- Cardano has been added to the Nasdaq Crypto U.S. Settlement Price Index, marking a major step toward Wall Street integration.
- Cardano could soon see increased institutional exposure if the SEC approves a broader ETF rule change by November 2, 2025.
Cardano (ADA), currently the 10th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, just received a major nod from Wall Street that could significantly elevate its presence in traditional financial markets. In a recent milestone highlighted by Cardanians — a popular Cardano-focused community on X (formerly Twitter) — Nasdaq has reconstituted its Nasdaq Crypto U.S. Settlement Price Index (“NCIUS”), adding Cardano alongside Solana (SOL), Stellar (XLM), and XRP. This update was officially announced through a Form 8-K SEC filing, effective June 2, 2025.
The NCIUS serves as the benchmark index for the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index U.S. ETF, which currently only holds Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) due to regulatory restrictions. Despite the new inclusion of ADA and other cryptocurrencies in the index, the ETF’s holdings remain limited to BTC and ETH until the SEC approves a proposed rule change filed by Nasdaq earlier this year.
Wall Street’s Door Opens Wider
Many see Cardano’s addition to the NCIUS as a key step toward bridging the gap between cryptocurrency markets and traditional Wall Street investors.“This is a major step forward in bringing Cardano closer to Wall Street and traditional markets,” Cardanians tweeted, echoing the excitement of many ADA supporters who see this as validation of Cardano’s growing influence.
On March 7, 2025, Nasdaq submitted a proposed rule change to the SEC that, if approved, would allow the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index U.S. ETF to transition from the current NCIUS to a broader Nasdaq Crypto Index (“NCI”). This expanded index includes nine digital assets — ADA, BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, Chainlink (LINK), Litecoin (LTC), Stellar (XLM), and Uniswap (UNI).
What’s Next?
The SEC is currently reviewing the proposed rule change, with a final decision expected by November 2, 2025. Approval would unlock the potential for the ETF to diversify beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum, allowing investors easier access to a wider range of cryptocurrencies, including Cardano.
For the ADA community, this represents more than just an index update — it signals growing institutional interest and a possible influx of traditional capital into Cardano. As Wall Street eyes ADA more closely, the coming months could be pivotal for Cardano’s adoption and market performance.
Stay tuned as Cardano edges closer to mainstream finance, marking an exciting chapter for the blockchain ecosystem and crypto investors alike.
