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How to invest in the BTCC Bitcoin ETF

To buy ETF units in BTCC, you'll first need to sign up to a broker with access to the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Kylie Purcell
Kylie Purcell

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The "world's first" physical Bitcoin exchange traded fund (ETF), the Purpose Bitcoin ETF (TSX:BTCC), has officially launched on Canada's Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). This means you can now buy units in the ETF through a global stock broker or online share trading platform.

While this is simple enough if you're Canadian, Australians wanting to invest in BTCC will need to a do a little homework. There are limited brokers that offer Canadian stocks or ETFs in Australia and often the fees to invest are much higher than if you're buying US or Australian securities.

One online broker that offers $0 brokerage trades on Canadian securities is CMC Markets. Other brokers include Saxo Capital Markets, CommSec, Phillip Capital and Interactive Brokers. You can check out how other brokers compare in the comparison table below.

How to buy the BTCC ETF

  1. Compare online brokers. To invest in exchange traded funds (ETFs) listed in Canada, you'll need to sign up to an ETF broker platform with access to Canadian stock exchanges. Our table below can help you choose.
  2. Open and fund your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details, such as your ID and tax file number. Fund your account with a bank transfer, PayPal or debit card.
  3. Search for the Purpose Bitcoin ETF. Find the ETF by name or ticker symbol: BTCC. Research its history to confirm it's a solid investment against your financial goals.
  4. Purchase now or later. Buy today with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until the Purpose Bitcoin ETF reaches your desired price. To spread out your risk, look into dollar-cost averaging, which smooths out buying at consistent intervals and amounts.
  5. Decide on how many to buy. At today's price, weigh your budget against a diversified portfolio that can minimise risk through the market's ups and downs.
  6. Check in on your investment. Congratulations, you've invested in the Purpose Bitcoin ETF. Optimise your portfolio by tracking how your ETF performs with an eye on the long term.

What we know about BTCC

The Purpose Bitcoin ETF began trading on Thursday in Canada under the ticker symbols TSX:BTCC.B and TSX:BTCC.U. The BTCC.B fund is Canadian dollar denominated while the TSX:BTCC.U version is US dollar denominated. Neither option is currency hedged.

Launched by Purpose Investments and headed by CEO/founder Som Seif, the fund is designed to give investors exposure to the digital currency by investing in physically settled Bitcoin.

Although it has been called "the world's first Bitcoin ETF" by the TSX, it's worth noting that other "Bitcoin-themed" or blockchain ETFs do exist, although they track companies with exposure to digital currencies, rather than physical/digital Bitcoin. BTCC is the first direct custody Bitcoin ETF.

There are also several cryptocurrency funds available in Europe that behave similarly to ETFs. To check out other Bitcoin-related ETFs, check out our cryptocurrency ETF guide.

At time of writing, there are no cryptocurrency ETFs listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Compare global ETF brokers

    Data updated regularly
    Name Product Standard brokerage for US shares Inactivity fee Currency conversion fee Markets
    eToro Share Trading (US stocks)
    Finder Award
    eToro Share Trading (US stocks)
    USD 0
    USD 10 per month if there’s been no login for 12 months
    0.50%
    Forex, CFDs, US shares
    Zero brokerage share trading on US stocks with trades as low as $50.
    Note: This broker offers CFDs which are volatile investment products and most clients lose money trading CFDs with this provider.
    Join the world’s biggest social trading network when you trade stocks, commodities and forex from the one account.
    Go to site
    More Info
    CMC Markets Stockbroking
    Finder Award
    CMC Markets Stockbroking
    USD 0
    No
    0.60%
    ASX shares, Global shares, Forex, CFDs, Options trading, mFunds, ETFs, Warrants
    $0 brokerage on global shares including US, UK and Japan markets.
    Trade up to 9,000 products, including shares, managed funds, forex, commodities and cryptocurrencies, plus access up to 15 major global and Australian stock exchanges.
    Go to site
    More Info
    IG Share Trading
    Finder Award
    IG Share Trading
    USD 0
    AUD 50 per quarter if you make fewer than three trades in that period
    0.70%
    ASX shares, Global shares, Forex, CFDs, Margin trading
    $0 brokerage for US and global shares plus get an active trader discount of $5 commission on Australian shares.
    Note: $10,000 deposit required to open account.
    Enjoy some of the lowest brokerage fees on the market when trading Australian shares, international shares, forex and CFDs, plus get access to 24-hour customer support.
    Go to site
    More Info
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    Compare up to 4 providers

    Important: Share trading can be financially risky and the value of your investment can go down as well as up. “Standard brokerage” fee is the cost to trade $1,000 or less of ASX-listed shares and ETFs without any qualifications or special eligibility. If ASX shares aren’t available, the fee shown is for US shares. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.

    How to invest in ETFs

    To find out more about ETFs, you can head to our guide on how to invest in exchange traded funds or click on the video below.

    Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades.

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