TLDR
- VanEck has launched the first-ever U.S.-listed ETF tracking Avalanche’s AVAX token.
- The Avalanche ETF trades under the ticker symbol VAVX and includes staking rewards for investors.
- VanEck is waiving sponsor fees for the first $500 million in assets or until February 28.
- The fund offers exposure to AVAX price movements along with staking returns through traditional finance platforms.
- Avalanche is an EVM-compatible blockchain focused on scalability and smart contract execution.
VanEck has launched the first exchange-traded fund to track Avalanche’s AVAX token, opening new access to crypto-linked investment. The Avalanche ETF began trading under the ticker symbol VAVX, offering price exposure and staking rewards for AVAX holders. VanEck confirmed that the new ETF is currently the only U.S.-listed ETP providing such access as of January 26, 2026.
VanEck Launches VAVX With Fee Waiver Offer
VanEck introduced the Avalanche ETF to broaden investor access to Avalanche’s ecosystem through traditional financial platforms. The fund trades under the ticker VAVX and includes staking rewards alongside token price performance.
According to VanEck, the firm will waive sponsor fees for the first $500 million in assets or until February 28. After that, it will charge a sponsor fee of 0.20% annually.
VanEck’s Director of Digital Assets, Kyle DaCruz, emphasized Avalanche’s dual utility across finance sectors. “Avalanche’s architecture is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the on-chain economy,” DaCruz stated.
Avalanche ETF Brings Staking Rewards to Traditional Investors
The Avalanche ETF introduces a rare combination of token price exposure and staking benefits to institutional and retail participants. VanEck confirmed that staking rewards will be automatically included in the ETF’s structure.
Avalanche, launched in 2020 by Ava Labs, supports Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and aims to solve blockchain scalability issues. Its high throughput and low latency position it as an alternative to Ethereum in the DeFi and enterprise space.
AVAX, Avalanche’s native token, is used for transaction fees and contract execution across its multichain environment. Despite ranking 33rd by market capitalization, AVAX maintains a $7 billion valuation as of January 2026.
AVAX Joins VanEck’s Expanding Crypto ETF Lineup
The Avalanche ETF follows VanEck’s earlier products tracking Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. This launch expands the firm’s digital asset portfolio available on traditional exchanges.
AVAX had reached top-10 cryptocurrency status in 2021 but now ranks 20th by value. Despite the ranking drop, it remains one of the most actively developed platforms in the crypto ecosystem.
VanEck’s decision to prioritize the AVAX ETF over a possible XRP ETF drew community speculation. Some industry voices pointed to regulatory strategy, though VanEck has not commented on the sequence publicly.
