21Shares Files S-1 Registration Statement with the SEC for a SUI Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

21Shares, a prominent issuer of crypto exchange-traded products, filed an S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

21Shares, a leading issuer of crypto exchange-traded products, has filed an S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a SUI exchange-traded fund (ETF). The filing aims to allow investors to gain exposure to SUI, the native token of the Sui Network, a Layer-1 blockchain developed by Mysten Labs, directly through brokerage accounts.

The ETF’s approval depends on the SEC's review of the S-1 and 19b-4 forms, marking a significant step toward mainstream institutional adoption of the Sui ecosystem. This follows Canary Capital’s earlier filing for a SUI ETF six weeks ago, highlighting growing institutional interest, while 21Shares announced a strategic alliance with Sui to expand global network access.

Moreover, Sui Network is set to integrate sBTC, a one-to-one Bitcoin-backed asset from Stacks, a Bitcoin Layer-2 network, in the coming months. Announced on May 1, 2025, this integration aims to enhance Bitcoin’s role in decentralized finance (DeFi) by enabling BTC holders to earn yield and participate in DeFi protocols on Sui’s scalable, high-performance blockchain while maintaining Bitcoin’s trustless principles. With sBTC’s market cap exceeding $96 million and Sui’s DeFi ecosystem processing billions in transactions, this move positions Sui as a leader in Bitcoin DeFi (BTCfi), potentially attracting more liquidity and developers.

The combination of the ETF filing and sBTC integration has driven bullish momentum for SUI, with its price surging 10.9% to around $3.73 on May 1, 2025, and hovering above $3.40 as of May 2, 2025, despite a minor 1% drop. These developments underscore Sui’s growing prominence in the crypto market, with a market cap of $11.8 billion and over $1.65 billion in total value locked (TVL).

The S-1 filing follows Canary Capital's filing for a SUI ETF in June, marking the first such filing with the SEC. Both filings come amid increasing interest from institutions in cryptocurrencies, particularly as the SEC has begun to approve Bitcoin ETFs.

"We are pleased to announce our filing for an ETF that will allow investors to easily and conveniently access the SUI token through their brokerage accounts," said a spokesperson for 21Shares. "We believe that this ETF will be a valuable addition to any portfolio and will help to further bridge the gap between traditional finance and the rapidly growing digital asset space."

The ETF's approval depends on the SEC's review of the S-1 and 19b-4 forms, which may take several months. If approved, the 21Shares SUI ETF would be the first of its kind, offering traditional investors a seamless way to gain exposure to SUI through regulated brokerage accounts.

This would be in stark contrast to the current method of acquiring SUI, which involves setting up a crypto wallet, verifying identity on a cryptocurrency exchange, and purchasing SUI, a process that might deter less tech-savvy investors.

The ETF filing also follows 21Shares' strategic alliance with Sui to expand global network access, further integrating the Sui ecosystem with traditional financial institutions.

Earlier this year, Canary Capital also filed for an ETF that would track the SUI token. The filing with the SEC aims to bring an "innovative investment product" to market, according to a statement from the firm.

The filings come as the SEC has begun to approve Bitcoin ETFs, with the first such ETF from Invesco and Canada's Purpose ETF being approved in 2021. However, the regulator has yet to approve any ETFs that track altcoins, despite several filings from issuers like Cathie Wood's ARK Invest.

The approval of a SUI ETF would be a major development for the crypto industry, potentially leading to billions of dollars in capital flowing into the Sui ecosystem. It would also open the door for the approval of other altcoin ETFs, expanding the universe of investable digital assets for traditional investors.