ARK Tokenizes $1.3B Venture Fund Holding OpenAI Stakes
ARK Invest is putting its $1.3B ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX), which holds OpenAI, Anthropic and Stripe, on Ethereum through Securitize for qualified investors.
OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks are among the most sought-after private companies in the world, and most people have no way to invest in them before they list. A fund that holds all four is now going onchain. Cathie Wood's ARK Invest has tokenised the ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX) through Securitize, issuing it on Ethereum for qualified investors on the Securitize platform.
The fund in brief
ARKVX has about $1.3 billion in net assets. It is actively managed and mixes private companies with publicly listed tech names. Along with OpenAI and Anthropic, its private holdings include Stripe and Databricks.
So far ARK has not said what the minimum investment will be for the token, what fees apply, or how easily holders can get their money out. Those terms have not been disclosed.
A relationship that began in 2025
This is not ARK's first move with Securitize. In October 2025, ARK made a strategic investment in the platform, which is also backed by BlackRock and Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The tokenised fund builds directly on that tie-up.
Wood framed it as a statement of belief. The launch, she said, “puts our conviction in the evolution, if not revolution, of capital markets into practice”. In her view, tokenisation could “reshape fundamentally the way that investors access and participate in both private and public financial markets.”
Tokenization's big week
ARK's news was one of several tokenization milestones in just a few days. In the US, the CFTC cleared futures firms to hold tokenized assets. In the UK, a group of banks settled tokenized deposits with each other. And Ondo rolled out portfolio tokens built on BlackRock strategies. Each shows large, regulated firms putting real financial products onto blockchains.
Is it open to Indian investors?
Not in any practical sense yet. Access is limited to qualified investors on Securitize. For Indian residents there are two more barriers: any overseas investment has to go through the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), and Indian rules do not recognise tokenized securities as a product.
The sensible approach for now is to see this as a signal of where global markets are heading, not as something to buy. And be very wary of unregulated tokens promising “OpenAI shares”. They rarely give you any real claim on the company.
FAQ
What is ARKVX?
It is ARK Invest's ARK Venture Fund, with around $1.3 billion in net assets. It holds private and public tech firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Stripe and Databricks.
Which blockchain is the tokenized ARK fund on?
Ethereum. Securitize issues the tokenized fund.
Can I buy OpenAI or Anthropic shares through crypto?
Only indirectly, through regulated vehicles such as the tokenized ARKVX, and only if you are a qualified investor. Unofficial tokens that claim to be OpenAI shares carry high risk.
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