Key Takeaways:
- Grayscale filed an S-1 with the SEC for a spot Worldcoin ETF on July 20
- The fund would trade under ticker $GWLD on Nasdaq in 10,000-share blocks
- Grayscale must still secure SEC approval and file a 19b-4 rule change
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Grayscale files S-1 for Worldcoin ETF in 10,000-share blocks
Grayscale Investments filed an S-1 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on July 20 for a spot Worldcoin exchange-traded fund, the asset manager's latest single-asset altcoin ETP.
Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart confirmed the filing on X, sharing a screenshot of the document.
The Grayscale Worldcoin ETF is expected to trade under the ticker $GWLD on Nasdaq, with shares issued and redeemed in standard 10,000-share creation blocks. The filing represents the initial regulatory step; Grayscale must still secure SEC approval and submit a 19b-4 rule change for exchange listing before the product can trade publicly. Similar S-1 filings for other altcoin ETFs have taken months to reach approval and launch, with the SEC reviewing each application on a case-by-case basis.
Worldcoin ($WLD) powers the World network, which uses the Orb device for biometric verification to create proof-of-humanity credentials. The project has grown to millions of verified users across dozens of countries, positioning it as one of the largest identity-focused blockchain networks. Grayscale's filing reflects confidence in Worldcoin's regulatory standing and could push other asset managers to file for altcoin ETFs, mirroring the wave that followed the approval of spot bitcoin and ether ETFs in 2024.
The move extends Grayscale's expansion into crypto ETPs beyond bitcoin and ether. The asset manager recently filed Form 8-K documents with the SEC to establish regular cash distributions from staking rewards generated by its Ether and Solana staking ETPs, with amendments expected around Aug. 7. Grayscale's Ethereum Staking ETF held $1.22 billion in net assets as of July 17, while the Solana Staking ETF held $101.13 million, according to Yahoo Finance data. The Ethereum fund's gross staking rewards stood at 2.67%, while the Solana fund's gross staking rewards were 6.10%.
The SEC has not yet set a deadline for its review of the Worldcoin ETF application. Grayscale must also submit a 19b-4 rule change to Nasdaq for exchange listing before the product can begin trading. If approved, the fund would join a growing roster of single-asset crypto ETPs in the US market.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
