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A beginner’s guide to cryptocurrency ETFs

The 101 on bitcoin and cryptocurrency ETFs (exchange-traded funds)

Tim Falk
Tim Falk

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If you want to speculate on the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without actually buying any digital coins, cryptocurrency ETFs offer one way to do this. ETFs allow you to track the price of an underlying asset or index.

However, cryptocurrency ETFs not only come with a certain level of risk attached, they’re also yet to receive the official seal of approval from important global regulators like the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Keep reading to find out why.

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as either an endorsement or recommendation of managed investment schemes, cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. Consider your own circumstances and obtain independent advice before acting on this information.

What is in this guide?

Compare cryptocurrency ETFs

ETF Name Offered By Symbol Type Retail or Wholesale? Minimum Investment SEC-approved?
Bitcoin Tracker One XBT Provider COINXBT Exchange-traded note Retail 1 share No
Bitcoin Tracker Euro XBT Provider COINXBE Exchange-traded note Retail 1 share No
Ether Tracker One XBT Provider COINETH Exchange-traded note Retail 1 share No
Ether Tracker Euro XBT Provider COINETHE Exchange-traded note Retail 1 share No
HB10 Huobi Global HB10 Index fund Retail ~US$100 No
OK06ETT OKEx OK06ETT Index fund Retail ~US$100 No
CoinJar Digital Currency Fund - Bitcoin Class CoinJar - Index fund Wholesale AU$50,000 No
CoinJar Digital Currency Fund - Mixed Class CoinJar - Index fund Wholesale AU$50,000 No
Coinbase Index Fund Coinbase CBIFS Index fund Wholesale US$250,000 No
Bitcoin Investment Trust Grayscale Investments GBTC Investment trust Wholesale US$50,000 No
Bitcoin Cash Investment Trust Grayscale Investments BCHFUND Investment trust Wholesale US$25,000 No
Ethereum Investment Trust Grayscale Investments ETHFUND Investment trust Wholesale US$25,000 No
Ethereum Classic Investment Trust Grayscale Investments ETCG Investment trust Wholesale US$25,000 No
Litecoin Investment Trust Grayscale Investments LTCFUND Investment trust Wholesale US$25,000 No
XRP Investment Trust Grayscale Investments XRPFUND Investment trust Wholesale US$25,000 No
Zcash Investment Trust Grayscale Investments ZECFUND Investment trust Wholesale US$25,000 No
Digital Large Cap Fund Grayscale Investments DLCFUND Investment trust Wholesale US$50,000 No

Find out more about cryptocurrency funds in our 101 guide.

What is a cryptocurrency ETF?

An ETF is a collection (often called a "basket") of assets that can be bought and sold on a stock market in much the same way that investors trade ordinary shares in a company. ETFs are investment funds designed to track the performance of a particular index, such as the ASX200, or a specific commodity or asset.

For example, a gold ETF allows you to invest in the value of gold without ever having to own any gold or find somewhere to store it.

As you might have already predicted, then, a cryptocurrency ETF is an ETF designed to give investors exposure to the cryptocurrency market. Commonly referred to as bitcoin ETFs, they track the price of one or more digital coins or tokens, providing exposure to cryptocurrency price movements without some of the risks and drawbacks associated with actually owning any digital currency.

The most basic way for a crypto ETF to track the price of a digital currency is to purchase and store that currency, and then divide shares in the ownership of those coins up between stakeholders. However, another model is for the ETF to own bitcoin futures.

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How do cryptocurrency ETFs work?

While buying and selling cryptocurrency is a lot easier today than it was just a couple of years ago, it’s still complicated and confusing for most new users. Setting up and maintaining one or more digital wallets, understanding the difference between public and private keys, and dealing with the threats of hacking and theft are all significant barriers that crypto newcomers are faced with.

But cryptocurrency ETFs offer a way around these obstacles. When you invest in a crypto ETF, you don’t actually buy any cryptocurrency – instead, the ETF will be based on one of two approaches:

  • Physical-backed crypto ETFs. Any digital coins the ETF is designed to track are owned by the fund itself, and you buy units or shares in the ETF. If the value of the digital coins owned by the ETF rises, the value of your investment unit also increases.
  • Futures-backed crypto ETFs. With this type of ETF, shares in the fund aren’t based on actual coins but on bitcoin futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement that sets a fixed price and date for buying or selling an asset. As a result, they potentially allow investors to profit in either bearish or bullish markets, while also eliminating the risk to the fund of having their crypto assets stolen or hacked.

ETF units can be bought and sold on securities exchange markets, but brokerage fees apply. Just like shares traded on an exchange, the price of an ETF fluctuates throughout the day as investors buy and sell units.

You’ll also need to pay a management fee to the ETF issuer, but ETFs generally have lower fees compared to traditional managed funds.

How crypto ETFs work

To help you understand ETFs a little better, let’s take a look at a hypothetical example.

The XYZ ETF is designed to track the performance of the world’s five biggest cryptocurrencies by market cap – bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash and EOS.

The company that issues the ETF owns a specified amount of each of the five currencies, and the ownership of these coins and tokens is divided into shares. Investors then buy and sell those ETF shares on stock exchanges in the hope of benefiting from price increases to the underlying digital currencies.

