What Is Hedera ETF? A Quick Guide

You’ve probably heard some buzz about the potential of a Hedera ETF. The SEC recently acknowledged two proposals — one from Grayscale and one from Canary Capital — to list spot ETFs tied to Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR). If this goes through, it might open the door for regular folks (as well as big players) to get into HBAR without touching a crypto wallet. Here’s what to know.

In this guide:

• What is a Hedera ETF?
• How would the ETF work?
• When is the ETF expected to launch?
• Why the Hedera ETF matters in 2025
• Impact on HBAR’s market performance
• Is the Hedera narrative the turning point for crypto ETFs?

What is a Hedera ETF?

A Hedera ETF is a proposed investment product that would let you buy into HBAR, the native token of Hedera Hashgraph, using your regular stock trading apps — no wallets or seed phrases needed.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Asset management and investment fund giants Grayscale and Canary Capital have filed to make it happen.

The excitement around a Hedera ETF isn’t just because it’s another crypto product gaining TradFi-level legitimacy. Part of the optimism comes from the fact that HBAR has never been caught up in the whole “Is this a security?” mess (unlike XRP, for example). That makes it a cleaner play, especially for institutions that have been waiting for something beyond Bitcoin or Ethereum.

How would the ETF work?

You buy shares of the ETF, and those shares represent actual HBAR tokens held by the fund. Instead of tracking futures or synthetic contracts, the ETF would be backed by real HBAR, sitting in cold storage. You don’t need to mess with exchanges or wallets. Just log into your brokerage app and buy it like you would with any TradFi stock.

This makes the ETF way more accessible for anyone who wants exposure to HBAR, whether you’re a retail investor trying to diversify or a bigger fund looking to add enterprise blockchain assets to your portfolio.

When is the ETF expected to launch?

So, you’re wondering when the Hedera ETF might hit the market. As of now, it’s not trading yet, but things are moving along.

Canary Capital filed its 19b-4 form for the HBAR ETF back in February 2025. This started the SEC’s review process, which can take up to 240 days. If everything goes smoothly, we might see a decision by late April or early May.

Grayscale submitted its own application in March 2025. Given the timelines, a decision on this one could come by mid-May.

Analysts are optimistic. Some expect approvals by May 15, with trading possibly starting on Nasdaq around May 24.

What’s interesting is that the Hedera ETF hasn’t faced the delays that other crypto ETFs have. This could be because HBAR isn’t classified as a security by the SEC, making the approval process a bit smoother.

So, while nothing’s set in stone, keep an eye out. The HBAR ETF could be coming to your brokerage app sooner than you think.

Why the Hedera ETF matters in 2025

A Hedera ETF could make investing in HBAR as straightforward as readily purchasing any stock. This simplicity could attract a broader range of investors, from individuals to institutions.

A Hedera ETF would also align with the growing trend of tokenizing real-world assets. Hedera Hashgraph is already being used to tokenize assets like money market funds and diamonds, making them more accessible and tradable.

Impact on HBAR’s market performance

As of April 24, 2025, HBAR is trading around $0.18. Analysts suggest that if the Hedera ETF gets the green light, we could see a short-term surge, possibly pushing HBAR up to $0.60 within a couple of weeks.

Hedera ETF and possible impact on prices: TradingView

In the midterm, say a few months after approval, projections indicate HBAR could climb to $0.75, especially if institutional interest picks up.

However, these price levels are speculative and dependent on market conditions. As mentioned previously, the creation of Ethereum ETFs was not a game changer for the price of ETH.

Is the Hedera narrative the turning point for crypto ETFs?

The Hedera ETF could be your easiest entry point into HBAR without touching a crypto wallet. Yet, as explained in this guide, it’s not just about convenience. It’s about signaling that crypto ETFs are moving beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Whether this opens the door to more regulated digital asset exposure or if it’s just — potentially — Hedera’s moment remains to be seen.

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