The prominent digital asset issuer 21Shares has officially expanded its European product suite with the launch of two new physically backed exchange-traded products (ETPs). On October 20, 2026, the firm introduced investment vehicles for Lighter (LIT) and Venice Token (VVV), providing institutional and retail investors with regulated exposure to emerging decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. Both financial instruments are designed to track the underlying assets directly, offering a transparent bridge between traditional capital markets and the blockchain ecosystem.
Trading Specifications and Exchange Listings
The newly released products are structured to meet European regulatory standards, featuring an expense ratio of 2.50%. Each ETP is physically collateralized, meaning the issuer holds the actual cryptocurrency in secure custody to back the value of the shares. The distribution of these assets is split across major European venues:
- The 21Shares Lighter ETP trades under the ticker LIHT on the German exchange Xetra, supporting transactions in both EUR and USD.
- The 21Shares Venice Token ETP is listed under the ticker VENC on the SIX Swiss Exchange, with trading denominated in USD.
Deep Dive into the Underlying Protocols
The selection of these tokens highlights 21Shares' focus on specialized blockchain technologies. Lighter operates as a decentralized perpetual futures trading platform that leverages zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to enhance transaction efficiency and privacy. By utilizing ZK-proofs, the protocol aims to provide a high-performance trading experience comparable to centralized exchanges while maintaining self-custody.
Venice, the protocol behind the VVV token, focuses on privacy-preserving financial services within the decentralized landscape. The inclusion of these assets in an ETP format reflects a growing demand for sophisticated DeFi primitives among investors who prefer the security and familiarity of brokerage-based trading over direct interaction with on-chain smart contracts.
The launch of LIHT and VENC signifies a continuing trend of institutionalization within the cryptocurrency sector. By bridging the gap between DeFi protocols and regulated stock exchanges like Xetra and SIX, 21Shares provides a simplified pathway for portfolio diversification. As the European market for digital asset derivatives matures, the introduction of physically backed products for niche tokens suggests an increasing appetite for specialized crypto-assets beyond market leaders like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
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For educational purposes only. Nothing here constitutes financial or investment advice. Crypto markets are highly volatile — always DYOR before making any decisions.
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