European investors can now trade 21Shares’ new physically backed Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) for Zcash (ZEC) and ether.fi (ETHFI) on the Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam exchanges. Following the successful expansion of crypto investment vehicles in early 2026, 21Shares has moved to bridge the gap between niche decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and institutional-grade trading environments. The physically backed nature of these products ensures that the underlying assets are held in secure custody, providing a regulated layer for those seeking exposure to ZEC and ETHFI.
The listing of a Zcash ETP is particularly significant given the ongoing global debate surrounding privacy coins. While some jurisdictions have faced regulatory hurdles regarding anonymous transactions, the approval for listing on Euronext suggests a growing maturity in how European regulators view privacy-preserving technologies under the MiCA framework. By offering ZEC in an ETP format, 21Shares provides a transparent, tax-efficient way for portfolios to diversify into the privacy sector without the complexities of managing private keys or navigating decentralized exchanges.
Simultaneously, the introduction of an ETHFI ETP highlights the surging demand for liquid restaking exposure. As ether.fi remains a dominant player in the Ethereum restaking ecosystem, this ETP allows investors to bet on the growth of Ethereum’s security-sharing layer without directly participating in the technical staking process. This move indicates that ETP issuers are increasingly looking toward high-growth DeFi sectors to satisfy investor appetite for yield-generating and infrastructure-based crypto assets.
Market analysts should watch for whether these listings trigger a reciprocal response from US-based issuers. While the US SEC has recently approved major crypto ETFs, the inclusion of privacy coins like Zcash remains a sensitive topic in North American markets. The performance and trading volume of these products on Euronext will likely serve as a litmus test for the viability of altcoin-specific ETPs in other major global financial hubs throughout the remainder of 2026.