TAO Gains as Grayscale Files First US Bittensor ETF

Generated by AI AgentCoinSageReviewed byAInvest News Editorial Team
Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 2:34 am ET2min read
Aime RobotAime Summary

- Grayscale filed an S-1 for the first US ETF on Bittensor's TAO token, enabling institutional access via traditional securities.

- Bittensor's first halving cut daily TAO emissions by 50%, creating scarcity and boosting investor sentiment alongside price gains.

- The network generates $480k daily revenue from 120+ subnets, attracting institutional interest through staking and decentralized AI utility.

- Regulatory approval is pending for Grayscale's trust conversion, which would align TAO with Bitcoin/Ethereum in ETF accessibility.

  • Grayscale filed an S-1 for the first US exchange-traded product for Bittensor's token .
  • Bittensor's first halving reduced daily TAO emissions by 50% to 3,600 tokens .
  • Institutional interest grows with multiple regulated TAO investment vehicles emerging .
  • The network generates nearly $480k daily revenue from over 120 active subnets .

Bittensor (TAO) gained momentum following Grayscale's landmark regulatory filing for a dedicated exchange-traded product. The decentralized AI token rose 10% after Grayscale unveiled its Grayscale

Trust (GTAO), providing institutional exposure through traditional securities . Recent developments signal growing recognition of blockchain-based AI networks as TAO undergoes structural shifts. This momentum coincides with Bittensor's first halving event that fundamentally altered its tokenomics .

How Could Grayscale's ETF Filing Reshape TAO Access?

Grayscale's S-1 registration with the SEC marks a critical step toward converting its existing Bittensor Trust into a spot exchange-traded product

. This would give US investors their first regulated pathway to TAO exposure through mainstream brokerage accounts. The trust currently holds TAO tokens with a 2.5% expense ratio and a $7.96 net asset value per share . Approval would place TAO alongside and as crypto assets with dedicated ETFs. That positions Bittensor favorably for institutional capital inflows should regulators greenlight the structure.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Digital Assets launched a European staked TAO ETP showing cross-border institutional demand

. Grayscale also filed paperwork to make its trust an SEC reporting company first, shortening private placement holding periods. Multiple firms now compete to provide institutional-grade TAO access as investor interest grows . Still, the SEC must approve Grayscale's application before shares become publicly tradable .

Why Did Bittensor's Halving Boost Investor Sentiment?

Bittensor executed its first halving in December 2025, slashing daily token emissions by 50% to 3,600 TAO

. This introduced Bitcoin-like scarcity mechanics into Bittensor's economic model. Reduced new supply coincided with increased staking activity as participants sought rewards from the fixed emission pool . Network upgrades like dTAO enhanced subnet liquidity for miners too.

Halving events typically create artificial scarcity that supports prices if demand remains constant. That dynamic appears in play as daily emissions dropped from 7,200 tokens pre-halving

. The supply shock contributed significantly to TAO's positive price action alongside institutional developments . Reduced inflation creates favorable conditions for value appreciation if network adoption continues.

What Makes Bittensor Attractive to Institutional Investors?

Bittensor's core proposition as a decentralized machine intelligence network resonates with institutions seeking AI exposure

. Its protocol rewards distributed machine learning contributions through TAO token incentives. Nearly $480,000 in daily on-chain revenue flows from over 120 active subnets, demonstrating organic network utility . This economic framework aligns participant incentives through staking pools and fee structures.

Institutions increasingly view decentralized AI as an alternative to centralized service providers

. Grayscale highlighted Bittensor's unique positioning when announcing its trust, noting the network's novel approach to incentivizing AI development . The staking mechanism further reduces circulating supply as participants lock tokens to earn rewards. That structural demand combined with tightening emissions creates compelling tokenomics for long-term investors .