- For a tokenized share class linked to its $562 million venture fund, ARK Venture Fund is requesting SEC permission.
- The suggested shares could be traded using authorized quotation systems, wallets that qualify, or registered ATS platforms.
- For the proposed Tokenized Class, ARK has not yet chosen a tokenization provider or blockchain.
- The plan would use distributed ledger technology (DLT) to track fund ownership while adhering to current securities regulations.
ARK Venture Fund is seeking approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to introduce a tokenized share class for its $562 million venture fund, marking another step toward bringing blockchain technology into regulated investment markets.
The proposed Tokenized Class would allow investors to hold fund shares with ownership records maintained through distributed ledger technology (DLT). The move comes as the SEC continues to develop rules for tokenized securities and blockchain-based financial markets.
ARK Asks SEC For Blockchain-Recorded Share Class of Venture Fund
ARK @ARKInvest has asked the SEC to approve a share class of its venture fund with ownership recorded on a blockchain.
It went the standard exemptive application route rather than waiting on the SEC’s tokenization… pic.twitter.com/Nk2oxpBYVl
— The Defiant (@DefiantNews) September 8, 2026
ARK Proposes Blockchain-based Fund Shares
According to an SEC filing, ARK Venture Fund wants to amend an exemptive order granted by the regulator in November 2025. The amendment would create both a Tokenized Class and an Exchange Class with different options for secondary trading.
The proposed Tokenized Class could trade through registered alternative trading systems (ATS), other approved quotation platforms or peer-to-peer transfers between eligible wallets. ARK is not seeking approval for the shares to be listed or quoted on decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.
Investors would initially receive the tokenized shares through the fund’s existing subscription process at net asset value. The shares would have no sales load and could be distributed through registered broker-dealers or directly by the fund’s transfer agent.
No Blockchain Provider Selected Yet
ARK has not identified a specific blockchain, tokenization platform or new transfer agent for the proposed share class. The filing instead refers broadly to tokenization agents and the fund’s existing transfer agent when outlining potential costs. The Bank of New York Mellon currently provides transfer agent, administration and custody services for the ARK Venture Fund.
ARK already has exposure to the tokenization sector through its investment in Securitize, a company focused on bringing traditional financial assets onchain. The venture fund holds Securitize equity as well as a $10 million convertible note. However, the SEC application does not indicate whether Securitize will play a role in ARK’s proposed tokenized share class.
SEC Tokenization Framework Still Evolving
ARK’s application arrives as the SEC works on broader rules surrounding tokenized securities, blockchain records and digital asset markets.
The agency has separately proposed changes to transfer agent rules that could address how blockchain-based records are maintained, including requirements around recordkeeping, cybersecurity and third-party technology providers.
For now, ARK is relying on the existing Investment Company Act exemptive process rather than waiting for a separate innovation exemption.
The SEC published notice of ARK’s request on Aug. 24 and set Sept. 18 as the deadline for hearing requests. Following that period, the commission can decide whether to grant the requested relief.
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