TLDR
- Bitwise launched its Avalanche fund on April 15 to expand its crypto product lineup.
- Matt Hougan said Avalanche lets firms build custom blockchains with tailored rules.
- Bitwise linked Avalanche to growth in tokenized assets, stablecoins, and onchain finance.
- Hougan named BlackRock, Apollo, Toyota, Wyoming, and FIFA in Avalanche’s ecosystem.
- Bitwise placed Avalanche with Ethereum, Solana, and XRP in its Layer 1 strategy.
Bitwise is making the case for a new AVAX ETF launch by pointing to Avalanche’s custom blockchain model. The firm said Avalanche offers a different path from Ethereum and Solana. Bitwise launched its Avalanche fund on April 15. It tied the product to demand for tokenized assets, stablecoins, and onchain finance.
Bitwise links Avalanche to institutional blockchain demand
Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan said Avalanche stands apart because it does not rely on one shared chain. Instead, the network lets institutions build custom blockchains. These chains can have their own rules, validators, and access settings.
Hougan said this model may suit banks, governments, and gaming firms. Those groups may want blockchain tools with more control. They may also need compliance features and limited access. Bitwise said Avalanche can support those needs.
In the memo, Hougan wrote that Avalanche is attractive because it takes a different approach to blockchain design. He said, ”Avalanche is attractive not because it dominates Layer 1, but because it approaches blockchain design differently.” That point forms the core of Bitwise’s case for the new AVAX ETF launch.
Bitwise said this structure gives investors exposure to a separate part of the Layer 1 market. While other networks focus on shared public activity, Avalanche also serves private and regulated use cases. As a result, Bitwise presented the fund as a focused way to access that theme.
Tokenization growth supports the AVAX ETF case
Hougan linked the AVAX ETF thesis to the long-term rise of tokenized assets. He said tokenized real-world assets on Avalanche have grown sharply. Bitwise argued that this trend could expand as more assets move onchain. It also tied the case to stablecoins and digital finance tools.
The memo said Avalanche has already attracted several large names. Hougan cited BlackRock, Apollo, Toyota, the State of Wyoming, and FIFA. Bitwise used those relationships to show that Avalanche has gained outside interest. That activity helped support the product launch.
Hougan said Avalanche could benefit if more traditional assets move to blockchain networks. He said the market could reach a very large scale over time. Bitwise did not say Avalanche would dominate that shift. Instead, it said the network may capture part of it.
That argument gives the new AVAX ETF launch a clear focus. Bitwise is not selling Avalanche as the largest chain. It is presenting Avalanche as a network with a distinct structure and a defined use case.
Bitwise places Avalanche among key Layer 1 networks
Hougan also explained how Avalanche fits into Bitwise’s wider Layer 1 view. He said the sector is still early and moves quickly. Because of that, he said picking one final winner is difficult. Bitwise prefers networks with clear differences and long-term use cases.
Hougan said that group starts with Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. He then added Avalanche to that list. Ethereum remains central to smart contracts and apps. Solana focuses on speed and lower costs, while XRP targets payments.
Bitwise said Avalanche adds a different form of exposure. Its design supports both public and private blockchain activity in one ecosystem. That gave Bitwise a reason to expand its crypto lineup with the April 15 launch.
Through the memo, Hougan framed Avalanche as a network built for flexible blockchain use. That message now sits at the center of Bitwise’s case for the new AVAX ETF launch.





