Launch expands access to cross-chain blockchain innovation
NEW YORK, March 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 21shares, one of the world’s leading issuers of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced the launch of the 21shares Polkadot ETF (TDOT), which provides investors with exposure to the native token (DOT) of the Polkadot blockchain. This launch marks a significant milestone in expanding investor access to next-generation blockchain infrastructure.
TDOT is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (” ’40 Act”), and is not subject to the same regulations and protections as ’40 Act registered ETFs and mutual funds. TDOT is subject to significant risk and heightened volatility. DOT assets are not suitable for an investor who cannot afford the loss of the entire investment. An investment in TDOT is not a direct investment in DOT.
| Ticker | ISIN | Exchange | Currency | Fee | Inception Date | Issuer |
| TDOT | US90139B1008 | NASDAQ | USD | 0.30% | 6 March 2026 | 21Shares US LLC |
Polkadot is a next-generation blockchain platform designed to connect many independent blockchains into a single, interoperable network. Developers can launch their own purpose-built blockchains – often referred to as rollups – on top of Polkadot, benefiting from shared security, seamless interoperability, and parallel processing for enhanced scalability. To operate within the network, these rollups rent blockspace using DOT tokens, creating a direct link between network activity and economic value returned to the ecosystem and its token holders.
Polkadot is purpose-built for secure and efficient cross-chain interaction. Its Cross-Consensus Message (XCM) format enables advanced communication between blockchains, extending far beyond basic token transfers. Through its modular Substrate framework (Polkadot SDK), developers can create blockchains tailored to specific applications. With more than 150 projects already built using Substrate, the platform supports faster development, lower costs, and greater sovereignty.
Polkadot’s parallel architecture was designed with a goal to support high throughput and scalability. During the 2024 “Spammening” stress test performed on the Kusama network (an experimental “canary” network for Polkadot where new features and upgrades are tested in real-world conditions before deployment) the network reached a theoretical maximum of 623,000 transactions per second, highlighting its potential as a future-ready platform for advanced applications, including AI-enabled smart contracts.1
“Polkadot represents one of the most technically advanced blockchain ecosystems in the world today and one of the only platforms designed for different blockchains to work together securely and efficiently,” said Federico Brokate, Global Head of Business Development at 21shares. “While most blockchains operate in isolation, Polkadot connects them through its core network. 21shares believes that Polkadot is at the forefront of emerging technologies like AI and advanced smart contracts, the launch of TDOT offers innovative, expanded access to foundational crypto infrastructure, through a familiar and accessible wrapper.”
“In my view, 21shares is a leader merging traditional finance and crypto, offering transparency and confidence for investors, every step of the way.” says Dave Sedacca, Lead of Polkadot Capital Group. “We are seeing growing interest from traditional financial institutions in accessing Polkadot’s interoperable blockchain technology. Products developed and managed independently by firms such as 21shares are one way that market participants may choose to obtain exposure to DOT within existing investment and brokerage infrastructures. Our focus remains on supporting the underlying Polkadot protocol and ecosystem, rather than on any particular investment product.”
The 21shares Polkadot ETF is physically backed and is intended to provide investors with exposure to the performance of DOT, by holding DOT as the Fund’s primary asset. The product provides direct exposure to the underlying DOT token, allowing investors to integrate Polkadot into their portfolios via traditional brokerage accounts without the need to directly hold or manage digital wallets. An investment in the Fund is not a direct investment in DOT, and investors will forgo certain rights conferred by holding DOT directly.
1Actual performance in production environments may differ and will depend on, among other factors, network configuration, usage patterns, and future protocol upgrades. These test results do not represent, and cannot be relied upon as, a guarantee of future network performance or capacity, including for advanced applications such as AI-enabled smart contracts.
About 21shares
21shares is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange traded product (ETP) providers and offers one of the largest suites of crypto ETPs in the market. The company was founded to make cryptocurrency more accessible to investors, and to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. 21shares listed the world’s first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018, building a seven-year track record of creating crypto ETPs that are listed on some of the biggest, most liquid securities exchanges globally. Backed by a specialized research team, proprietary technology, and deep capital markets expertise, 21shares delivers innovative, simple and cost-efficient investment solutions.
