Grayscale Expands Digital Asset Watchlist to Include AI and DeFi Tokens

Grayscale has updated its internal list of digital assets under consideration for potential future investment products, broadening its scope to include tokens linked to artificial intelligence, decentralized finance (DeFi), consumer applications, and blockchain infrastructure.

In a statement released Monday, the digital asset manager said the revised watchlist now includes 27 tokens that are not currently part of any Grayscale product but have been identified internally as candidates for future development. The update reflects the firm’s ongoing effort to diversify its investment pipeline and track emerging segments of the digital asset market.

Grayscale remains the world’s largest digital asset-focused investment manager by assets under management. As of September 30, 2025, the Connecticut-based firm reported approximately $35 billion in assets under management. Its flagship Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF alone accounts for about $15.3 billion, according to data compiled by The Block.

Several of the newly added assets had not previously been categorized within Grayscale’s sector framework as of the end of 2025. New additions for 2026 include MegaETH and Horizen in the smart contract platform category, ARIA Protocol and Playtron within consumer and culture-focused applications, and Nous Research, Poseidon, and Geodnet across artificial intelligence and utility-focused sectors.

The remaining assets on the updated list had already been under review prior to year-end. These include established smart contract platforms such as Polkadot (DOT) and Binance Coin (BNB), along with a range of DeFi-related tokens including Pendle and Jupiter. The watchlist also features AI-linked digital assets such as Worldcoin and Virtuals Protocol, underscoring Grayscale’s growing attention to the convergence of blockchain and artificial intelligence.

According to the company, the list is organized using its proprietary digital asset sector framework and is reviewed regularly to ensure alignment with evolving investment strategies. Grayscale noted that the current version of the watchlist is valid as of January 12, 2026, but may change within the same quarter as multi-asset funds are rebalanced or new single-asset products are explored. Updates may be issued as frequently as every 15 days following the end of a quarter.

The firm emphasized that inclusion on the watchlist does not guarantee the launch of an investment product. Any potential offering would still require internal approval, custodial arrangements, and regulatory review, meaning not all assets under consideration will ultimately be introduced to the market.

It is worth noting that Grayscale’s existing product lineup currently provides exposure to 28 digital assets, including six currency-focused tokens such as Bitcoin and XRP, ten smart contract platforms including Ethereum and Solana, and five tokens associated with artificial intelligence.