Asset managers like Osprey Funds and REX Shares also recently filed for meme coin ETFs, including Dogecoin (DOGE) and the newly launched TRUMP token. Calamos Investments introduced protected Bitcoin ETFs offering downside risk mitigation and capped upside potential, and Bitcoin is still a hot topic with predictions suggesting the crypto king will target $122K soon. Staked Ether ETFs Edge Closer to Approval Staked Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could be right around the corner as issuers are increasingly optimistic about regulatory approval in the near future. Consensys founder and Ethereum co-creator Joe Lubin recently shared his insights into the ongoing discussions with ETF providers in an interview , and revealed that they expect a green light for staked Ether ETFs ”reasonably soon.” According to Lubin, these issuers are already working hard to address the complexities associated with staking and slashing to deliver robust and diversified solutions for investors. Lubin sees these efforts as a positive sign for the Ethereum ecosystem, and he believes they will drive technological advancements and attract a more diverse client base. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved spot Ether ETFs last year, and nine products launched in July. While these funds trailed behind their Bitcoin counterparts in performance, they were still able to achieve a cumulative inflow of about $2.7 billion. However, staked Ether ETFs are still unapproved, but industry experts suggest that this could change under the SEC's new leadership. The morale in the crypto industry received a nice boost after the SEC announced on Jan. 21 that it will form a crypto task force focused on developing a regulatory framework for digital assets. The task force is led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, who is very well known for her crypto-friendly stance. In a December interview, Peirce hinted at a potential shift in the SEC, and stated that a change in perspective among Commissioners could pave the way for the approval of products like staked Ether ETFs. Former Polygon financial chief Young Ko fully supports Peirce’s leadership because of her understanding of blockchain technology and her advocacy for crypto innovation. Ko pointed out that Peirce publicly endorsed the idea of ETFs staking for yield, and believes her role will be a huge benefit to the Ethereum ecosystem. Bernstein Research also recently projected that approval for ETH staking yield ETFs is likely under the SEC’s new pro-crypto leadership. Meme Coin ETFs Also Await Approval Staked Ether ETFs are not the only new ETFs in town. Asset managers Osprey Funds and REX Shares filed regulatory documents to launch ETFs focused on meme coins like Dogecoin (DOGE), Official Trump (TRUMP), and Bonk (BONK). ETF filing (Source: SEC ) These proposed ETFs will also include cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP, and will directly hold spot assets as well as related financial derivatives. According to the filing, the funds plan to allocate at least 80% of their assets to their respective reference cryptocurrencies under normal market conditions. The REX-Osprey TRUMP ETF will be the first ETF to feature the TRUMP meme coin that was launched on Jan. 18. The meme coin is endorsed by US President Donald Trump, and it quickly achieved an $80 billion fully-diluted valuation (FDV) before stabilizing. Its launch caused an investor frenzy, and even overwhelmed the Solana network for several days. Moonshot, the platform that was referred by Trump for purchasing the token, reported more than 200,000 new on-chain users since the token's debut. US regulators appear to be moving towards a more favorable stance on crypto oversight, particularly after Trump’s electoral victory and his commitment to establish the US as a global crypto hub. This shift encouraged a number of asset managers to submit filings for ETFs holding altcoins like Solana, XRP, and Litecoin, along with diversified crypto index funds. Calamos Launches Protected Bitcoin ETFs Calamos Investments introduced a series of innovative protected Bitcoin ETFs that are designed to offer investors exposure to Bitcoin while mitigating volatility risks. The first of these ETFs, CBOJ, debuted on Jan. 20 and provides 100% downside protection with a capped upside ranging from 10% to 11.5% over a one-year period. Two additional funds, CBXJ and CBTJ, are slated for launch on Feb. 4. They offer 90% and 80% downside protection, respectively. Each ETF has a structured framework combining US Treasuries and options on Bitcoin index derivatives to deliver regulated access to Bitcoin returns with built-in risk management. In an interview with CNBC , the head of ETFs at Calamos Matt Kaufman talked about Bitcoin’s potential role as a hedge against inflation, and placed a lot of emphasis on just how important these kinds of financial instruments are in the current economic climate. Matt Kaufman Investors in the CBOJ ETF can expect an upside return of 10% to 11.5% while benefiting from complete protection against price declines within a one-year outcome period. The forthcoming CBXJ and CBTJ ETFs, while not offering 100% downside protection, present way higher upside caps of 28%–31% and 50%–55%, respectively, making them very attractive options for those willing to accept a slightly higher risk profile. According to a company statement , the protective design of these ETFs provide regulated, risk-managed Bitcoin exposure through a transparent and tax-efficient structure without counterparty credit risk. Kaufman also recently noticed an increase in crypto-related ETF filings. He is excited about the incoming pro-crypto economic environment, and believes that now is the best moment to establish Bitcoin reserves. Analysts Predict Bitcoin Rally to $122K Bitcoin could see a 10+% price increase from its current levels within the next few days, followed by a potential consolidation phase, according to Markus Thielen , head of research at 10x Research. Thielen pointed out that Bitcoin successfully retested its wedge breakout, rebounding from $98,937 to over $107,000 on Jan. 21. He believes this breakout signals a “low-risk, high-reward entry opportunity.” BTC’s wedge breakout (Source: 10x Research ) According to Thielen, Bitcoin’s recent price movement provides traders with an opportunity to set stop-losses at $98,000 to minimise risk while capitalizing on the potential for upside. He pointed out that since the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the US a year ago, Bitcoin has shown a pattern of rising in $16,000 to $18,000 increments. This now suggests a possible climb to $122,000 by February before entering a consolidation phase. Bitfinex analysts seem to agree with Thielen’s bullish outlook, thanks to Bitcoin’s strong recovery and its impressive resilience compared to the stock market. Thielen added that if the current pattern holds, Bitcoin could surpass $122,000 and later retest this level as support. He also shared that breaking past $106,000 is a signal for the continuation of Bitcoin’s upward trend. Keith Alan , co-founder of Material Indicators, supported this analysis due to the breakout from a cup-and-handle pattern on the Bitcoin weekly chart. Alan also predicted that Bitcoin could reach $122,000.
