ARK Invest launches tokenized share class of its venture fund on Ethereum

ARK Invest announced that its ARK Venture Fund will be issued as a tokenized share class on the Ethereum blockchain through a partnership with Securitize. The move provides qualified investors with a blockchain‑recorded interest in the fund, rather than direct tokens of the underlying companies.

How the tokenized fund works

Securitize will handle the on‑chain issuance and investor onboarding on Ethereum. Investors receive a token that represents an ownership interest in the fund, which is managed actively by ARK. The fund holds both private and public technology companies, with named holdings such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks. Buying the token does not confer direct ownership of shares in those companies; it reflects a proportional stake in the overall fund portfolio.

Regulatory approval

On September 21, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an amended order allowing ARK to offer a tokenized share class. The order permits the class to be quoted on alternative trading systems or, potentially, listed on a national securities exchange, subject to the conditions set in ARK’s application. The SEC did not receive any objections to the order, and it took effect immediately.

Fund structure and liquidity

ARK Venture Fund operates as a continuously offered, closed‑end interval fund. Investors can purchase shares on an ongoing basis, while the fund periodically offers to repurchase them. The tokenized interest is recorded on the blockchain, but no secondary market is currently planned, and shares are not listed on a securities exchange.

Partnership background

ARK’s collaboration with Securitize follows a strategic investment announced in October 2025, under which ARK holds equity and a convertible note in Securitize. Securitize, which trades under the ticker SECZ, provides the technology infrastructure for regulated tokenized investment products.

Key considerations for investors

• Eligibility requirements and other restrictions apply to participation through Securitize.
• Investors will pay the fund’s net asset value plus any applicable sales or distribution charges.
• Additional costs may include transfer‑agent fees and blockchain transaction fees.
• Liquidity is limited to the fund’s periodic repurchase offers; there is no open secondary market.