21Shares "Bitcoin, active ETFs will dominate in the second half of 2026?"

▲ Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)

Global asset managers are aggressively expanding into the active exchange-traded fund market, which generates returns beyond simple holdings.

Duncan Moir, Chairman of 21Shares, announced on May 7 (local time) at Solana Accelerate Miami 2026, during an interview with crypto researcher Paul Barron, that the virtual asset market has entered a new phase. Moir diagnosed that the success of spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs has served as a catalyst, leading to the institutional entry of various assets such as Solana (SOL). Based on over 8 years of experience operating exchange-traded products in Europe, 21Shares plans to transfer this know-how to the U.S. market and continuously introduce innovative financial products in the form of baskets that go beyond simple coin tracking.

Market capital flows are already being driven by institutional investors and whales. Moir explained that wealthy individuals, seeking to avoid the hassle of direct custody, are utilizing ETFs as their primary channel, leading to an unprecedented thirst for new assets like XRP and Hedera. In particular, structured products such as STRC issued by Strategy are prime examples reflecting the demands of investors who desire additional returns beyond simple price fluctuations. The emergence of these income-generating products is strong evidence that virtual assets are establishing themselves as mainstream assets within the existing financial system.

Legislative expectations for the U.S. Crypto Market Structure Bill (CLARITY) are accelerating the market entry of financial platforms and intermediary institutions. Moir predicted that if regulatory clarity is secured, large-scale capital, including family offices and private capital, will flow in earnest. Some institutions are already showing high interest in decentralized exchange-based derivatives like Hyperliquid, building strategies that can generate returns even in a bear market. This signifies that virtual asset investment has evolved beyond mere speculation into the realm of sophisticated portfolio management.

Experts analyze that the strategy of allocating approximately 5% of the total asset portfolio to virtual assets is becoming a standard among institutions. Moir positively evaluated that Bitcoin's volatility has significantly decreased compared to the past, increasing stability in asset allocation. In the future, the virtual asset market's focus is expected to shift from passive management, which simply tracks an index, to an active approach where fund managers directly select and manage assets. 21Shares is also responding to this change by concentrating its company-wide capabilities on developing next-generation financial products.

Macroeconomic variables such as geopolitical risks in the Middle East and U.S. inflation indicators remain key market observation targets. Investors are advised to approach cautiously, as the prices of risk assets across the board can fluctuate depending on the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions. With Bitcoin surpassing the $125,000 mark and public perception fundamentally changing, income-generating products utilizing stablecoins, among others, become a key to attracting even conservative capital into the market. Moir emphasized that global capital inflows are turning positive, and the explosive growth of the virtual asset ETF market is just beginning.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*