Wall Street could soon get a dose of crypto chaos, as the first-ever exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Dogecoin (DOGE) and the newly minted Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin may debut as early as April, according to analysts.
Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas flagged the accelerated timeline after fellow analyst James Seyffart revealed Miami-based REX Shares’ ETF filings on Tuesday.
REX Shares has filed proposals for DOGE and TRUMP ETFs, alongside Bonk (BONK), Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP (XRP).
If they’re greenlit, these ETFs could bridge meme coins and traditional finance by giving investors access to internet-born cultural icons through standard brokerage accounts.
Good point on the Doge/Trump ETF filing, these are ’40 Act filings and so (theoretically, if they aren’t disapproved) could hit the market in early April (75 days after filing) and beat the XRP, Solana, Litecoin ETFs out bc those have to file 19b-4s which have a 240-day clock.…
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) January 21, 2025
“These are ’40 Act filings and so (theoretically, if they aren’t disapproved) could hit the market in early April…” Balchunas wrote on X.
He was referring to the 1940 Act, which governs funds combining assets and derivatives. Filings submitted under the Act also enjoy a streamlined 75-day review process.
By leveraging this process, DOGE and TRUMP ETFs could leapfrog other filings—like XRP and Solana ETFs—which require a cumbersome 240-day timeline under 19b-4 filing rules.
“The crypto market survives on the principles of innovation and cultural relevance,” Saravanan Pandian, CEO of KoinBX, told Decrypt. “Dogecoin, with its ever-growing adoption, and the emergence of meme-driven financial instruments, reflect a shift in how the new generation interacts with investments.”
Pandian sees tremendous potential in the meme coin ETFs, “I agree that a Dogecoin ETF could arrive earlier than expected if the regulatory landscape aligns, and we could see these trends formalized as early as April, sparking new opportunities in the digital asset space.”
Dogecoin, once a tongue-in-cheek creation from 2013, has grown into a global crypto heavyweight, driven by strong liquidity and cultural clout.
Endorsed by figures such as Tesla CEO and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk, the coin has consistently dominated meme coin trading volumes.
As with TRUMP, the meme coin inspired by the sitting U.S. President Donald Trump, has quickly climbed the ranks, currently trading at $43.24—up 21.1% in the last 24 hours, according to Coingecko data.
Litecoin has also seen renewed interest following Canary Capital’s amendment to its S-1 registration with the SEC earlier this month.
Balchunas and Seyffart noted that these updates, often indicative of regulatory engagement, suggest momentum toward approval.
Regulatory Shifts Bring Optimism for Meme Coin ETFs
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is undergoing significant leadership changes, with pro-crypto Acting Chair Mark Uyeda stepping in following Gary Gensler’s resignation.
Uyeda’s arrival has sparked hope across the crypto industry for a more favorable approach toward innovative crypto products, including the proposed meme coin ETFs.
The inclusion of TRUMP meme coin in these filings presents a unique challenge for the regulatory agency as it raises questions about how the SEC will handle a product tied to the President’s meme coin.
“While Trump memecoin saw a brief dip in prices yesterday, I am positive the Trump ETF will happen soon, owing to his position as the President of the United States of America,” Pandian stated.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.
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