Wall Street's First DeFi ETF! Bitwise Applies for Uniswap ETF, UNI Recovers 16%

Bitwise submitted S-1 filing to the SEC on Thursday, becoming the first company to apply for a Uniswap ETF. However, the UNI token plummeted 16% in 24 hours to $3.15. The crypto market fear index dropped to 5, and Bitcoin long positions were liquidated for $1.03 billion, triggering a chain reaction of panic.

Bitwise Becomes the First Company to Submit a Uniswap ETF Application

(Source: X)

Crypto asset management firm Bitwise has become the first to submit an application to U.S. regulators, planning to launch an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on Uniswap. The fund aims to invest in Uniswap (UNI), the governance token of the leading decentralized exchange protocol. This ETF application marks an important milestone in the development of DeFi.

The documents submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday state: “The investment objective of the trust is to seek exposure to the value of Uniswap held by the trust, minus the trust’s operating expenses and other liabilities.” This language is standard in ETF filings but carries significant meaning: it indicates that traditional financial institutions are officially recognizing DeFi governance tokens as investable assets.

Uniswap is an Ethereum-based decentralized exchange (DEX) that offers token swaps without intermediaries. As one of the most successful protocols in DeFi, Uniswap’s trading volume in 2024 exceeded $1 trillion, establishing it as the de facto standard for decentralized trading. UNI token holders can vote on key protocol decisions such as upgrades and fee structures, and this governance rights are a core source of its value.

The asset management company initially registered a statutory trust for a potential Uniswap fund on January 27 in Delaware, a routine legal step before submitting filings to the SEC. This move allows Bitwise to develop ETFs related to decentralized finance protocols and ultimately file with federal authorities.

If approved by regulators, Coinbase Custody Trust Company will serve as the custodian for the Bitwise Uniswap ETF. Coinbase Custody is Coinbase’s institutional-grade custody service, licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This regulatory endorsement is crucial for ETF compliance.

Key Information on the Bitwise Uniswap ETF Application

Submission Date: February 5, 2026

Trust Registration: January 27, 2026 (Delaware)

Underlying Asset: Uniswap governance token UNI

Custodian: Coinbase Custody Trust Company

Milestone Significance: First DeFi governance token ETF application

Regulatory Background: SEC withdrew investigation into Uniswap Labs in February 2025

This registration followed the SEC’s withdrawal of its investigation into Brooklyn-based Uniswap Labs in February 2025. The SEC had accused Uniswap of operating as an unregistered securities exchange and issuing unregistered securities. The withdrawal of this investigation cleared a major regulatory hurdle for the Uniswap ETF application, which otherwise would have faced significant obstacles given the allegations.

Why Did UNI Drop 16% Despite Good News?

Uniswap’s native token UNI fell 16.59% in the past 24 hours to $3.15, underperforming the broader market sell-off. This phenomenon of “dropping after positive news” confuses many investors. Theoretically, an ETF application should be a major positive, as it provides a compliant channel for institutional capital to enter UNI. Why did the market respond with selling?

The answer lies in the overall market environment. The decline is part of a broad correction in the crypto market. In 24 hours, the total crypto market cap dropped 9.84%, and the fear and greed index fell to 5, indicating “extreme fear.” In such an environment, even major positive news cannot prevent panic selling.

Additionally, Bitcoin long positions faced massive liquidations of $1.03 billion, forcing all leveraged positions to close. This was a key driver. When Bitcoin, as the market leader, crashes, all altcoins tend to follow regardless of their individual news. This “systemic risk outweighing positive news” phenomenon is very common in crypto markets.

From a technical analysis perspective, UNI may already be in an overbought state. If the ETF news was leaked early, some investors might have bought in anticipation before the official announcement, creating a “buy the rumor, sell the fact” pattern. When the news is officially announced, these early investors take profits, causing the price to fall.

Another reason could be market pessimism about ETF approval. Although Bitwise has filed, the SEC’s timeline and likelihood of approval remain uncertain. Historically, Bitcoin ETF applications have taken nearly a decade to be approved, and as the first DeFi governance token ETF, Uniswap’s approval process could be even longer. The market may see this as a “distant future” rather than an imminent positive.

As of press time, CoinMarketCap data shows UNI trading at $3.15. From its all-time high in May 2021 of around $45, the current price is only 7% of that peak, with a total decline of over 93%. This sharp drop has caused many early investors to incur losses, and even positive ETF news cannot reverse their selling pressure.

Milestone Significance of DeFi Going Mainstream

Despite the price plunge, the application of a Uniswap ETF by Bitwise remains highly symbolic. It’s the first time a traditional asset management firm attempts to package DeFi governance tokens into a regulated investment product. If approved, it could open a new chapter of integration between DeFi and traditional finance.

The biggest difference between DeFi governance tokens and traditional securities is the power they confer. UNI holders can vote on major protocol upgrades, fee distributions, and treasury management. This governance rights make UNI more akin to “shares in a decentralized company” rather than a mere speculative asset. Bitwise’s ETF application is essentially seeking SEC approval for this new asset class.

If the Uniswap ETF is approved, it could trigger a wave of ETF applications for other DeFi governance tokens. Protocols like Aave, Compound, and MakerDAO also have governance tokens that could become future ETF targets. This trend could bring hundreds of billions of dollars of institutional capital into DeFi, transforming its liquidity and market structure.

Regulators are currently reviewing Bitwise’s application. From the SEC’s perspective, approval hinges on several key issues: Is UNI a security? How to define the legal status of decentralized governance? How to regulate a protocol without a central operational entity? These questions have no simple answers, and the approval process could be lengthy and complex.

This registration followed the SEC’s withdrawal of its investigation into Uniswap Labs in February 2025. The SEC had accused Uniswap of operating as an unregistered securities exchange and issuing unregistered securities. The withdrawal of this investigation created the possibility for the Uniswap ETF application, which otherwise would have been difficult to approve given the allegations.

Looking at the timeline, Bitcoin ETFs took about ten years from initial application to approval, and Ethereum ETFs have also taken several years. As the first DeFi governance token ETF, Uniswap’s approval might take 1-3 years. During this period, the market will closely watch the SEC’s stance and progress.