Nasdaq Says Yes To Cardano: ADA Earns A Spot Among Crypto Giants
BY
Ben Graham
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Cardano’s ADA has joined the Nasdaq Crypto Index, moving from the sidelines into the institutional spotlight. According to Nasdaq filings, this shift brings ADA alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum in one of the main benchmarks watched by big investors.
It’s a sign that regulators and asset managers see Cardano as more than just another blockchain token.
Index Broadens To Nine Assets
Based on reports from TapTools and Nasdaq’s Form 8-K, the index grew from five to nine assets. It now lists Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Chainlink, Uniswap, and adds Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Ripple (XRP), and Stellar (XLM).
The change gives these newcomers a seat at the table. It also means more options for funds that track this benchmark.
Impact On Weighting Of Bitcoin And Ethereum
Previously, Bitcoin made up 85% of the index and Ethereum held 10%. With ADA and the other three in play, Bitcoin’s share falls to 75% and Ethereum’s to 11%.
This shift lets portfolio managers spread risk across a broader set of tokens. It also lowers the concentration in the two biggest names in crypto.
ETF Holdings Await SEC SignoffEven though the index itself now includes all 9 assets, the US-listed Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF still holds only Bitcoin and Ethereum. That won’t change until the SEC signs off on updates to the ETF’s rulebook.
Based on the current timeline, that approval is expected in early 2026. Until then, US investors can track the wider index on paper, but their ETF shares will stick with the original two coins.
For Cardano, this is more than a trophy. It means added liquidity, better price support, and a clearer path into institutional portfolios. More cash in and out of ADA markets could narrow trading spreads and smooth out big swings.
Trading platforms, custody services, and exchanges will feel the impact too. They’ll need to meet the index’s criteria—steady volume, regulated venues, and institutional-grade storage. Those checkpoints help keep major players comfortable when they decide to buy or sell ADA at scale.
Overall, bringing ADA into this benchmark shows that big finance is watching Cardano more closely than before. Yet the final step—actual ETF inclusion in the US—still lies with regulators.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView