T. Rowe Price announced the launch of a new actively managed cryptocurrency exchange‑traded fund that will hold a mix of 5 to 15 digital assets, including the meme coins Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE). The filing, made public on March 17, 2026, expands the firm’s crypto offering beyond its existing Bitcoin and Ethereum products and signals a broader strategy to capture demand for diversified cryptocurrency exposure.
The fund will be custodied by Anchorage Digital Bank and will initially use a cash‑based creation and redemption model, with the possibility of shifting to an in‑kind model in the future. The structure also leaves room for staking rewards, pending regulatory and tax guidance, and reflects the firm’s intent to combine active portfolio management with the security and compliance standards expected by institutional investors.
T. Rowe Price’s move aligns with a growing trend among traditional asset managers to offer regulated crypto investment vehicles. By adopting an active management approach, the firm can adjust holdings in response to market conditions, fundamentals, and momentum, differentiating itself from the largely passive, single‑asset crypto ETFs that dominate the market. Including high‑volatility meme coins broadens the product’s appeal to retail investors who are attracted to the speculative upside of these assets.
The launch comes as the firm reports a robust scale: in the fourth quarter of 2025, T. Rowe Price managed $1.8 trillion in assets under management, generated $1.9 billion in net revenues, and posted a diluted earnings per share of $1.99. The firm also experienced net client outflows of $25.5 billion that quarter. In the first quarter of 2025, assets under management were $1.57 trillion and diluted EPS was $2.15, underscoring the company’s large, diversified client base and the significance of adding a new product line to its portfolio.
Management has highlighted the importance of the ETF expansion in its broader strategic narrative. CEO Rob Sharps noted that in 2025 the firm made solid progress across its initiatives, entered new partnerships to extend its reach, and grew its ETFs and alternatives business to position the firm for long-term success. This statement frames the crypto ETF launch as part of a deliberate effort to strengthen the firm’s alternative investment offerings and to capture emerging market opportunities.
By launching an actively managed crypto ETF that includes both established and meme‑coin assets, T. Rowe Price positions itself to attract a wider investor base, diversify its product suite, and stay competitive in an industry that is increasingly embracing digital assets.
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