ARK Invest Tokenizes Billion-Dollar Venture Fund on Ethereum
Cathie Wood's ARK Invest has broken new ground in tokenization by issuing blockchain-based shares of its $1.3 billion ARK Venture Fund, with a remarkably low entry point for investors.
The fund, which trades under the ticker ARKVX, now offers tokenized interests issued on Ethereum through Securitize's infrastructure. Investors can subscribe using USDC with a minimum buy-in of just $500, making it an attractive option for those looking to gain exposure to private investments in top tech companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Stripe.
The tokenized shares will have the same rights as traditional shares in the fund, with BNY Mellon continuing to handle custody and quarterly liquidity features intact. However, there is a 2% subscription fee baked in, and investors are still locked into the fund's quarterly redemption windows.
This move follows SEC approval for establishing a tokenized share class within the fund, which removed what had been the most significant regulatory barrier to entry. Wood has framed this initiative as part of her mission to democratize access to innovative investment opportunities.