State Street Global Advisors launches three new active ETFs for digital assets
State Street Global Advisors, a long-standing leader in asset management, is expanding into the next wave of finance with three actively managed exchange-traded funds built around digital assets and disruptive tech. The firm partnered with Galaxy Asset Management, an affiliate of Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd., to bring these strategies to market for investors who want exposure to a fast-moving corner of the economy without having to manage the complexity on their own.
A closer look at the new ETFs
The lineup features the SPDR Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (DECO), the SPDR Galaxy Hedged Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (HECO), and the SPDR Galaxy Transformative Tech Accelerators ETF (TEKX). While each fund targets a different slice of innovation, they share a core goal: use active management to navigate an evolving landscape and seek opportunity where technology and finance meet.
SPDR Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (DECO)
DECO seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in companies poised to benefit from the rise of blockchain and the broader digital asset ecosystem. The fund looks at businesses tied to adoption and infrastructure, pairing traditional equities with indirect exposure to cryptocurrencies through futures and ETFs. The idea is straightforward: focus on firms building and scaling in this space, and let active management adjust as the market shifts.
SPDR Galaxy Hedged Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (HECO)
HECO follows a similar opportunity set but adds explicit tools to manage swings in price. For investors who want growth potential with a measure of ballast, the strategy can use covered call options and protective puts to help cushion drawdowns and smooth the ride. It still aims for capital appreciation; it just does so with a playbook designed for the inherent volatility of digital asset-related exposures.
SPDR Galaxy Transformative Tech Accelerators ETF (TEKX)
TEKX widens the aperture beyond digital assets, targeting companies advancing transformative technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence. The fund is built for investors who want to participate in long-term growth tied to real-world adoption of these innovations—where new software, data, and computing tools can change how industries operate and how value is created.
Why active management here
According to Anna Paglia, chief business officer at State Street Global Advisors, digital assets and blockchain are evolving quickly, and that pace brings both promise and complexity. Many investors are understandably cautious about the sharp moves often seen in single-currency cryptocurrencies. By using active management inside an ETF wrapper, these strategies aim to diversify exposures, adjust positioning as conditions change, and address risk directly—rather than simply tracking a narrow slice of the market.
“Digital assets have the potential to reshape financial markets,” she explained. “With a managed portfolio, we aim to mitigate risks while helping investors experience the advantages of diversification.”
How State Street and Galaxy are working together
The collaboration brings State Street’s scale in ETF design and operations together with Galaxy’s domain expertise across the digital asset market. Chris Rhine, Head of Liquid Active Strategies at Galaxy, underscored how a flexible approach matters when the landscape changes as fast as this one. “Our ETFs allow investors to harness the opportunities in this transformative space while effectively managing the corresponding risks,” Rhine noted.
In practice, that means pairing robust ETF infrastructure with research, risk tools, and a management process that can adapt. The result is a set of funds intended to meet different preferences—growth with a broad mandate, growth with volatility management, and growth tied to accelerators of technological change—all within a familiar ETF format.
About State Street Global Advisors
For more than four decades, State Street Global Advisors has provided investment management to governments, institutions, and financial advisors around the world. With approximately $4.37 trillion in assets under management, the firm is known for combining index efficiency with active insight. Its focus remains steady: design cost?effective strategies that help clients build diversified portfolios, manage risk thoughtfully, and pursue long-term results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did State Street Global Advisors launch?
Three actively managed ETFs focused on innovation: DECO and HECO, which center on the digital asset ecosystem, and TEKX, which targets companies advancing transformative technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence.
Who’s managing these funds?
The ETFs are managed in collaboration with Galaxy Asset Management, an affiliate of Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd., bringing together State Street’s ETF capabilities and Galaxy’s digital asset expertise.
How does the DECO ETF seek returns?
DECO looks for long-term capital appreciation by investing in companies positioned to benefit from blockchain and digital asset adoption, with exposure that includes traditional equities and indirect access to cryptocurrencies via futures and ETFs.
What tools does the HECO ETF use to manage volatility?
HECO can employ options-based strategies such as covered calls and protective puts, aiming to cushion downside risk and manage the ups and downs common in digital asset-related markets.
What kind of companies does TEKX focus on?
TEKX invests in firms driving forward disruptive technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence, with an eye toward long-term growth from the economic impact of these innovations.
