Grayscale Adjusts DeFi Fund Holdings: Adds Ethena, Removes Aerodrome in Q1 Rebalance

Grayscale Investments has updated the composition of its DeFi Fund as part of its first-quarter portfolio rebalancing, adding Ethena (ENA) while removing Aerodrome Finance (AERO). The changes, effective May 1, reflect a strategic shift in the firm’s exposure within the decentralized finance sector.

Updated DeFi Fund Holdings

Following the rebalance, the fund’s top holdings include established DeFi protocols alongside newer entrants. The full allocation is as follows:

• Uniswap (UNI): 35.22%
• Aave (AAVE): 21.36%
• Ondo (ONDO): 19.83%
• Ethena (ENA): 13.59%
• Curve (CRV): 5.27%
• Lido DAO (LDO): 4.73%

Ethena, a synthetic dollar protocol, has gained traction in the DeFi ecosystem for its yield-bearing stablecoin model. Its inclusion suggests Grayscale is betting on continued innovation in on-chain financial infrastructure.

What the Rebalance Signals

The removal of Aerodrome Finance, a decentralized exchange on the Base network, indicates a shift away from assets that may not meet Grayscale’s performance or liquidity criteria. Meanwhile, the addition of ENA aligns with growing institutional interest in protocols that offer stable, yield-generating products.

Grayscale also rebalanced its Smart Contract Platform Fund during the same period, though no new assets were added or removed from that portfolio. This suggests a more cautious approach to the broader layer-1 and layer-2 ecosystem, with adjustments limited to weightings rather than structural changes.

Why This Matters to Investors

Grayscale’s fund rebalances are closely watched by institutional and retail investors alike, as they often signal broader trends in digital asset allocation. The DeFi Fund, which focuses exclusively on decentralized finance tokens, provides a concentrated view of where the firm sees the most potential for growth and stability in the sector.

For market participants, the addition of ENA may validate the protocol’s long-term viability, while the removal of AERO could raise questions about the competitiveness of newer DeFi platforms on emerging networks like Base.

Conclusion

Grayscale’s Q1 rebalance reflects a measured but deliberate adjustment to its DeFi Fund, prioritizing established protocols like Uniswap and Aave while making room for newer projects like Ethena. The move underscores the firm’s ongoing strategy to balance innovation with proven market performance. Investors should monitor how these allocations evolve in future quarters as the DeFi landscape continues to mature.

FAQs

Q1: What is the Grayscale DeFi Fund?
A: The Grayscale DeFi Fund is an investment product that offers exposure to a basket of decentralized finance tokens, rebalanced quarterly to reflect changing market conditions and the fund’s investment strategy.

Q2: Why was Aerodrome Finance (AERO) removed from the fund?
A: Grayscale did not provide a specific reason, but such removals typically occur when an asset underperforms relative to the fund’s criteria or when the firm reallocates capital to higher-conviction opportunities.

Q3: How often does Grayscale rebalance its funds?
A: Grayscale typically rebalances its single-asset and diversified funds on a quarterly basis, though the exact timing may vary. The Q1 rebalance took effect on May 1, 2025.