- Nasdaq has proposed adding XRP, Solana, Cardano, and Stellar to its Crypto Index, aiming to expand beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum and align the Hashdex ETF with the full index.
- The SEC’s decision, expected by November 2025, could mark a major milestone for altcoin legitimacy and institutional adoption.
In a major development for the cryptocurrency market, Nasdaq has officially submitted a rule-change proposal to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include four prominent altcoins—XRP, Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Stellar (XLM)—in its flagship Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI). Currently, the index tracks only Bitcoin and Ethereum, but if approved, this expansion will grow the index to six tokens, reflecting growing institutional demand for broader crypto exposure beyond the top two digital giants.
Filed on June 2, 2025, the proposal aims to align the holdings of the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF (ticker: NCIQ) with the expanded index. Presently, regulatory constraints limit the ETF to Bitcoin and Ethereum only, causing tracking errors and limiting investor access. Approval of this change would allow the ETF to more accurately mirror the full index performance, improving investor confidence and enabling wider diversification.
Also read: Memecoin ETFs Coming in 2026? What to Expect from the Next Big Crypto Investment Trend
e4SEC Decision and Regulatory Clarity: A Game Changer for XRP
The SEC is reviewing the proposal under Rule 19b-4, with a decision expected by November 2, 2025. This filing arrives amid positive regulatory signals, especially for XRP, which recently benefited from a federal court ruling reaffirming it is not classified as a security—a milestone clearing the path for greater institutional adoption.
If the SEC greenlights the proposal, the ETF would be allowed to hold all six assets, marking a significant shift in how traditional finance views altcoins. Analysts predict this could trigger substantial capital inflows into XRP, Solana, Cardano, and Stellar, boosting liquidity and spurring new investment products tied to diversified crypto portfolios.
What This Means for the Future of Altcoins and Crypto Investing
Market experts see Nasdaq’s proposal as a pivotal moment for altcoins, potentially sparking a wave of mainstream acceptance akin to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF launches. Inclusion in a Nasdaq-backed product would provide these altcoins with institutional exposure on an unprecedented scale, likely influencing ETF flows and investor sentiment heading into late 2025.
This move also mirrors wider industry trends where traditional financial firms increasingly embrace digital assets not just for speculation but as core portfolio components. Nasdaq’s initiative could inspire other index providers and fund managers to expand their crypto offerings, accelerating the integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream finance.
With the SEC decision looming, the crypto world is watching closely. Whether this leads to rapid altcoin adoption or a more cautious evolution, the outcome will undoubtedly shape the future of crypto investment and market structure for years to come.
