21shares Launches Polkadot ETF (TDOT) in the United States

Launch expands access to cross-chain blockchain innovation

NEW YORK, March 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 21shares, one of the world’s leading issuers of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced the launch of the 21shares Polkadot ETF (TDOT), which provides investors with exposure to the native token (DOT) of the Polkadot blockchain. This launch marks a significant milestone in expanding investor access to next-generation blockchain infrastructure. 

TDOT is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (" '40 Act"), and is not subject to the same regulations and protections as '40 Act registered ETFs and mutual funds. TDOT is subject to significant risk and heightened volatility. DOT assets are not suitable for an investor who cannot afford the loss of the entire investment. An investment in TDOT is not a direct investment in DOT.

Ticker	ISIN	Exchange	Currency	Fee	Inception Date	Issuer
TDOT	US90139B1008	NASDAQ	USD	0.30%	6 March 2026	21Shares US LLC

Polkadot is a next-generation blockchain platform designed to connect many independent blockchains into a single, interoperable network. Developers can launch their own purpose-built blockchains – often referred to as rollups – on top of Polkadot, benefiting from shared security, seamless interoperability, and parallel processing for enhanced scalability. To operate within the network, these rollups rent blockspace using DOT tokens, creating a direct link between network activity and economic value returned to the ecosystem and its token holders.

Polkadot is purpose-built for secure and efficient cross-chain interaction. Its Cross-Consensus Message (XCM) format enables advanced communication between blockchains, extending far beyond basic token transfers. Through its modular Substrate framework (Polkadot SDK), developers can create blockchains tailored to specific applications. With more than 150 projects already built using Substrate, the platform supports faster development, lower costs, and greater sovereignty.

Polkadot’s parallel architecture was designed with a goal to support high throughput and scalability. During the 2024 “Spammening” stress test performed on the Kusama network (an experimental “canary” network for Polkadot where new features and upgrades are tested in real-world conditions before deployment) the network reached a theoretical maximum of 623,000 transactions per second, highlighting its potential as a future-ready platform for advanced applications, including AI-enabled smart contracts.¹