Janus Henderson and Centrifuge have launched JQQQ, a blockchain-native investment fund designed to provide exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index through an issuer-sponsored investment strategy, marking a further expansion of traditional investment products onto public blockchain networks.
JQQQ Brings Nasdaq-100 Exposure to Blockchain Infrastructure
The fund combines Janus Henderson’s investment management expertise with Centrifuge’s tokenization infrastructure to offer Nasdaq-100 exposure through a product issued and operated natively on a public blockchain.
Janus Henderson, a global asset manager with approximately $500 billion in assets under management, will manage the fund. Centrifuge provides the technology infrastructure supporting its issuance and operation, while Nasdaq Global Indexes licenses the Nasdaq-100 Index for the investment strategy.
The Nasdaq-100 tracks 100 of the largest nonfinancial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, making it a widely followed benchmark for major growth-oriented businesses, particularly in technology. JQQQ is designed to extend access to this established index through blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
The companies said the fund combines institutional investment management standards with additional distribution opportunities and the ability to integrate with other blockchain-based financial applications. Its fee structure is also intended to remain competitive, although specific fee details were not provided in the announcement.
Janus Henderson has offices in more than 25 cities worldwide and serves investors across multiple markets. The launch expands its digital asset management strategy into public equities, adding another category to its existing onchain investment offerings.
Tokenization Moves Beyond Digital Representations
The launch reflects a broader shift in asset tokenization, as financial institutions increasingly develop investment products directly for blockchain infrastructure rather than simply creating digital representations of existing securities.
Native on-chain issuance can allow investment products to interact with blockchain-based applications through programmable infrastructure. Depending on the fund’s design and applicable restrictions, these capabilities may support automated portfolio management, integration with digital investment platforms and the use of eligible fund shares in collateral or lending arrangements.
By bringing a licensed, issuer-sponsored Nasdaq-100 investment strategy onto blockchain infrastructure, JQQQ aims to connect a traditional equity benchmark with emerging digital financial markets.
Nick Cherney, Janus Henderson’s head of innovation, said the partnership with Nasdaq Global Indexes and Centrifuge supported the firm’s effort to expand its technology capabilities and respond to changing investor needs.
The company also indicated that its broader onchain platform now encompasses more than $1 billion in institutional strategies spanning U.S. Treasuries, structured credit and public equities. The addition of JQQQ extends that platform to one of the world’s best-known equity benchmarks.
Nasdaq’s index product management leadership said the launch demonstrated how established benchmarks could be made available through additional investment structures as investors explore digital distribution channels.
Centrifuge Expands Institutional Onchain Asset Management
Centrifuge provides infrastructure for tokenizing institutional assets and integrating them into blockchain-based financial applications. Its platform connects traditional capital markets with decentralized finance, allowing tokenized financial products to interact with supported protocols.
The company has worked with institutional participants, including Apollo and Janus Henderson, and supports tokenized assets across decentralized finance platforms such as Sky, Aave and Morpho.
Anil Sood, Centrifuge’s chief strategy and growth officer, said the partnership demonstrated how tokenized investment products could become components of a broader onchain financial system rather than remain isolated digital assets.
Potential applications include programmable investment vaults, blockchain-based portfolios, collateral arrangements, lending and structured financial products. However, actual functionality will depend on the fund’s terms, technical integrations, and applicable legal requirements.
Stellar Hosts the Fund Launch
JQQQ is launching exclusively on the Stellar network, which has developed an institutional market for tokenized financial assets, including U.S. Treasuries, sovereign debt, money-market funds and credit products.
The announcement said real-world assets on Stellar exceeded $4 billion in 2026, reflecting the network’s expanding role in blockchain-based financial services.
Stellar Development Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon said the launch illustrated the progression of tokenization from cash-equivalent instruments toward investment products linked to major equity benchmarks.
The fund’s launch on Stellar adds an equity-index strategy to the network’s growing tokenized asset ecosystem, potentially widening the range of institutional investment products available through blockchain infrastructure.
The launch nevertheless does not eliminate conventional investment risks. Investors will need to assess the fund’s structure, fees, custody arrangements, eligibility requirements and tracking methodology, as well as the regulatory conditions governing access.
JQQQ’s longer-term significance will depend on investor demand, integration with digital financial applications and the ability of its partners to deliver the operational safeguards expected of institutional investment products.
