Global asset manager VanEck has officially submitted a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an Avalanche (AVAX) ETF, aiming to provide direct exposure to the smart contract platform. A snippet of the S-1 filing was first shared by Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart on March 14, confirming that VanEck’s proposed Avalanche ETF will track the price performance of AVAX, less operational expenses. The fund intends to hold physical AVAX tokens, valuing them based on the MarketVector Avalanche Benchmark Rate. Seyffart noted that while news of the ETF had been circulating in recent days, this marks the first formal submission to the SEC. If approved, the Avalanche ETF would be a significant addition to the growing landscape of regulated crypto investment products. Currently, Avalanche ranks as the 16th-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, boasting a $7.7 billion valuation. Its blockchain is known for high-speed transactions, scalability, and compatibility with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), making it a strong contender in the layer-1 ecosystem. Altcoin ETF Filings Surge VanEck’s move comes as part of a broader wave of crypto ETF applications , following the success of spot Bitcoin ETFs and the shifting regulatory climate in Washington. Several issuers, including Franklin Templeton, BlackRock, and Fidelity, have submitted filings for XRP ETFs, with Franklin Templeton being the latest entrant on March 11. Meanwhile, applications for Solana, Litecoin, and Dogecoin ETFs are also under SEC review. Although the SEC has delayed its decisions on these products, Bloomberg’s Seyffart and Eric Balchunas estimate a strong chance of approval later this year, citing political shifts and increasing institutional interest. Billions in Potential Inflows for Altcoin ETFs A January JPMorgan report highlighted that the approval of altcoin ETFs could unleash billions of dollars in investment. The bank predicts that Solana (SOL) ETFs could attract $3 billion–$6 billion, while XRP ETFs may see $4 billion–$8 billion in inflows. If these forecasts hold, Ethereum competitors like Avalanche could also see substantial demand. However, regulatory uncertainty remains a major hurdle, and the SEC’s final decision on altcoin ETFs—including VanEck’s Avalanche fund—will be closely watched by the crypto industry. The post VanEck Files for Avalanche ETF as Crypto Fund Race Intensifies appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .