Grayscale has filed to launch an exchange-traded fund that would hold Worldcoin's WLD token directly. The proposed ETF would trade on Nasdaq under the ticker GWLD, according to a post on Crypto Briefing on Tuesday.
The filing details
The filing marks the first time a major asset manager has sought to offer a spot crypto ETF tied to Worldcoin. Grayscale's proposal would let investors gain exposure to WLD without buying or storing the token themselves. The fund, if approved, would hold the asset directly, following the same structure as the firm's existing Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
Worldcoin, the iris-scanning identity project, has been a controversial player in crypto. A regulated ETF backed by a firm like Grayscale could bring a wave of institutional money into the token — but it also invites closer scrutiny from the SEC. The timing is notable: the regulator has been more receptive to crypto ETFs in recent months, though it has yet to greenlight any fund tied to a token that isn't Bitcoin or Ethereum.
The SEC now has up to 240 days to review the filing. Grayscale's legal team will likely engage in the usual back-and-forth with the agency. Meanwhile, the market will be watching whether other issuers follow suit with their own Worldcoin ETF filings.
