ADA included in the Nasdaq encryption index marks a new milestone

Cardano (ADA) is writing a new chapter in the cryptocurrency world. According to the latest disclosures from Nasdaq, ADA has officially joined its cryptocurrency asset index, alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, becoming one of the targets of interest for mainstream investors. This not only represents a recognition of Cardano’s technological development but also marks its official entry into institutional investment-grade assets.

(Source: TapTools)

The Nasdaq encryption index expands to nine major assets.

This change stems from the contents of the 8-K form released by Nasdaq and TapTools, which shows that the previously limited cryptocurrency index covering five assets has expanded to nine. The newly added items include:

• Cardano (ADA)
• Solana (SOL)
• Ripple (XRP)
• Stellar (XLM)

After the addition of these new members, they, along with the original Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Chainlink (LINK), and Uniswap (UNI), form a broader market representation.

Asset allocation weight adjustment

Originally, Bitcoin accounted for as much as 85% in this index, while Ethereum made up 10%. However, as more tokens were included in the index, Bitcoin’s weight dropped to 75%, and Ethereum slightly increased to 11%. This adjustment has made the overall asset allocation more diversified, helping to reduce the risk of over-reliance on the two major cryptocurrencies, and providing asset managers with a more flexible asset allocation mechanism.

The ETF is still awaiting SEC approval.

Although the index has been updated to nine assets, the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF currently listed on the US market still only tracks Bitcoin and Ethereum, because the fund rules of the ETF have not yet been approved by the SEC for modification.

Based on the current application progress, the earliest approval for updating the ETF portfolio is expected in early 2026. This means that before then, while U.S. investors can observe the complete index trends, the actual investment targets are still limited to BTC and ETH.

ADA price prediction

Analyst Wedson revealed in a post on X that Cardano’s price is experiencing more than just a simple recovery, as it may break through the current historical high of $3.09 at this stage. According to this on-chain analyst, the trading price of the ADA token could be well above $3 by the end of October or early November 2025.

(Source: joao_wedson)

Future Outlook

Although ADA has secured a place in the index, its actual inclusion in an ETF still depends on the attitude of regulatory agencies. The approval of the SEC will determine whether U.S. investors can access ADA through official fund products, which is also a key step for Cardano to fully enter the traditional financial system.

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Summary

Cardano has long been known for its academic background and robust technological architecture. Its recent inclusion in the Nasdaq Crypto Index symbolizes a turning point from academic orientation to capital recognition. For investors focused on Web3 infrastructure, the further institutionalization of ADA heralds the arrival of the next wave of market growth.