Let’s assume that the value of 1 unit of XYZ ETF is $50, so you decide to purchase 10 units for a total of $500. After 12 months of growth for global crypto markets, the XYZ ETF unit price has risen to $100, meaning your total investment is now valued at $1,000.

Had you taken a more traditional approach and decided to buy each of the five cryptocurrencies individually, you would have needed to create one or more wallets, register for an account on a crypto exchange, pay brokerage fees to purchase each individual crypto, and then track the price movements of each coin across the past year.

But with a cryptocurrency ETF, it’s easier and far less time-consuming to gain access to a diverse portfolio of crypto assets.

The history of crypto ETFs

The history of cryptocurrency ETFs has been brief but controversial. Throughout 2017 and 2018, there’s been a fair bit of media coverage focused on the efforts of multiple ETF providers to get the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to approve their proposals for a crypto-based ETF.

As of August 2018, the SEC is yet to approve any bitcoin or cryptocurrency ETFs, citing security concerns. It has rejected several crypto ETF proposals in the past, most notably shutting down applications from the Winklevoss twins in 2017 and 2018.

In late August, the SEC rejected nine further applications for bitcoin ETFs because the proposals did not meet the necessary legal requirements. Specifically, the following statement was included in all nine rejections:

...the Commission is disapproving this proposed rule change because, as discussed below, the exchange has not met its burden under the Exchange Act and the Commission's Rules of Practice to demonstrate that its proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5), in particular the requirement that a national securities exchange's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.

The SEC will rule on one further crypto ETF application, a joint venture between investment firm VanEck and fintech company SolidX, on 29 December 2018. Whether it gives the green light or not will be watched with much interest by crypto enthusiasts around the world.

If crypto ETFs can receive approval from the SEC and are launched in the US, this could mean a step forward in cryptocurrency’s battle for widespread adoption. Properly regulated and professionally managed ETFs could represent a safer option for investors concerned about the risks of buying digital currency, plus help bridge the gap between the world of crypto exchanges and more traditional investment tools.

At time of writing, there are no cryptocurrency ETFs listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). But if approval is granted in the US, there’s a good chance Australian ETF providers will follow suit and launch their own products.

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What are my bitcoin ETF options?

Just because there are no ETFs listed on the ASX doesn’t mean Australian investors can’t gain access to cryptocurrency-related exchange-traded products and index funds. There are several options available in Australia and around the world from the following providers:

Learn more about cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms.

How to invest in a cryptocurrency ETF

ETFs are traditionally designed to be bought and sold on securities exchanges, which means you can trade them via your regular online brokerage account. You may wish to sign up for an online trading account through your regular financial institution, or open an account with a specialist broker.

However, with exchanges like Huobi and OKEx now launching their own index funds, you may need to register for an account on the relevant crypto exchange in order to trade these funds.

Finally, if you’re interested in the potential of the technology behind blockchain, you may also want to consider ETFs focused on blockchain companies. Blockchain technology is one of the key innovations introduced by bitcoin and closely associated with the wider cryptocurrency industry, so it may be worth researching tech-focused ETFs and whether they provide any exposure to blockchain-related investments.

Benefits vs risks of bitcoin ETFs

Just like any other type of investment, cryptocurrency ETFs have a range of pros and cons. It’s essential that you weigh up the potential benefits against the risks involved before deciding whether you should invest in any crypto ETF.

  • Simplicity. Learning how to buy and store cryptocurrency can be a confusing and daunting process. ETFs make it simple to gain exposure to digital currencies without going through the hassle of owning any coins.
  • Create a diverse portfolio. The compartmentalised nature of the crypto industry means that acquiring and holding a large collection of currencies all at once is complicated and time-consuming, requiring you to open several wallets and maintain accounts on multiple crypto exchanges. However, cryptocurrency ETFs allow you to track multiple digital coins and tokens all at once, saving you a whole lot of time and hassle.
  • Avoid the risk of hacking. Cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets are susceptible to hacking attacks and theft. Buying units in a crypto ETF protects you against these risks as you don’t actually own any digital coins.
  • Lower fees. ETFs generally have lower fees than traditional managed funds, making it possible to build a diversified portfolio at reduced expense.
  • Limited choice. There’s currently limited choice available for anyone wanting to invest in cryptocurrency-related ETFs. However, if the SEC approves any of the crypto ETF applications currently under consideration, that could soon change.
  • Volatility. Cryptocurrencies are famous for their volatility and can experience substantial price fluctuations in a short space of time. If the market moves against you, the value of your crypto ETF units could take a sharp dive.
  • Lack of risk diversification. Traditional ETFs often include an extensive range of securities to help achieve diversification of risk. However, the earliest versions of crypto ETFs only provide access to a limited range of digital currencies. When you also consider the correlation between the performance of bitcoin and the value of altcoins, this only increases the level of risk.
  • Crypto-specific risks still apply. Just because you don’t have to deal with any of the risks of owning digital currency, that doesn’t mean these risks cease to exist. Issues such as hacking will still need to be managed by the ETF provider.
  • Fees apply. As well as an annual management fee, you’ll need to consider brokerage fees that apply when you buy or sell ETF units.
  • International taxes. If you buy units in an ETF located in another country, be aware that foreign tax may apply.

Compare cryptocurrency ETFs

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Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

Disclosure: At the time of writing the author holds ADA, ICX, IOTA and XLM.

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