As crypto legislation gains momentum, investor focus is shifting from meme coins to tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Seizing the moment, 21Shares has filed a preliminary application with the U.S. SEC for a spot ONDO ETF, signaling a major step in bridging DeFi with traditional finance.
21Shares Files for Spot ONDO ETF: Here’s What It Means
On Tuesday, 21Shares submitted its proposal for the “21Shares Ondo Trust”, a spot ETF designed to track the real-time price of ONDO, the native token of Ondo Finance. The fund will hold ONDO tokens directly and follow the CME CF Ondo Finance-Dollar Reference Rate for pricing.
- Custodian: Coinbase
- Structure: Passive investment (no leverage)
- Creation/Redemption: Cash or in-kind basis
The trust is engineered to offer institutional-grade exposure to a DeFi token without speculative risk, potentially attracting TradFi investors into the growing RWA sector.
Trump-Linked Platform Is Betting on ONDO
World Liberty Financial a DeFi platform reportedly connected to the Trump family, has taken a position in ONDO. As per Nansen data, it acquired $250,000 worth of ONDO tokens in December, currently holding 342,000 ONDO valued at about $383,000.
Yet, this investment remains a small portion (0.2%) of their $208 million portfolio, which is heavily concentrated in stablecoins, Wrapped ETH, and Bitcoin.
Ondo Finance Acquires SEC-Registered Broker to Power RWA Push
Earlier this month, Ondo Finance acquired Oasis Pro, an SEC-registered broker-dealer, FINRA member, and Alternative Trading System (ATS). The move enhances Ondo’s ability to issue and manage tokenized securities, a key pillar in its RWA strategy.
Through Ondo Chain, the project envisions becoming the blockchain backbone for Wall Street, integrating real-world assets into decentralized finance ecosystems.
RWA Market Outlook: Institutions Are Taking Notice
According to RWA.xyz, the value of tokenized real-world assets on-chain has surged 58% in 2025, reaching nearly $25 billion. Ethereum dominates with a 55% market share, mainly through tokenized private credit and U.S. Treasury assets.
As more ETF issuers explore RWA-based products, ONDO’s ETF filing could ride the wave of institutional demand.
ONDO Price Today and Market Sentiment
Following the ETF news, ONDO price rose 2.3% to $1.12, with a market cap of $3.5 billion and 3.1 billion tokens in circulation. Still, ONDO remains down 48% from its all-time high of $2.14 in December.
Key Technical Levels (Ali Martinez, via X):
- Resistance: $1.15 (previous rejections in March and April)
- Breakout Level: $1.26
- Upside Target: $1.50
- Downside Risk: $0.98–$0.80 zone if momentum weakens
What is the 21Shares ONDO ETF?
It’s a proposed spot ETF that will track the price of ONDO tokens via a passive investment trust held by 21Shares.
How High Will ONDO Price Go in 2025?
Analysts see strong resistance at $1.15. A breakout above $1.26 could lead to $1.50, while failure could pull price back to $0.98–$0.80.
