Digital asset investment firm 21Shares has announced the expansion of its European offerings with three new Exchange Traded Products (ETPs). Set to launch on October 23, 2025, the new products are designed to give investors regulated exposure to emerging sectors within the crypto economy, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), Onchain Credit, and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) yield strategies.

Targeting Niche Crypto Sectors

The introduction of these ETPs signals a growing institutional appetite for more nuanced crypto investment vehicles that go beyond single-asset products like Bitcoin or Ethereum. By focusing on specific themes, 21Shares is providing access to high-growth segments of the blockchain industry that are often complex for investors to navigate directly.

These products aim to lower the barrier to entry by removing the technical hurdles and custodial challenges associated with managing a diversified portfolio of digital assets. They offer a transparent and liquid investment vehicle for those looking to gain exposure to the next wave of blockchain innovation without direct participation.

A Look at the New Offerings

Each of the three new ETPs is structured to track an index or a specific strategy optimized for its theme. While distinct, they all represent an effort to capture value from the intersection of blockchain technology and developing applications. The offerings provide targeted exposure to the narratives driving development in AI protocols, on-chain lending and credit markets, and yield-generating strategies within DeFi.

In a move that highlights the growing sophistication of the digital asset market, 21Shares has launched a new lineup of Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) in Europe. The new offerings provide investors with targeted, regulated exposure to high-growth narratives within the crypto ecosystem: Artificial Intelligence (AI), on-chain credit, and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) yield.

A Trio of Thematic Investment Vehicles

Each ETP is designed to give investors a direct pathway to a specific sector without the technical hurdles of selecting individual tokens or managing private keys. This regulated wrapper is crucial for fostering broader institutional acceptance and simplifying portfolio diversification.

The new products include:

AI Protocol ETP: This product focuses on the intersection of AI and blockchain technology. It aims to capture the growth of tokens that power decentralized AI computation, data marketplaces, and intelligent autonomous agents within the web3 ecosystem.

On-chain Credit ETP: Providing exposure to the burgeoning market for decentralized lending and borrowing, this ETP targets protocols that handle credit origination and management directly on the blockchain. It offers a window into a new financial paradigm where transparency and programmability are redefining traditional credit markets.

DeFi Yield ETP: This innovative fund is designed to capture yield opportunities across the broader DeFi ecosystem. By potentially engaging in staking, liquidity provision, or other yield-generating strategies, it offers a simplified route to participate in the complex world of decentralized finance earnings.

Implications for European Crypto Investment

This expansion by 21Shares solidifies Europe’s position as a frontrunner in providing regulated access to digital assets. The specialized nature of these ETPs suggests a maturation of investor preferences, which are shifting from speculative trading toward strategies based on fundamental utility and long-term growth.

For the European market, this launch introduces more refined tools for portfolio diversification within the digital asset class. It also sets a precedent for other issuers to innovate, likely leading to an even wider array of thematic crypto investment products in the near future.

Bridging Traditional and Decentralized Finance

21Shares’ latest ETPs represent a significant step forward for crypto investment. By offering targeted exposure to powerful narratives like AI and on-chain credit, these products are instrumental in bridging the gap between traditional finance and the decentralized economy. As the digital asset space continues its rapid evolution, such innovative financial tools provide investors with the means to navigate and capitalize on the industry’s next wave of growth, which is rooted not just in foundational assets but in the diverse applications built upon them.