Bitwise Launches Avalanche ETF on NYSE with 5.4% Staking Yield

The new BAVA ETF offers investors direct exposure to AVAX with a competitive staking reward.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:56am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly detailed, black-and-white close-up image of the intricate mechanical and electronic components that make up a financial trading platform, conveying the idea of the complex systems and technology that enable new investment products like cryptocurrency ETFs.An extreme close-up of the complex machinery powering a new cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund, reflecting the technical infrastructure behind financial innovation.NYC Today

Bitwise Asset Management has launched a new spot Avalanche ETF (ticker: BAVA) on the New York Stock Exchange. The fund offers a 5.4% annualized staking yield through Bitwise's in-house staking unit and carries a 0.34% sponsor fee, which is waived to 0% for the first month on the first $500 million in assets. AVAX, the native token of the Avalanche blockchain, is currently trading around $9.52 and facing key resistance at the $10 level.

Why it matters

The launch of the Bitwise Avalanche ETF provides investors with a convenient way to gain exposure to the AVAX token and participate in the staking rewards offered by the Avalanche network. This could help drive increased adoption and usage of the Avalanche blockchain, which has seen growing traction in areas like tokenization projects, decentralized finance, and enterprise applications.

The details

The BAVA ETF is structured to stake roughly 70% of its AVAX holdings through Bitwise Onchain Solutions, the firm's in-house staking unit, with the remaining 30% kept as a liquidity reserve. The staking rewards are currently estimated at 5.4% annually and will be paid out to shareholders periodically as net investment income. The fund carries a sponsor fee of 0.34%, which is waived to 0% for the first month on the first $500 million in assets to attract early institutional capital.

  • Bitwise launched the BAVA ETF on the NYSE on April 15, 2026.
  • AVAX is currently trading around $9.52, facing key resistance at the $10 level.

The players

Bitwise Asset Management

An asset management firm that has launched the new spot Avalanche ETF, BAVA, on the New York Stock Exchange.

Avalanche (AVAX)

The native token of the Avalanche blockchain, which is used in various tokenization projects and decentralized applications.

Matt Hougan

The Chief Investment Officer of Bitwise, who commented on the launch of the BAVA ETF.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“With BAVA, investors can gain exposure to an asset that we believe is powering the next wave of blockchain adoption across global finance and enterprise.”

— Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer, Bitwise

What’s next

VanEck also has a pending SEC filing for its own Avalanche ETF, which could further expand the options for investors seeking exposure to the AVAX token.

The takeaway

The launch of the Bitwise Avalanche ETF provides a new way for investors to gain exposure to the AVAX token and participate in the staking rewards offered by the Avalanche network, potentially driving increased adoption of the blockchain technology.