Grayscale Launches New Dogecoin Trust — Then Quickly Files To Convert It Into DOGE ETF

Grayscale, the world’s leading crypto asset manager, has unveiled an investment product aimed at offering investors exposure to Dogecoin (DOGE) — the world’s oldest and largest meme coin. Grayscale believes the $47.9 billion meme coin is no longer a laughing matter.

Shortly after launching the Grayscale Dogecoin Trust, Grayscale then filed a 19b-4 form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to convert the trust into a spot DOGE exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval.

Grayscale Debuts Dogecoin Trust, Calls DOGE Tool For “Global Financial Inclusion”

Grayscale has rolled out a new Trust providing individual and institutional accredited investors exposure to the canine-themed Dogecoin meme coin.

Grayscale thinks Dogecoin is a potential driver of financial empowerment for underserved communities globally, not just a speculative crypto asset.

“Grayscale believes DOGE has transitioned from a memecoin of a Shiba Inu to a tool for global financial inclusion, grassroots activism, and a reliable means of payment,” the firm stated in a Friday press release. “Due to its widespread accessibility, affordability, and rapid transaction speeds, DOGE has garnered significant adoption worldwide.”

Like other Grayscale products, Grayscale DOGE Trust investors do not have to hold the meme coin physically in crypto wallets to benefit from its price movements in either direction.

Grayscale Files Dogecoin ETF Registration

The launch of the Dogecoin Trust, which charges investors a management fee of 2.5%, was swiftly followed by an application for the potential creation of a DOGE-based investment vehicle. The proposed ETF would give investors with Dogecoin exposure without requiring them to buy and hold the crypto themselves.

In a Feb. 1 post on X, Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart posited:

“UPDATE: That was FAST. Grayscale launched a DOGE trust earlier today, and they just filed a 19b-4 to convert it into an ETF.”

The price of DOGE has grown tremendously in recent months, primarily owing to President Trump’s election victory and the formal creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.), helmed by longtime Dogecoin fan and technocrat Elon Musk. 

The new extra-governmental agency is reportedly exploring putting federal government systems of a public blockchain, with potential use cases, including tracking federal spending, managing buildings, and facilitating payments — though talks remain in their early stages.

DOGE ETF Race Heats Up

Asset managers have submitted a flurry of applications for memecoin ETFs, including those exclusively focused on Dogecoin. Bitwise recently threw its hat into the ring, filing for an S-1 registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission to list a DOGE ETF in America.

As ZyCrypto previously reported, REX Advisers and Osprey Funds also jointly filed for an ETF that includes DOGE, among other meme cryptos. 

These filings come as interest in introducing ETFs for meme coins such as Dogecoin picks up pace.