VanEck Introduces Another First with Launch of the VanEck Avalanche ETF (VAVX)

New fund provides spot exposure to the Avalanche token (AVAX), the native cryptocurrency for the Avalanche blockchain; firm has agreed to waive sponsor fees on VAVX for the first $500 million in AUM or until 2/28/26. Thereafter, the sponsor fee will be 0.20%. Brokerage fees and commissions may apply. Please check with your broker.

An investment in the VanEck Avalanche ETF (“VAVX” or the “Trust”) is subject to significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The value of Avalanche (AVAX) is highly volatile, and you can lose your entire principal investment. VAVX is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and therefore is not subject to the same protections as mutual funds or ETFs registered under the 1940 Act.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VanEck is today announcing the newest addition to its lineup of digital asset-focused ETFs with the launch of the VanEck Avalanche ETF (VAVX), the first and currently the only (as January 26, 2026) U.S.-listed ETP focused on providing investors with exposure to the price return and potential staking rewards of Avalanche’s native token, AVAX (please see the disclosures below for information related to staking).

Simultaneously, VanEck is waiving all sponsor fees associated with VAVX for the fund’s first $500 million in assets or until 2/28/26, whichever comes first.

A longtime supporter of digital asset innovation and advocate for improving investor access to digital assets via the ETP wrapper, VanEck is committed to lowering barriers to entry for investors. By instituting this fee waiver, the firm aims to provide efficient and cost-effective exposure to one of the industry's most robust blockchain ecosystems.

Avalanche has distinguished itself as a high-performance blockchain platform designed to scale, powering a network of interconnected, customizable blockchains that bring real-world value onchain. Anchored by a unique consensus protocol, the network ensures near-instant transaction finality while enabling the seamless creation of interoperable Layer 1 blockchains across both public and private networks.

This capability has driven major entities, including Citi, FIFA, and Gunzilla Games¹, to launch their own dedicated blockchains on the Avalanche network.

With VAVX, investors will now have the opportunity to gain exposure to the native token of this quickly expanding ecosystem, via the ETP wrapper.

“Avalanche’s architecture is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the on-chain economy, focusing on verifiable, real-world utility,” said Kyle DaCruz, Director, Digital Assets Product with VanEck. “We’re excited to launch VAVX to provide investors with a transparent, exchange-traded vehicle to access a network that we believe will drive the next phase of institutional blockchain adoption.”

VanEck’s X feed, @vaneck_us, is a go-to source for updates on the firm’s digital asset efforts, views, comments and much more. The firm’s digital assets research team, led by Matthew Sigel, regularly publishes deeply researched commentary, insights and predictions for the space, which can be accessed here.

¹ Their participation reflects use of the Avalanche network and does not imply endorsement of VAVX or Avalanche as an investment.

About VanEck

VanEck has a history of looking beyond the financial markets to identify trends that are likely to create impactful investment opportunities. We were one of the first U.S. asset managers to offer investors access to international markets. This set the tone for the firm’s drive to identify asset classes and trends – including gold investing in 1968, emerging markets in 1993, and exchange traded funds in 2006 – that subsequently shaped the investment management industry.

Today, VanEck offers active and passive strategies with compelling exposures supported by well-designed investment processes. As of December 31, 2025, VanEck managed approximately $181 billion in assets, including mutual funds, ETFs, and institutional accounts. The firm’s capabilities range from core investment opportunities to more specialized exposures to enhance portfolio diversification. Our actively managed strategies are fueled by in-depth, bottom-up research and security selection from portfolio managers with direct experience in the sectors and regions in which they invest. Investability, liquidity, diversity, and transparency are key to the experienced decision-making around market and index selection underlying VanEck’s passive strategies.

Since our founding in 1955, putting our clients’ interests first, in all market environments, has been at the heart of the firm’s mission.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned are unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees.

VanEck Avalanche ETF (“VAVX”) Disclosures

This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. An investment in the VanEck Avalanche ETF (“VAVX” or the “Trust”) may not be suitable for all investors. Before investing, you should carefully consider the Trust’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses.

Investing involves significant risk, and you could lose money on an investment in the Trust. The value of Avalanche (AVAX) is highly volatile, and the value of the Trust’s shares could decline rapidly, including to zero. You could lose your entire principal investment. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors relative to the Trust, carefully read the prospectus.

The Trust’s investment objective is to reflect the performance of the price of Avalanche (“AVAX”) and rewards from staking a portion of the Trust’s AVAX, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. The Trust is a passive investment vehicle that does not seek to pursue any investment strategy beyond reflecting the performance of the price of AVAX and any rewards from staking a portion of the Trust’s AVAX.

The Trust is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or a commodity pool for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Shares of the Trust are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds. As a result, shareholders of VAVX do not have the protections associated with ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the 1940 Act or the protections afforded by the CEA.

An investment in the Trust is subject to risks which include, but are not limited to, the historically and potentially future extreme volatility of Avalanche, various potential factors that may adversely affect the liquidity of Trust shares, the limited history of the Index from which the value of Avalanche and hence the value of Trust shares will be determined, potential threats to the Trust’s Avalanche custodian, and the unregulated nature and lack of transparency surrounding the operations of Avalanche trading platforms, all of which may ultimately adversely affect the value of shares of the Trust.

Staking Risks: As part of its strategy, the Trust intends to stake a portion of its AVAX via third-party staking service providers, which entails a number of risks. AVAX that is staked will undergo activation and de‐activation (or withdrawal) periods during which it is locked up and inaccessible, meaning the Trust may not be able to quickly liquidate these assets to satisfy redemption requests—particularly in volatile or stressed market conditions. Validators to which AVAX is staked or delegated may behave improperly or suffer performance failures (e.g., downtime below a protocol threshold or misconfiguration), in which case no AVAX rewards may be earned. There is counterparty and operational risk associated with the staking service providers (and the custodians facilitating staking), including reliance on their security, compliance, and ability to operate under adverse conditions. Additionally, staking rewards are subject to fees and possible withholding obligations, and the timing, amount, and recognition (for tax purposes) of staking rewards may be uncertain. Finally, regulatory or legal changes—such as U.S. federal income tax law or securities regulations—could affect whether staking activities or liquid staking tokens may be used, or whether they jeopardize the Trust’s qualification (e.g. as a grantor trust) or impose unanticipated costs.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of risks pertaining to the Trust. Please read carefully the prospectus for a complete list of potential risks.

Because shares of the Trust are intended to reflect the price of the Avalanche held in the Trust, the market price of the shares is subject to fluctuations similar to those affecting Avalanche prices. Additionally, shares of the Trust are bought and sold at market price, not at net asset value (“NAV”). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Trust shares trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, and will fluctuate in market value. The value of Trust shares relates directly to the value of the Avalanche held by the Trust (less its expenses), and fluctuations in the price of Avalanche could materially and adversely affect an investment in the shares. The price received upon the sale of the shares, which trade at market price, may be more or less than the value of the Avalanche represented by them. The Trust does not generate any income, and as the Trust regularly issues shares to pay for the Sponsor’s ongoing expenses, the amount of Avalanche represented by each Share will decline over time.

The Sponsor of the Trust is VanEck Digital Assets, LLC. The Marketing Agent for the Trust is Van Eck Securities Corporation. VanEck Digital Assets, LLC, and Van Eck Securities Corporation are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Van Eck Associates Corporation.

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