Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest is partnering with Securitize to bring its ARK Venture Fund to the Ethereum blockchain via tokenization, giving digital representation to a portfolio that includes shares of OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX.
Because companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are not listed on any stock exchange, ARK and Securitize revealed this development on Sept. 24. According to Bloomberg, the fund commands a valuation of approximately $1.3 billion.
What the ARK Venture Fund Onchain Offers Investors
Tokenization involves creating a digital token on a public blockchain ledger to represent ownership. The announcement notes that eligible investors purchasing shares through Securitize will gain exposure to the fund’s holdings through this method.
The fund’s assets are heavily weighted toward private enterprises. Data from ARK’s holdings file as of August 31 indicates that roughly 78% of the fund consisted of companies lacking a public stock ticker. SpaceX represented the largest holding at 7.54%, followed by OpenAI at 5.26% and Anthropic at 3.86%.
ARK initially introduced the fund in September 2022 with a $500 minimum investment threshold, positioning venture capital as an asset class historically limited to affluent investors, as stated in its original release.
However, liquidity remains a limitation. Structured as an interval fund, it only repurchases shares during designated windows. While the prospectus outlines quarterly buyback intervals, the announcement cautions that these offers may face oversubscription, and ARK does not anticipate the emergence of a secondary market.
Furthermore, participation incurs higher fees. Current figures on ARK’s fund page indicate annual expenses of 2.9% once fee waivers are applied.
Why ARK Is Betting on Tokenized Funds
A Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) order issued on September 21 authorizes the fund to introduce a tokenized share class, which could potentially be traded on alternative trading systems—private electronic trading networks distinct from traditional stock exchanges.
“Based on our research, tokenization has the potential to reshape fundamentally the way that investors access and participate in both private and public financial markets,” said Cathie Wood, founder, CEO and CIO of Ark Invest.
Securitize has prior experience with similar offerings, having previously tokenized BlackRock’s BUIDL fund on the Ethereum network in March 2024. ARK made a strategic investment in Securitize in October 2025, and Securitize-related shares have experienced upward momentum following the SEC’s September 17 regulatory pathway for tokenized stock trading.
Growth for the fund has been rapid, with SEC documents showing net assets climbing from $208 million in July 2025 to $558 million by January 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ARK Venture Fund Onchain?
It is a tokenized version of Cathie Wood’s ARK Venture Fund hosted on the Ethereum blockchain via Securitize, offering exposure to a portfolio featuring private companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
How big is the fund?
Bloomberg reported the fund’s size at approximately $1.3 billion.
What are the main risks or limitations of investing?
The fund is an interval fund with quarterly buyback windows that may be oversubscribed, no expected secondary market, and annual expenses reaching 2.9% after fee waivers.
Who is partnering with ARK Invest on this initiative?
ARK is working with Securitize, a firm that previously tokenized BlackRock’s BUIDL fund on Ethereum.
