Hedera’s native cryptocurrency, HBAR, is stepping into the regulated investment mainstream with its first U.S. exchange-traded fund (ETF) debuting on Nasdaq this Tuesday, 28 October 2025. The Canary Capital HBAR ETF, which will trade under the ticker HBR, gives investors direct, spot-based exposure to HBAR. This milestone allows retail and institutional investors to gain regulated market access to Hedera without needing to manage crypto wallets or private custody.
The launch of the HBAR ETF marks a turning point not just for the Hedera ecosystem but also for the broader category of enterprise-focused Layer 1 networks seeking U.S. market visibility. The product begins trading alongside Canary Capital’s new Litecoin (LTC) ETF, representing the first pair of such listings to go live in the country.
“We’re proud to bring registered crypto investment solutions to the broader investment public,” said Steven McClurg, CEO and founder of Canary Capital.
He confirmed both ETFs after filing the required Form 8-A registrations and finalizing S-1 filings under the SEC’s shutdown playbook, which allows proposals to become effective automatically after 20 days, even when agency staff is limited.
Strategic timing tied to new SEC rules
The timing of this ETF launch is no coincidence. In mid-September, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved generic listing standards that simplify the process for exchanges to list spot commodity exchange-traded products (ETPs). Previously, each crypto ETF application required a detailed staff review and custom exemption, delaying approvals for months.
Under these new rules, eligible products that meet predefined conditions can now move from filing to market in a matter of weeks. Combined with the SEC’s corporate finance shutdown guidance, these shifts have opened a rare window for multiple crypto ETF launches within days of each other. Alongside Canary’s HBAR and LTC ETFs on Nasdaq, Bitwise’s Solana ETF is also set to begin trading on the NYSE.
Industry observers view this as a crucial evolution in crypto’s integration with traditional financial markets, enabling automatic go-live processes even during government shutdowns.
A new door opens for institutional investors
For Hedera, the HBAR ETF represents far more than a marketing achievement, it delivers direct brokerage-account access for investors such as registered investment advisors (RIAs), pensions, and hedge funds. Many of these entities are unable, or unwilling, to manage crypto wallets or navigate off-chain custody.
To meet institutional-grade expectations, Canary’s ETF will hold actual HBAR tokens in custody with BitGo and Coinbase Custody, and price tracking will be provided by CoinDesk Indices. This structure allows investors to gain exposure to HBAR’s performance while avoiding operational and custody risks.
“Having access to HBAR in ETF form gives institutions a clean, regulated path into Hedera’s ecosystem,” noted crypto analyst Mark Chadwickx on his X account, who described it as a credibility boost for the network known for its enterprise partnerships with IBM and Google.
Community reaction and broader implications
The HBAR community has celebrated the listing as a long-awaited recognition of Hedera’s quiet technological consistency. On social media, users praised the network’s performance, regularly handling over 10,000 transactions per second, and called the ETF a signal that “institutional stealth mode” had officially gone live.
While BTC screams and ETH flexes, Hedera’s been silently processing 10K+ TPS for IBM & Google councils. This isn’t retail FOMO — it’s institutional stealth mode activated.$HBAR +9% on the news? That’s just the canary chirping. Wait till the miners wake up.
— Cryptowave (@cryptsnews) October 28, 2025
One ETF. One network.…
Others remained cautious. Some traders pointed out that while listing is a major milestone, it doesn’t equate to a full SEC review of the underlying crypto asset, warning investors to avoid speculative hype in early sessions.
Still, the new HBAR fund provides a live test of U.S. market demand for enterprise-grade Layer 1 exposure. Analysts will closely monitor whether the initial inflows reflect capital rotation from offshore crypto products into regulated American wrappers.
A pivotal week for crypto ETFs
This week is shaping up as one of the busiest in the history of U.S. crypto fund launches. Between Canary’s dual listings and Bitwise’s Solana debut, the convergence of new regulatory flexibility and shutdown-era procedures is ushering in an unprecedented wave of ETFs.
For Hedera, this listing is both symbolic and practical, showing that a project once recognized primarily for its corporate partnerships is now entering mainstream investment vehicles on America’s largest stock exchange.
As global investors look to diversify beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, HBAR’s ETF launch signals a new phase for blockchain assets built for enterprise, scale, and institutional adoption.
Oleksii Shumak
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