In a move that signals growing institutional demand for crypto, BitGo 21shares have expanded their global collaboration across ETF, staking, and custody services.
BitGo and 21shares deepen global ETF and ETP collaboration
BitGo Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BTGO) and 21shares, one of the world’s largest issuers of crypto exchange traded products, announced an expanded partnership spanning the United States and EMEA. Building on their existing relationship, the firms will scale cooperation across staking and custody to support 21shares’ fast-growing suite of ETP products for investors in the US and Europe.
Moreover, the two companies aim to create a more robust institutional-grade framework for digital asset exposure through enhanced infrastructure and risk management. The expansion covers both ETF offerings in the US and a broad lineup of ETPs listed across European venues, reflecting rising demand for regulated access to crypto markets.
21shares assets under management and product strategy
21shares has emerged as a leading issuer of digital asset investment products, with a global footprint and an AUM of $5.7bn as of February 10, 2026. The company’s disciplined approach to product design and its commitment to institutional-grade operations underpin its expansion across ETF and ETP markets.
However, it is the firm’s broad platform, spanning both spot and thematic crypto products, that positions 21shares as a strategic partner for BitGo. As demand for regulated crypto exposure continues to grow in key jurisdictions, the issuer’s expanding ETF and ETP lineup is expected to play a central role in channeling institutional capital into digital assets.
BitGo infrastructure, staking, and custody capabilities
BitGo provides the core infrastructure that supports 21shares’ expanding platform, combining security, execution, and staking services under a regulated framework. Through BitGo’s technology stack, 21shares gains access to deep liquidity, improved execution across electronic and OTC markets, and competitive staking rewards that help optimize digital asset operations.
All services are delivered within BitGo’s regulated and insured qualified custody structure, which offers institutional-grade protection that many digital asset infrastructure providers cannot match. That said, the collaboration is not limited to safekeeping, as integrated staking and trading tools allow 21shares to manage complex ETP structures with greater efficiency.
Executive commentary on the expanded partnership
Adam Sporn, Head of Prime Brokerage and Institutional Sales at BitGo, highlighted the importance of the relationship, saying that 21shares is one of the leading digital asset managers globally and that BitGo has valued the partnership from the outset. He emphasized BitGo’s excitement to extend cooperation across the growing US ETF range and global ETPs in staking and custody.
Moreover, Sporn noted that as 21shares continues to scale its business worldwide, BitGo expects to support future initiatives with a shared long-term vision. This alignment around growth and institutional standards is central to the rollout of new regulated crypto custody solutions for professional clients.
Andres Valencia, Head of Investment Management at 21shares, stressed that the company prides itself on operating a custody framework tailored to institutional digital asset operations and risk management across its global ETP lineup. He said BitGo was chosen for its strong record in regulatory compliance, safety, and security.
That said, Valencia also underlined that the expanded engagement across staking and custody services with this trusted partner enables 21shares to scale while maintaining stringent security and governance standards. BitGo’s infrastructure is therefore seen as a backbone for the issuer’s long-term growth.
Regulatory milestones underpinning BitGo’s institutional offering
This partnership expansion follows a period of strong momentum at BitGo. The company recently received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to convert its subsidiary, BitGo Bank & Trust, into a federally chartered trust bank for digital assets. In addition, BitGo completed an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, listed under the ticker BTGO.
These regulatory and capital markets milestones strengthen BitGo’s ability to serve institutional partners with robust governance, regulatory alignment, and operational resilience. Moreover, they reinforce its positioning in institutional crypto custody as investor scrutiny of service providers continues to rise.
The firm also holds a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) license from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), allowing it to deliver regulated services across the European Union. However, BitGo is careful to clarify that these approvals and licenses apply to its entities and services only and do not represent any endorsement or approval of specific ETFs, ETPs, or investment products.
Global outlook: institutional adoption and market expansion
Both firms highlighted a shared commitment to partnership-led growth, with ongoing collaboration across operations, product development, and global market support. As institutional adoption of digital asset markets accelerates, their joint efforts are expected to focus on scaling 21shares etp products while enhancing the underlying infrastructure.
Furthermore, the expanded alliance across the US and EMEA supports broader us emea market expansion for crypto-linked securities. In this context, the bitgo 21shares collaboration is positioned to capture growing demand for secure, regulated access to staking, custody, and trading solutions.
In summary, the deeper partnership across staking, custody, and regulatory-backed infrastructure strengthens both BitGo and 21shares as key players in the institutional digital asset ecosystem, while offering investors more robust options for accessing crypto exposure through ETFs and ETPs.