{"id":33168,"date":"2026-10-07T20:01:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/investx.fr\/en\/2026\/10\/07\/grayscale-crypto-etf-new-era-zcash-etf-1-billion\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T20:01:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:01:59","slug":"grayscale-crypto-etf-new-era-zcash-etf-1-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/investx.fr\/en\/crypto-news\/grayscale-crypto-etf-new-era-zcash-etf-1-billion\/","title":{"rendered":"Grayscale: The Crypto ETF Market Enters a New Era as Zcash ETF Surpasses $1 Billion in AUM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The crypto ETF<\/strong> market is no longer just about Bitcoin<\/strong> and Ethereum<\/strong>. Grayscale<\/strong> has now confirmed this officially, and the numbers speak for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krista Lynch<\/strong>, a senior figure at Grayscale<\/strong>, has stated that the SEC<\/strong>‘s listing standards now cover approximately 15 tokens<\/strong> \u2014 opening the door to structural diversification across regulated investment products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the strongest signal of this shift? The Zcash ETF<\/strong> has just crossed the symbolic threshold of $1 billion in assets under management<\/strong>. A milestone that deserves a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Grayscale Is Calling This a “New Phase” for Crypto ETFs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs<\/strong> in January 2024, followed by Ethereum ETFs<\/strong> a few months later, the market has been waiting for the next step. Grayscale<\/strong> believes that step is now underway. Krista Lynch<\/strong> clarifies that the SEC<\/strong>‘s current listing rules technically allow ETFs to be launched on around fifteen digital assets \u2014 without requiring new regulatory approvals on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This regulatory opening represents a paradigm shift<\/strong>. Until now, every new product required a lengthy and uncertain approval process. Issuers can now be selective and strategic<\/strong>, targeting tokens that already have sufficient liquidity and a mature market infrastructure. Grayscale<\/strong> is clearly positioning this phase as an opportunity for institutional diversification<\/strong> beyond the market’s top two assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For institutional investors<\/strong>, the stakes are significant: gaining exposure to alternative assets through regulated vehicles, without the direct risks associated with custody or the operational constraints of crypto wallets. That is precisely what ETFs<\/strong> offer \u2014 and what the market is beginning to value in second-tier tokens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zcash ETF at $1 Billion: Market Signal or Outlier?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Zcash<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Zcash ETF<\/strong> crossing the $1 billion AUM mark is a signal that is hard to ignore. Zcash (ZEC)<\/a><\/strong>, a privacy-focused token powered by zk-SNARKs<\/strong> technology, is not a top-tier asset by market capitalization. Yet its ETF is attracting significant institutional flows \u2014 suggesting genuine demand for products tied to specific investment theses, in this case privacy blockchain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This success is far from trivial in the current regulatory environment. The SEC<\/strong> had historically shown reluctance toward privacy tokens, associating them with AML\/KYC<\/strong> compliance risks. The fact that a Zcash ETF<\/strong> has reached $1 billion in AUM indicates that the US regulator has adopted a more pragmatic stance \u2014 or at least a more nuanced one \u2014 toward this asset category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For other ETF issuers, this precedent opens up concrete opportunities. If Zcash<\/strong> can generate this level of traction, tokens such as Solana<\/a><\/strong>, Litecoin<\/strong>, and other assets with solid market infrastructure could quickly join the product pipeline. Competition among issuers \u2014 BlackRock<\/strong>, Fidelity<\/strong>, Grayscale<\/strong>, Bitwise<\/strong> \u2014 is set to intensify in this segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which Tokens Could Benefit From This Momentum?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Grayscale<\/strong>‘s statement regarding the 15 tokens eligible under SEC<\/strong> listing standards does not come with an official list. However, the implicit criteria are identifiable: sufficient liquidity on regulated US markets, presence on compliant exchanges, a robust price history, and the absence of security status under current case law. These filters mechanically narrow the field to established assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the natural candidates are Solana (SOL)<\/strong>, for which several ETF applications are already under review at the SEC<\/strong>, as well as Litecoin (LTC)<\/a><\/strong>, Chainlink (LINK)<\/a><\/strong>, and Avalanche (AVAX)<\/strong>. Each presents a liquidity profile and infrastructure maturity compatible with the requirements of an exchange-listed product. The race to file applications with the SEC<\/strong> is expected to accelerate over the coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This movement marks a gradual institutionalization of the altcoin market<\/strong>. Inflows into these new ETFs could structurally alter the price dynamics of these assets \u2014 reducing long-term volatility and attracting a base of traditional investors who would never have bought directly on a crypto exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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