What Is a Spot Bitcoin ETF?

A spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle that allows ordinary investors exposure to the price moves of bitcoin in their regular brokerage accounts. Unlike bitcoin futures ETFs, a spot bitcoin ETF invests directly in bitcoins as the underlying asset, not derivatives contracts based on their prices.

Spot bitcoin ETFs—a type of exchange-traded product (ETP)—offer a regulated and accessible way for mainstream investors to invest in the digital currency. However, expenses like management fees and brokerage commissions still apply, though these are offset by not having the costs in time and exchange fees to buy and hold bitcoins directly.

While several countries have embraced both types of ETFs, U.S. regulators were initially hesitant due to issues of market manipulation and custodial risk. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first bitcoin futures ETFs in 2021, and the first bitcoin spot ETFs in January 2024.

How Spot Bitcoin ETFs Work

Spot bitcoin ETFs securely hold bitcoins in a secure digital vault, which registered custodians manage. The purpose of this kind of ETF is to mirror the price of bitcoins in the crypto market. To get started, the ETF buys bitcoins from other holders or through authorized cryptocurrency exchanges. The tokens are then stored in a digital wallet, often using several layers of security, including cold or offline storage, to reduce risks like hacking.

The ETF then issues shares corresponding to a set number of bitcoins it holds. The ETF share price should reflect the prevailing market price of the cryptocurrency, and the shares are available for public trading on traditional stock exchanges. So the ETF shares track the price of bitcoins as closely as possible, and the ETF occasionally rebalances its holdings by buying or selling tokens.

This process of creation and redemption is done by authorized participants (APs). These are typically large financial institutions, which create or redeem shares of the ETF based on market demand. If the ETF shares are trading at a premium or discount to the actual price of bitcoins, then the APs create or redeem ETF shares in large blocks, essentially arbitraging the difference so that the ETF share price alignments with the cost of bitcoins.

For investors and traders, buying a spot bitcoin ETF is like buying shares in any other ETF or security. The market is kept liquid and efficient by market makers who continuously offer to buy and sell shares of the ETF. Their activity is crucial in maintaining a stable market, ensuring that investors can easily buy or sell shares of the ETF when needed.

More broadly, spot bitcoin ETFs can help create more opportunities for institutional and retail investors to speculate on bitcoin without the technical challenges of managing a cryptocurrency wallet or the security concerns of safeguarding private keys.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs vs. Other Bitcoin ETFs

Spot bitcoin ETFs and derivatives-based bitcoin ETFs differ in how they are structured and how much exposure they offer to bitcoin’s price changes. Spot bitcoin ETFs directly hold bitcoins, but derivatives-based bitcoin ETFs use financial instruments like futures contracts to replicate bitcoin’s prices.

Spot bitcoin ETFs thus have direct ownership of bitcoins. This exposure is more intuitive for investors, making spot bitcoin ETFs more straightforward for those investing in bitcoin. Spot bitcoin ETFs can thus be more transparent since each share of the ETF corresponds to a specific number of bitcoins held.

By contrast, derivatives-based ETFs can be more opaque for investors, given that their value is derived indirectly from futures contracts, which can be influenced by various market factors beyond bitcoin’s spot price.

Spot Bitcoin ETF vs. Futures Bitcoin ETF
Attribute	Spot Bitcoin ETFs	Derivatives-Based Bitcoin ETFs
Underlying Asset	Bitcoin	Bitcoin futures contracts
Price Tracking	Direct	Indirect
Asset Custody	Secure custody of bitcoins	No direct custody of bitcoins
Investor Simplicity	Higher: direct exposure	Lower: indirect exposure
Transparency	Higher: actual bitcoins held	Lower: dependent on derivatives
Regulatory Framework	Evolving	Established

Pros and Cons of Spot Bitcoin ETFs

Pros

Below are the advantages that investors are thought to have from spot bitcoin ETFs.

• Convenience: A major benefit of spot bitcoin ETFs is their accessibility to a broader range of investors. Spot bitcoin ETFs substantially lower the barriers to entry into the crypto market. Investors are excused from managing wallets with bitcoins, navigating online crypto exchanges, or grappling with private and public keys. Removing these technical hurdles simplifies asset management, making it a more attractive proposition for those accustomed to traditional investments.
• Liquidity: Spot bitcoin ETFs make buying and selling bitcoins easier through familiar brokerage accounts. The process mirrors trading traditional stocks or ETFs, providing an intuitive transition for mainstream investors.
• Regulatory oversight: When you purchase your own bitcoins, you might be doing so without the backing of clear, standardized regulations. Spot bitcoin ETFs are subject to rules that ensure transparency and protect investors.
• Tax implications: In certain jurisdictions, spot bitcoin ETFs could have tax benefits compared with holding cryptocurrencies directly. The tax treatment of ETFs is long-established, and investors can know going in what their tax obligations will be.