21shares is a subsidiary of FalconX, one of the world’s largest digital asset prime brokers. 21shares maintains independent operations from FalconX while strategically leveraging the resources and reach of FalconX to accelerate its mission and unlock new growth. For more information, please visit www.21shares.com.
Media Contact
Audrey Belloff: audrey.belloff@21shares.com
Alethea Jadick: ajadick@sloanepr.com
About Polkadot Capital Group
Created as the capital markets-focused division of Parity Technologies, Polkadot Capital Group acts as a conduit between traditional finance (TradFi) and Polkadot. By delivering educational resources, insights, and facilitating ecosystem connections, the group supports critical initiatives – ranging from conceptual frameworks for blockchain-based financial instruments to the exploration of stablecoin-based settlement mechanisms. Asset managers, venture capital firms, capital allocators and service providers can access actionable education and data to enhance their ability to engage confidently with Web3 and digital assets. Polkadot Capital Group is headquartered in the Cayman Islands. Neither Polkadot Capital Group, nor any of its affiliates, has any responsibility for, or any role in, structuring, sponsoring, managing, marketing, or distributing TDOT, the Fund or any other investment products offered by 21shares or its affiliates.
Important Information
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that TDOT (“the Fund”) will generate a profit for investors.
DOT is subject to unique and substantial risks, including significant price volatility and lack of liquidity, and theft. The value of an investment in the Fund could decline significantly and without warning, including to zero. DOT is subject to rapid price swings, including as a result of actions and statements by influencers and the media, changes in the supply of and demand for DOT, and other factors. There is no assurance that DOT will maintain its value over the long-term.
The trading prices of many digital assets, including DOT, have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to do so. Extreme volatility in the future, including further declines in the trading prices of DOT, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value.
Failure by the Fund’s DOT Custodian to exercise due care in the safekeeping of the Fund’s DOT could result in a loss to the Fund. Shareholders cannot be assured that the DOT Custodian will maintain adequate insurance with respect to the DOT held by the custodian on behalf of the Fund.
The Fund is not actively managed and will not take any actions to take advantage, or mitigate the impacts, of volatility in the price of DOT. An investment in the Fund is not a direct investment in DOT. Investors will also forgo certain rights conferred by owning DOT directly. Shares of the Fund are generally bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Only Authorized Participants may trade directly with the Fund and only large blocks of Shares called “creation units.” Your brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
If an active trading market for the Shares does not develop or continue to exist, the market prices and liquidity of the Shares may be adversely affected.
Shares in the Fund are not FDIC insured and may lose value and have no bank guarantee.
This material must be accompanied or preceded by a prospectus. Carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risk factors, and fees and expenses before investing. For further discussion of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund please read the Fund’s prospectus: https://www.21shares.com/en-us/product/DOT
The Marketing Agent is Foreside Global Services, LLC
21Shares US LLC is the Sponsor to the Fund.
21Shares is not affiliated with Foreside Global Services LLC
© 2026. 21Shares US LLC. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without written permission.
Web 3.0 Technologies Foundation and Polkadot Capital Group disclaimer
21shares is the sponsor of the Fund. Web 3.0 Technologies Foundation, Polkadot Capital Group, and their respective affiliates are not sponsors, promoters, underwriters, advisers, managers, or marketing agents of the Fund and have no role in its design, registration, distribution, operation, or any offering of its Shares. They do not endorse or recommend the Fund or make any representation regarding the Fund or the suitability or merits of an investment.
Web 3.0 Technologies Foundation, Polkadot Capital Group, and their respective affiliates have not reviewed or approved and are not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy, or completeness of this material or any materials issued by or on behalf of the Fund or 21Shares. They make no representations or warranties and assume no obligation to update such information.
Any references to DOT, the Polkadot protocol, or the broader Polkadot ecosystem are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice. Nothing herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any token, digital asset, security, or fund interest, including Shares of the Fund or DOT. Any offering of Shares will be made only pursuant to a prospectus and related offering documents in accordance with applicable securities laws.
