ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, are designed to replicate the price of the underlying asset they represent.
For instance, a spot Bitcoin ETF aims to mirror the current market price of Bitcoin by holding an equivalent amount of the cryptocurrency.
Recently, the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved several organizations' applications for spot Bitcoin ETFs.
In the following sections, we will delve into the most highly valued spot Bitcoin ETFs, starting with the largest and working our way down.
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Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust
Like many organizations that filed for a spot Bitcoin ETF from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Grayscale had some back-and-forth before the body approved their application.
Popularly known as the world’s largest crypto asset manager, Grayscale offered Bitcoin as a mutual fund-like product long before other organizations started interested in doing the same thing.
Immediately after the SEC approved their spot Bitcoin ETF application, they converted around $27 billion to spot Bitcoin ETF.
Grayscale's $27 billion in assets provides a competitive edge, but its fees are higher at around 1.5% annually compared to others' 0.2% to 0.9%.
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Blackrock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust
When discussing spot Bitcoin ETFs, it's impossible to overlook Blackrock, given its significant influence in the investment sector.
Their foray into the crypto industry is just one of their recent ventures. They are the world’s largest asset manager, with $10 trillion in assets under management.
Additionally, they hold a strong position in exchange-traded funds, with a particular focus on spot Bitcoin ETFs at present.
In January 2024, Blackrock launched the iShares Bitcoin Trust. Data shows that they might have more than 204,000 Bitcoins, worth around $15 billion at current prices.
The iShares Bitcoin Trust holds the record for the largest spot BTC inflow, with more than $849 million within a day. A positive aspect of the iShares Bitcoin Trust is that Blackrock considers its investors by implementing a fee waiver scheme to reduce the initial investment cost.
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The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin ETF
Following in Blackrock's footsteps, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin ETF is next in line, holding 128,000 Bitcoins valued at around $9 billion.
Similar to Blackrock, they are also offering spot BTC ETFs and have initiated a fee waiver program until August 1, 2024.
Fidelity Investments is widely recognized for its workplace retirement plans, which cover 23 million 401(k) participants, a significant number compared to other financial firms.
Moreover, the company now offers services that enable users to include Bitcoin in their 401(k) retirement plans. With its new foray into the crypto sector through spot Bitcoin ETFs, Fidelity Investments aims to tap into a larger market of traders and investors.
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ARK 21Shares’s Bitcoin ETF
Ark Invest, led by the dynamic Cathie Woods, has a significant presence in the crypto industry, primarily investing in shares of crypto companies.
After years of effort, they were among the 11 companies whose spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved by the SEC.
It's reported that they hold about 38,000 Bitcoins valued at $2 billion and are currently offering a six-month fee waiver. Once this waiver expires, they will revert to charging investors and traders a 0.21% expense ratio, which is significantly lower than Grayscale's approximately 1.5% fee.
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VanEck’s Bitcoin Trust
VanEck’s Bitcoin Trust may not have as much capital as the other Spot Bitcoin ETFs on this list, but it's steadily gaining ground.
After announcing a fee waiver scheme until it reaches $1.5 million in assets, it experienced a staggering $200 million inflow.
They anticipate hitting this milestone before March 2025, reducing the expense ratio from 0.2% to 0%. This move has prompted many investors to shift their investments to VanEck's, creating challenges for other ETF issuers like Grayscale, whose fees are as high as 1.5%.