SEC Acknowledges 21Shares Dogecoin ETF Filing Amid Growing Altcoin Momentum

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially acknowledged an exchange-traded fund (ETF) application for Dogecoin (DOGE) from 21Shares, marking the start of the agency’s formal review process. This move follows the SEC’s earlier acknowledgment of a similar DOGE ETF filing by Grayscale in February, signaling growing regulatory attention toward altcoin-based ETFs.

Acknowledgment does not equate to approval, but it places the application on the public record, initiating a process that can last up to 240 days. The SEC typically follows four decision windows before reaching a final verdict. For 21Shares’ DOGE ETF, the ultimate deadline is January 9, 2026.

The interest in a Dogecoin ETF comes as the SEC, now under the leadership of libertarian-leaning Paul Atkins, appears more open to cryptocurrency investment products. Analysts at Bloomberg speculate that the agency may approve some spot altcoin ETFs by October, potentially accelerating market acceptance of non-Bitcoin digital assets.

While the road to approval for spot Bitcoin ETFs took over a decade, altcoin ETFs seem to be advancing more rapidly. This reflects a shift in regulatory stance and rising institutional interest in crypto diversification beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

In April, the SEC delayed a DOGE ETF application from Bitwise, and in March, it postponed a decision on Grayscale’s proposal. However, the current trajectory suggests that Dogecoin—despite its meme coin origins—is gaining serious traction in the investment space.

As the crypto market matures and regulatory frameworks evolve, the Dogecoin ETF review highlights a pivotal moment in the push for mainstream altcoin adoption. Investors and DOGE supporters will be closely watching the SEC’s next moves.