CoinDesk
ARK Invest is bringing its ARK Venture Fund, or ARKVX, onchain through Securitize, starting with Ethereum. The fund gives eligible investors exposure to private and public companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks. Securitize will handle tokenized issuance and the investor experience.
The fund is an actively managed interval vehicle, so tokenization does not put the individual portfolio companies onchain or make their shares freely tradable. Investors receive a blockchain-based representation of their interest in ARKVX. Securitize plans to provide a daily net asset value and enable the fund interests to trade on blockchain-based markets.
Why it matters
ARK's move expands institutional tokenization beyond the Treasury and money-market products that defined much of the first wave. BlackRock's BUIDL and Franklin Templeton's BENJI helped establish blockchain rails for traditional financial products, while ARKVX applies the model to venture and private-market exposure.
The structure also addresses a practical problem for investors choosing among high-profile private technology companies. Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo said diversified exposure can offer access to both OpenAI and Anthropic without requiring investors to pick a winner in the AI race. ARK founder Cathie Wood described the onchain offering as an extension of the firm's mission to broaden access to technology-focused innovation.
Market impact
The deal strengthens the institutional case for Ethereum as an issuance and distribution layer for regulated financial products. ARK said ARKVX will first be available on Ethereum, with potential expansion to other chains. The partnership builds on ARK's strategic investment in Securitize last year.
The broader market is also receiving regulatory support. The SEC recently unveiled a five-year innovation exemption for certain tokenized U.S. stocks trading on specially designed onchain venues. Citi analysts have projected that tokenized securities could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030 in their base case, though ARKVX's structure remains a fund-level representation rather than direct ownership of its private holdings.
Frequently asked questions
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What fund is ARK Invest bringing onchain?
ARK is tokenizing the ARK Venture Fund, known by its ticker ARKVX, through Securitize. The fund will first be available on Ethereum.
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Which companies are included in the ARK Venture Fund?
The fund gives eligible investors exposure to private and public companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks.
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Does tokenization put OpenAI and Anthropic shares onchain?
No. The underlying company stakes remain private. Investors receive a blockchain-based representation of their interest in the fund.
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What services will Securitize provide for ARKVX?
Securitize will handle tokenized issuance and the investor experience. It also plans to provide a daily net asset value and enable fund interests to trade on blockchain-based markets.
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Why is ARK's move significant for institutional tokenization?
It extends tokenization beyond Treasuries and money-market products into venture and private-market exposure. Citi analysts have projected that tokenized securities could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030 in their base case.
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