Shiba Inu may be just days away from a historic breakthrough in the US financial market. The US Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to issue a decision this month regarding the proposed launch of the T. Rowe Price Active Crypto ETF on NYSE Arca, a fund that includes Shiba Inu among its eligible assets. If approved, the product would mark SHIB’s first-ever US-listed spot ETF.
Shiba Inu Set for Institutional Attention
While T. Rowe Price initially filed for the ETF in October 2025 and NYSE Arca followed with a listing application the next month, the current development is about the regulator’s ruling. The SEC now faces a clear choice: approve the listing, reject it, or delay the decision. The outcome would clarify whether SHIB joins the growing list of crypto assets crossing into regulated US ETF territory or remains outside for now.
Recent SEC rule changes around generic listing standards for commodity-based trust shares have streamlined the ETF and listing approval process compared to prior cycles. That regulatory evolution is one reason memecoin exposure inside diversified ETFs has become more feasible.
Still, approval is not automatic. The SEC must determine whether the proposed listing meets surveillance, custody, and investor protection requirements. The SEC already released an order on January 26, instituting proceedings to determine whether to approve or decline NYSE Arca’s rule change proposal to list and trade the ETF. That review has now reached a critical stage as market watchers expect a decision by February 26 based on procedural timelines.
That deadline injects urgency into this update, especially because SHIB currently has no US spot ETF access. Bitcoin and Ethereum have already crossed that institutional bridge. Several altcoins are progressing through similar channels. Shiba Inu, however, has remained outside the regulated ETF ecosystem in the United States. An approval would change that instantly.
What This ETF Means for SHIB
The T. Rowe Price proposed fund is structured as an actively managed crypto ETF that can hold a diversified basket of digital assets, and SHIB is listed as one of the eligible assets the fund may allocate to. Rather than a SHIB-only ETF, the fund would provide SHIB exposure inside a regulated, exchange-traded vehicle accessible through traditional brokerage accounts on NYSE Arca.
For the first time, US investors who are unable or unwilling to hold tokens directly could gain SHIB exposure via an institutional wrapper. The development is huge for another reason, though.
Spot ETF approvals for Bitcoin fundamentally reshaped its demand structure, funneling billions of dollars through regulated channels. While Shiba Inu operates in a different market tier, the structural implications of ETF access would be similar. It would introduce incremental institutional demand, improve market legitimacy, and increase liquidity depth over time.
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Shiba Inu Price Action and Future Outlook
As the decision date approaches, traders are closely monitoring price action and on-chain flows. ETF-related headlines have historically triggered volatility across crypto markets, particularly when an asset is on the brink of first-time institutional exposure.
For now, Shiba Inu trades at 0.000006519, reflecting a 12% weekly increase, with sporadic spikes over the last 24 hours. The meme-based token surged about 20% on Sunday, but is back down to its current level. Time will tell how ETF flows would impact its price action.
The outcome now rests with regulators. If approved, February could mark the moment Shiba Inu transitions from purely retail-driven momentum to formal participation in America’s regulated ETF market. And for a token that has built its identity on community growth, that milestone would represent a new phase entirely.
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The CoinRemark Team
Temitope Olajide
