crypto asset management firm Hashdex submitted an amendment proposal to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last Friday to add Litecoin (LTC) to its Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF.

If approved, Litecoin will join the ETF’s other proposed digital assets, broadening its exposure to the traditional financial market and institutional investors within a regulated environment.

Litecoin Gains ETF Exposure as Hashdex Seeks Broader Crypto Holdings

The March 14 filing, filed under file number 333-280990, outlined Hashdex’s plans to expand its Crypto Index ETF portfolio beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The revised index is expected to include additional cryptocurrencies such as Solana (SOL), Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), Avalanche (AVAX), Litecoin (LTC), and Uniswap (UNI), with each operating on its respective blockchain network.

Particularly, the addition of Litecoin would further diversify the fund’s holdings and attract investors interested in a wider array of cryptocurrencies.

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a basket of assets—such as stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies—traded on stock exchanges.

It allows investors to buy and sell shares throughout the day, offering diversification by spreading risk across multiple assets.

Hashdex’s proposal to add Litecoin isn’t random. Litecoin has been around for over a decade, often seen as Bitcoin’s lighter, faster counterpart.

Its features, such as its popularity, strong liquidity, and lower transaction fees, make it an interesting addition to an ETF.

If this gets the green light, it would be another step towards integrating crypto with traditional finance, which would give both big institutions and everyday investors more options to diversify their portfolios.

Brazil ETF Approval Highlights Hashdex Expansion Strategy

Recently, Hashdex secured approval from Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission to launch the world’s first XRP spot ETF on the B3 stock exchange.

This approval allows Brazilian investors to gain exposure to XRP through a regulated investment vehicle.

Hashdex continues to provide more crypto investment options while signaling increasing institutional acceptance of digital assets.

The Hashdex Nasdaq XRP Index Fund was officially established on February 18, 2025, and Genial Investimentos was appointed its administrator.

While a U.S. launch date for the expanded ETF remains undisclosed, the broader crypto ETF market is becoming increasingly competitive.

Since Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs received approval in 2024, fund issuers have accelerated efforts to broaden their offerings.

SEC Decision on Litecoin Could Boost Hashdex Crypto Index ETF Expansion

Bloomberg analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas estimate a 90% likelihood of Litecoin ETF approval before the end of 2025.

Their prediction places Litecoin ahead of Solana (70%), Dogecoin (75%), and XRP (65%).

They argue that Litecoin’s proof-of-work mechanism, similar to Bitcoin’s, and its existing regulatory filings could streamline the approval process.

Demand for crypto ETFs has surged, with spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs attracting $40.7 billion and $3.18 billion in net inflows since their launches.

While a Litecoin ETF may not see the same demand, Seyffart notes that even modest inflows could make it viable for fund issuers.

The SEC’s final decision on Litecoin, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin ETFs is expected between October 2 and 18, a timeline closely watched by investors and fund issuers looking to expand the reach of crypto index ETFs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does Litecoin’s classification as a commodity impact its chances of ETF approval?

Since Litecoin is considered a commodity rather than a security, it avoids the tougher regulations and doubts that securities may face in the same situation. This makes it easier to get approval since it sidesteps the SEC’s stricter oversight on securities branded cryptocurrencies.

What are the risks of a Litecoin ETF?

Among the risks known primarily to ETFs is their reliance on third parties to store assets safely. These parties are often centralized and leave space for potential price manipulation due to crypto’s volatility and liquidity issues.

Could a Litecoin ETF lead to more altcoin ETFs?

Yes, if Litecoin’s ETF gets approved, it could pave the way for others like Solana and XRP. A green light from regulators would show they’re open to approving beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, which would mean they are now open to altcoins, too.

The post Hashdex Seeks SEC Approval to Add Litecoin to Crypto Index ETF appeared first on Cryptonews.

Aave V3 is Now Live on Celo

Decentralized non-custodial liquidity protocol Aave V3 is now live on Celo, the Layer-2 that aims to enable fast, low-cost transactions for the real world.

According to the press release shared with Cryptonews, thanks to the integration, Celo’s builders and users globally can borrow, lend, and earn yield with “sub-cent” transaction costs.

This is in addition to the one-block finality and one-second transaction time following Celo’s migration to an Ethereum Layer 2 later this month, the team said.

Furthermore, the initial deployment supports collateral and borrowable assets CELO, USDT, and USDC. The latter also includes cUSD and cEUR. The partners may incorporate more assets in the future, including Celo’s native stablecoins.

Notably, the move follows the Aave community’s support for bringing the protocol to the mobile-first ecosystem Celo.

“Celo was built to provide individuals and communities worldwide with accessible, efficient financial tools,” said Isha Varshney, Celo Foundation’s Head of Ecosystem. “Aave’s launch is a major step forward in delivering on this mission.”

Varshney added that the team will continue expanding DeFi accessibility worldwide.

Meanwhile, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised the recent development of Celo Network. Specifically, he noted its recent growth, surpassing Tron in daily active addresses due to stablecoin use. Buterin said that “improving worldwide access to basic payments/finance has always been a key way that Ethereum can be good for the world and it’s great to see Celo getting traction.”

According to DeFiLlama, Celo has $72.02 million in total value locked in DeFi.

As for the CELO coin, it currently trades at $0.3445. It is down 1.2% in a day, 1% in a week, 24% in a month, and 70% in a year.

Also, it hit its all-time high of $9.82 in August 2021, falling 96% since. The coin’s current market capitalization is $194.85 million.

“Creating the Conditions of Prosperity for All”

According to Aave Labs Founder Stani Kulechov, the Aave deployment on Celo will “potentially bring a large community of new people into the Aave ecosystem.”

It could bring mobile-first users in emerging markets and connect real-world assets to DeFi. Also, it could accelerate the use of stablecoins for simple transactions, Kulechov argues.

The immediate benefits for Celo users include access to a DeFi lending protocol, boosted liquidity for the ecosystem, new yield-bearing avenues, and accelerated DeFi adoption in emerging markets.

At the same time, Aave users gain access to Celo’s mobile-first user base, including emerging market retail users, expansion to Celo’s ecosystem, low transaction costs and fast settlements, and potential future integration with Celo’s stablecoins.

“Since its inception, the Celo ecosystem has provided users with tools including DeFi solutions designed to create the conditions of prosperity for all,” said Marek Olszewski, Celo co-founder and cLabs CEO.

He added that “Aave’s decentralized, non-custodial protocol is strongly aligned with this mission, serving as an entry point to crypto for millions of users throughout the world. Bringing Aave V3 to Celo accelerates our joint vision for a more equitable and sustainable digital economy.”

Meanwhile, in early March, Aave governance introduced a proposal to update its tokenomics. It focused on AAVE staking rewards, revenue redistribution, secondary liquidity management, and the deprecation of LEND.

Aave has $17.486 billion in total value locked, per DeFiLlama.

At the time of writing, it trades at $168.11. It’s down 2.8% in 24 hours, 13% in 7 days, and 35% in 30 days. It appreciated 44% in a year.

It hit its all-time high of $661.69 in May 2021, dropping 75% since. Its current market cap is $2.5 billion.

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