Bitcoin Spot ETFs Approved: Here are the 11 Funds and Their Differences
SEC granted 11 Bitcoin ETFs and here are their differences | Credit: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- The SEC has approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs, which will allow investors to trade BTC directly on major exchanges.
- The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs is likely to lead to increased institutional investment in Bitcoin.
- This could also help to legitimize BTC and make it widely accepted as a form of payment.
In a landmark decision, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted approval to 11 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), clearing a significant hurdle for mainstream adoption of the cryptocurrency.
After years of anticipation and regulatory scrutiny, the approved ETFs are poised to begin trading on major American exchanges, potentially triggering a wave of institutional investment and broader market involvement in the digital asset space.
SEC Approves Spot Bitcoin ETFs, Signaling Mainstream Adoption
The SEC’s approval, announced on January 10, 2024, marks a major step for the cryptocurrency industry, particularly for Bitcoin.
Here’s an overview of each fund:
ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB)
ARK Invest, in collaboration with 21Shares, offers the ARKB ETF, focusing on tracking the performance of Bitcoin. ARK Invest’s entry into the Bitcoin ETF space is notable for its expertise in disruptive technologies. The fund offers regulated exposure to Bitcoin and highlights a low-fee structure to attract investors.
Fee: Management fee waived until July 10, 2024, or until assets reach $1 billion, whichever occurs first.
Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC)
Fidelity Investments, a long-established player in the investment sector, has launched the FBTC, providing indirect exposure to Bitcoin. This fund aims to simplify Bitcoin investment, allowing investors to buy and sell the ETF with standard tax reporting. Fidelity is known for its investment platform and its recent ventures into cryptocurrency.
Fee: Waived until August 1, 2024. After this date, it will be 25 basis points.
Franklin Bitcoin ETF (EZBC)
Franklin Templeton, a global investment firm, offers the EZBC ETF. This fund underscores Franklin Templeton’s expansion into digital assets, providing investors with a regulated vehicle to gain Bitcoin exposure. Their approach is characterized by a moderate fee structure.
Fee: 0.29%, with no disclosed fee waiver details.
Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCO)
Invesco introduced the BTCO ETF in partnership with Galaxy Digital. This collaboration combines Invesco’s ETF experience with Galaxy Digital’s cryptocurrency expertise. The fund offers an initial fee waiver, demonstrating its competitive approach to attracting investment.
Fee: Initial six months or first $5 billion in assets fee waiver, then 0.39%.
Vaneck Bitcoin Trust (HODL)
VanEck’s HODL ETF represents another significant entry in the Bitcoin ETF space. VanEck’s approach to Bitcoin investment through this ETF is characterized by a straightforward fee structure and its established reputation in ETF markets.
Fee: 0.25%, with no disclosed waiver details.
Wisdomtree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW)
WisdomTree, has launched the BTCW ETF. This product provides investors with exposure to Bitcoin in a regulated framework. WisdomTree is best known for its wide range of ETF offerings, and the BTCW ETF extends this into the realm of digital assets.
Fee: Waiver for initial 6 months or after first $1 billion in assets, followed by a 0.39% fee.
Bitwise Bitcoin Trust (BITB)
Bitwise Asset Management, known for its focus on cryptocurrency index funds, offers the BITB ETF. This fund is notable for its competitive fee structure, which includes a waiver for the initial period.
Fee: Waiver for the first six months or the first $1 billion in assets, thereafter a 0.2% fee.
BlackRock Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)
BlackRock’s Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) reflects the financial giant’s foray into the Bitcoin ETF market. As a leading player in asset management, BlackRock’s entry is significant. It offers investors a fund with a competitive fee structure and the backing of a well-established investment firm.
Fee: 0.25% initially, reduced to 0.2% for the first $5 billion in assets for 12 months.
Valkyrie Bitcoin Fund (BRRR)
Valkyrie Digital Assets’ BRRR ETF signifies its push into the Bitcoin ETF space. Valkyrie, though relatively new, has made notable strides in digital asset investment products. The BRRR ETF is characterized by its initial fee waiver and subsequent competitive fee rate.
Fee: Waiver for the first 3 months, then 0.49%.
Hashdex Bitcoin ETF (DEFI)
Hashdex brings the DEFI ETF, known for its higher fee structure compared to other approved ETFs. Hashdex, a pioneer in cryptocurrency investment products, aims to leverage its expertise in digital assets to offer a regulated Bitcoin investment vehicle.
Fee: 0.9%, with no waiver details provided.
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)
Grayscale Investments, a leader in digital currency investing, offers the GBTC ETF. Grayscale’s move to convert its Bitcoin trust into an ETF is significant, given its dominant position in cryptocurrency investments. The fund, however, has a higher fee structure compared to its peers.
Fee: 1.5%, which is the highest among the listed ETFs.
Each of these funds represents a different approach to Bitcoin investment, offering a range of options for investors looking to add digital assets to their portfolios. These ETFs highlight the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investment within regulated financial markets.
The Journey to Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have become a staple in the financial world over the last two decades, allowing investors to trade shares representing a collection of assets, like stocks or commodities, on major exchanges. The concept of a spot Bitcoin ETF, tracking the real-time value of the cryptocurrency, had, for a long time been an elusive goal for the crypto industry. The vision was that such an ETF could usher in fresh investment streams from wealth managers and individual traders who might hesitate to purchase digital assets on platforms like Coinbase.
Historically, the SEC consistently turned down applications for spot Bitcoin ETFs. The reasons cited included the nascent state of the cryptocurrency market and concerns over potential market manipulation. This stance persisted even after 2021, when the SEC green-lit a Bitcoin futures ETF , which deals in derivatives traded on Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated exchanges.
Grayscale, a leading crypto asset management firm and operator of the largest Bitcoin trust, challenged the SEC in 2022. The firm’s lawsuit highlighted the inconsistency in the SEC’s approach, which allowed futures-based ETFs but not spot variants. The industry perceived BlackRock’s application for a spot Bitcoin ETF in June 2023 as a sign that approval was on the horizon, especially after Grayscale’s triumph in court in August of that year.
A New Era for Crypto Investments
In the months that followed, there was rampant speculation about when the SEC might grant approval and how the ETFs would function. December witnessed a series of discussions between potential issuers and the SEC. The SEC proposed a cash-based model for the creation and redemption of shares. This meant the responsibility of buying and selling Bitcoin rested with the issuers themselves, a shift in the operational mechanics of these ETFs.
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs is a landmark event, potentially signaling the maturing of the cryptocurrency market and its increasing integration with traditional financial systems. This development opens up new opportunities for investors and marks a significant milestone in the journey of Bitcoin from a niche digital asset to a recognized financial instrument.
