- ARK Invest has launched a tokenized version of its ARK Venture Fund, offering exposure to private companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks.
- The fund uses infrastructure from Securitize and will initially operate on Ethereum, with additional blockchain networks potentially coming later.
- Investors receive a blockchain-based representation of their fund interest, with the structure supporting 24/7 trading and a daily net asset value.
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest is bringing its venture fund onchain, offering investors blockchain-based exposure to a portfolio that includes major private technology companies.
The new ARK Venture Fund, trading under the ticker ARKVX, uses tokenization infrastructure provided by Securitize.
ARK said the fund will initially operate on Ethereum, although support for additional blockchain networks could be added in the future.
The actively managed fund includes both private and publicly traded companies, giving investors exposure to businesses that may otherwise be difficult to access through traditional public markets.
ARK Fund Includes OpenAI and Anthropic
The fund provides exposure to private companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks.
Investors will receive a blockchain-based representation of their interest in the fund rather than direct ownership of the underlying portfolio companies.
ARK will also provide a daily net asset value for the fund.
“Making the ARK Venture Fund available onchain is a natural extension of our mission to democratize access to technologically enabled disruptive innovation,” Wood said.
The structure combines ARK’s venture investment strategy with blockchain-based infrastructure designed to broaden access to private and public investments.
Tokenized Fund Will Run on Ethereum
Ethereum will serve as the initial blockchain for the tokenized fund.
Using blockchain infrastructure allows the fund interests to trade around the clock rather than being limited entirely to traditional market hours.
The structure is also intended to support faster transactions and settlement through blockchain rails.
Securitize, which provides tokenization infrastructure for financial assets, is supplying the technology behind the new offering.
ARK said other blockchain networks could eventually be added, potentially expanding how investors interact with the tokenized fund.
Wall Street Expands Tokenization Push
ARK’s launch comes as financial firms increasingly experiment with putting traditional investment products and real-world assets onchain.
Tokenization can create digital representations of conventional financial assets while introducing features such as 24/7 trading and blockchain-based settlement.
For ARK, the new structure brings its venture investment strategy into that growing market while retaining active management and exposure to both public and private companies.
The fund also gives investors indirect exposure to closely held technology companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic without requiring direct ownership of their private shares.
