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21Shares has expanded its portfolio to 50 physically backed crypto ETPs in Europe with the launch of AFET, focused on decentralized AI protocols, and ARAY, offering exposure to Solana-based Raydium.
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While Europe leads in the number of crypto ETP listings, its $23.24B AUM lags behind the U.S., where spot bitcoin and ether ETFs now hold over $174B.
Crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) pioneer 21Shares has unveiled two new listings, further cementing its role as Europe’s largest issuer of token-backed investment vehicles. The launches bring the firm’s total to 50 physically backed crypto ETPs available across the continent.
The latest products are the 21Shares Artificial Superintelligence Alliance ETP (AFET) and the 21Shares Raydium ETP (ARAY). AFET tracks a basket of decentralized artificial intelligence protocols, including Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, Ocean Protocol, and CUDOS, offering investors exposure to the fast-growing AI-meets-crypto sector.
ARAY, meanwhile, is designed to give investors direct access to Raydium (RAY), the native token of the Solana-based decentralized exchange.
Both products are physically backed, meaning they are collateralized by underlying tokens. According to the company’s press release, AFET is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Paris, while ARAY trades on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
Expanding Investor Access Across Europe
With these new launches, 21Shares now offers investors access to 50 physically backed crypto ETPs across Europe,
said Duncan Moir, president of 21Shares.
The company, which manages more than $11 billion in assets globally, has steadily expanded its suite of ETPs since issuing the world’s first token-backed product in 2018.
The new additions underscore the firm’s strategy of tapping into emerging niches within the digital asset industry. Decentralized AI protocols have gained traction in recent years as projects experiment with autonomous systems and decentralized data marketplaces.
At the same time, Raydium has become a key liquidity provider within the Solana ecosystem, positioning ARAY as a way for investors to capture growth in decentralized trading activity.
Europe vs. US: A Tale of Two Markets
Europe continues to lead the way in terms of the sheer number of listed crypto ETPs, but the region lags far behind the United States in terms of scale.
According to ETFBook data, European crypto ETPs currently have around $23.24 billion in assets under management (AUM). By comparison, spot bitcoin and ether ETFs in the U.S. now command more than $174 billion in AUM.
Despite the gap, European firms like 21Shares have carved out a critical role in offering regulated access to crypto exposure for institutions and retail investors alike. By diversifying beyond bitcoin and ether into areas like AI protocols and Solana-based DeFi platforms, 21Shares is positioning itself as a gateway to the next wave of digital asset adoption.
With the milestone of 50 ETPs, 21Shares has demonstrated its ability to identify high-growth sectors early and package them into investment products for a European audience. As decentralized AI gains momentum and Solana’s DeFi ecosystem continues to expand, the AFET and ARAY launches could give institutions fresh ways to gain exposure to the crypto industry’s evolving landscape.
