--- title: "Winklevoss Asset Services Files S-1 Registration for Spot Zcash ETF" description: "The proposed Winklevoss Zcash ETF would trade on Nasdaq under the ticker WINK, backed directly by physical ZEC held by Gemini Trust Company." url: https://basisdesk.news/news/winklevoss-files-s1-spot-zcash-etf published: 2026-10-06T17:01:42.091Z modified: 2026-10-06T17:01:42.091Z section: Institutions & ETFs author: Basis Desk Newsroom (AI-generated, source-verified) sentiment: neutral tickers: [ZEC] tags: [Zcash, ETF, SEC, Nasdaq, Gemini] license: Quote with attribution to Basis Desk (basisdesk.news). Not financial advice. --- # Winklevoss Asset Services Files S-1 Registration for Spot Zcash ETF The proposed Winklevoss Zcash ETF would trade on Nasdaq under the ticker WINK, backed directly by physical ZEC held by Gemini Trust Company. ## At a glance - **What happened:** Winklevoss Asset Services filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the SEC on Oct. 6, 2026, for the Winklevoss Zcash ETF. - **Why it matters:** The filing seeks to bring direct, spot-backed ZEC exposure to US equity markets under ticker WINK on Nasdaq. - **Who is affected:** US broker-dealer clients, digital asset market participants, and the Zcash network ecosystem. - **What's next:** SEC review of the preliminary prospectus and potential registration amendments. - **Status:** proposed - **Primary source:** [Winklevoss Zcash ETF Could Become the Second U.S. Spot ZEC Fund After Grayscale’s ZCSH](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2158471/000110465926113940/tm2626975-1_s1.htm) — sec.gov ## Key points - Winklevoss Asset Services filed an S-1 registration statement with the SEC on Oct. 6, 2026, for the Winklevoss Zcash ETF [1]. - The fund plans to list on Nasdaq under the ticker WINK, with Gemini Trust Company serving as custodian for its spot ZEC holdings [1]. - Cypherpunk Technologies was selected as the trust's ecosystem partner to provide protocol guidance and coinholder polling services [1]. ## Editorial remark - **Context:** The filing expands spot crypto fund proposals into privacy-focused assets, following broader institutional registration frameworks across US exchanges. - **Impact:** If approved, US retail and institutional investors gain regulated brokerage exposure to spot Zcash without needing direct self-custody. - **Watch:** SEC review milestones, potential registration amendments, and 19b-4 exchange rule filing status from Nasdaq. Winklevoss Asset Services filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2026, to launch a spot Zcash exchange-traded fund [1]. The proposed fund, named the Winklevoss Zcash ETF, plans to list its shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol WINK [1]. According to the prospectus, the trust intends to offer direct exposure to the price of $ZEC, net of operational expenses and liabilities [1]. Gemini Trust Company, an affiliate of the sponsor, will act as the custodian responsible for holding the trust's underlying ZEC [1]. CSC Delaware Trust Company is named as the trustee [1]. Net asset value determinations will rely on a pricing benchmark derived from a 60-minute time-weighted average price across constituent spot exchanges [1]. ## Structure and Ecosystem Advisory The trust plans to issue and redeem shares in continuous blocks known as baskets through authorized participants, utilizing cash or physical ZEC [1]. The fund is structured as a grantor-style trust under the Securities Act of 1933 rather than an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 [1]. To support governance and network integration, the trust has engaged Cypherpunk Technologies as its official "Zcash Ecosystem Partner" [1]. Under the agreement, Cypherpunk will assist with technical guidance, coinholder polling, and advisory services concerning the Zcash protocol [1]. The filing marks an expansion into privacy-focused digital asset funds following prior international and domestic initiatives, such as when [Valour debuted a Zcash ETP on Spotlight Stock Market](https://basisdesk.news/news/valour-launches-zcash-etp-spotlight-stock-market) in Europe. The SEC must review the registration statement before it becomes effective and trading can commence [1]. At the time of writing, ZEC was trading at $1,352, up 4.3% over the prior 24 hours. ## Sources 1. [Winklevoss Zcash ETF Could Become the Second U.S. Spot ZEC Fund After Grayscale’s ZCSH](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2158471/000110465926113940/tm2626975-1_s1.htm) — sec.gov, 2026-10-06 2. [Winklevoss Zcash ETF Could Become the Second U.S. Spot ZEC Fund After Grayscale’s ZCSH](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1509745/000110465925096966/tm2528058d1_ex99-1.htm) — sec.gov, 2026-10-06 --- Basis Desk Newsroom · AI-generated, source-verified · https://basisdesk.news/about/how-we-use-ai