Cardano: First ETF in Sight for the 10th-Largest Cryptocurrency
Cardano (ADA) is one step closer to Wall Street. Grayscale has filed an S-1 registration form with the SEC for a spot Cardano ETF, following its earlier 19b-4 approval, marking a major milestone for the 10th-largest cryptocurrency.
In Brief: The Road to a Cardano ETF
- ETF Name: Grayscale Cardano Trust
- Ticker: GADA (proposed)
- Exchange: NYSE Arca
- Custodian: Coinbase Custody — trusted by major ETFs
- Index Tracked: CoinDesk Cardano Price Index (ADX) — updated daily at 4 PM ET
- Structure: Passive, non-leveraged, no derivatives
- Trading Unit: Baskets of 10,000 shares via authorized liquidity providers
This filing follows Grayscale’s successful strategy with Bitcoin (GBTC) and Ethereum (ETHE), and comes hot on the heels of its multi-asset crypto ETF approval.
Cardano Targets the Ticker GADA — The Ecosystem Is Ignited
The crypto community, especially Cardanians, is rallying behind the news.
- The @Cardanians_io Twitter account hailed the S-1 as the “official registration” that reveals how the ETF works
- The dual filing (19b-4 + S-1) signals readiness and confidence in SEC approval
- ADA’s fundamentals are strong:
- Hydra scaling rollout accelerating
- AI and DeFi integrations gaining traction
- On-chain activity up 40% in Q3 2025
With GADA, Cardano could finally gain the institutional legitimacy it has long sought.
Crypto: Grayscale Wants to Cover Everything — Cardano Is Just a Pawn
Grayscale isn’t betting on ADA alone.
It’s building a crypto ETF empire.
- Also Filing For: Polkadot (DOT) ETF — same structure, Nasdaq listing expected
- Strategy: Launch passive, indexed ETFs across top altcoins
- Key Partners:
- Coinbase: Custody, brokerage, infrastructure
- BNY Mellon: Fund administration
- Innovation: Up to 85% staking for DOT and ADA holdings — if regulators allow
With 96 crypto ETF applications now under SEC review—92 filed since April—Grayscale is positioning itself as the dominant player in altcoin ETFs.
Cardano isn’t just a standalone bet.
It’s part of a much bigger play.
What the Numbers Say
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| ETF Approval Odds (Polymarket) | 87% |
| Crypto ETF Apps in Review | 96 |
| Since April Increase | +28% |
| Shares per Basket | 10,000 |
| Index Update Time | 4:00 PM New York Time (ADX) |
| Coinbase Involvement | Custody, Brokerage, Infrastructure |
Analyst Nate Geraci noted the coordinated timing of filings:
“Several managers amended their XRP ETFs at the same time as Grayscale’s ADA move. This isn’t random—it’s strategy.”
Final Takeaway: The Altcoin ETF Era Is Here
- ✅ Grayscale files S-1 for GADA — final step before launch
- ✅ Coinbase-backed, NYSE-listed, index-tracked — institutional-grade structure
- ✅ 87% approval odds — highest since 2021
- ✅ Paves the way for DOT, AVAX, XRP, DOGE ETFs
Cardano has always been a technology-first project.
Now, it may become the first major proof-of-stake altcoin with a spot ETF.
And if GADA launches?
The message will be clear:
Altcoins are no longer speculative side bets.
They’re Wall Street assets.