Cons

Like all investment vehicles, spot bitcoin ETFs are not without risk.

• Crypto volatility: The most obvious is the market volatility of bitcoin prices, which could lead to significant financial loss. While the ETF structure can mitigate some of the complexities associated with crypto by taking care of ownership and storage, it doesn’t insulate you against the inherent risks of the cryptocurrency market.
• Regulatory uncertainty: Another risk involves the lack of a clear regulatory framework to protect investors. Until more comprehensive oversight and standards are established, there remains a great deal of uncertainty about how risks like fraud, manipulation, and loss of assets will be treated. Cryptocurrency markets are still evolving, and future regulations could affect the performance of bitcoin ETFs. For example, changes in tax laws could make crypto less attractive for investment purposes.
• Security risks: The number of coins that spot bitcoin ETFs would have to hold to be viable would make them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies rely on digital keys and internet-based storage and transfer. While ETF managers use multilayered security protections like cold storage and encryption, no system is impenetrable. Successful major breaches at spot bitcoin ETFs could result in the theft of thousands or even millions worth of bitcoins. Unlike cash in a bank, stolen bitcoins can quickly be transferred anonymously and are almost impossible to retrieve. While rare, such cyber thefts have affected some cryptocurrency exchanges and holders, and an incident like this for a spot bitcoin ETF would severely damage investor confidence and fund stability.
• Management fees: While investing in spot bitcoin ETFs could save you the time and costs of exchanging and securing bitcoins yourself, these ETFs do charge management fees or expense ratios to cover operational costs, diminishing your returns over time. These fees can be higher than traditional equity ETFs because the ETF must also pay fees for exchanging and securing bitcoins.
• Tracking error: While spot bitcoin ETFs try to mirror the performance of bitcoin closely, tracking error differences between the ETF share cost and the value of bitcoin can occur. Reasons for this might include liquidity in the market, delayed rebalancing of the fund’s holdings, and management fees.

The Future of Spot Bitcoin ETFs

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved 11 spot bitcoin ETFs on Jan. 10, 2024. Until then, the regulators had been reluctant to approve any spot bitcoin ETF applications, citing concerns over market manipulation, fraud, custody, and investor protection.

The SEC had previously rejected several applications for a spot bitcoin ETF by Grayscale Investments, a leading digital asset manager. In August 2023, a federal appeals court ruled that the SEC was wrong to reject Grayscale's application and had not sufficiently explained its reasoning.

However, the SEC decided not to appeal the ruling. In January 2024, the regulator announced approval for Grayscale’s application, as well as other applications by major industry players such as Bitwise, BlackRock iShares, WisdomTree, ARK 21Shares, and Invesco Galaxy, among others.

All 11 ETFs began trading on Jan. 11, 2024, including Grayscale's. SEC Chair Gary Gensler released a warning, along with the approval.

"While we approved the listing and trading of certain spot bitcoin ETP shares today, we did not approve or endorse bitcoin. Investors should remain cautious about the myriad risks associated with bitcoin and products whose value is tied to crypto," said Gensler in a statement.

Could Spot Bitcoin ETFs Affect the Price of Bitcoin?

A spot bitcoin ETF does not directly affect the price of bitcoins, but it can indirectly affect their price in several ways:

• Increased adoption: A spot bitcoin ETF will likely attract significant investment inflows from mainstream investors who want exposure to bitcoins within their brokerage accounts. As demand rises, this influx of new investors and capital could boost bitcoin prices.
• Market validation: The approval and launch of a spot bitcoin ETF would further validate bitcoin's legitimacy in the mainstream financial system. This perceived legitimacy could bolster confidence in bitcoins and drive prices higher.
• Trading activity: A spot bitcoin ETF could create more avenues for active trading of bitcoin exposure by hedge funds, day traders, and other speculators. This could lead to greater trading volume and volatility.
• Reduced premiums: Some argue that a spot bitcoin ETF would reduce the premium that institutional investors pay to acquire bitcoins through trusts and private funds. Lowering this premium could depress bitcoin prices at the margin.

The Bottom Line

Spot bitcoin ETFs represent a significant evolution in cryptocurrency, offering a regulated and simplified way to gain exposure to bitcoin’s prices.

By potentially enhancing market liquidity, aiding in better price discovery, and attracting more institutional participation, spot bitcoin ETFs could play a pivotal role in stabilizing and boosting bitcoin adoption. However, the ripple effects of increased demand and speculative trading could also lead to worries about an overvaluation of the currency.

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