How to buy Bitcoin ETFs (2024)

Both the US and Australia approved landmark Bitcoin ETFs in 2024. Here's how to get involved.

Invest in Bitcoin ETFs Compare ETF brokers
What Bitcoin ETFs are listed in Australia? Learn more

Buy Bitcoin ETFs in just 4 steps

Bitcoin exchange traded funds (ETFs) are similar to other ETFs and you'll need to follow these steps if you want to buy one of them:

  1. Choose a broker.
  2. Open your account – including your ID.
  3. Fund your account by transferring money from your bank account to your broker account.
  4. Search for the Bitcoin ETF you want to buy, select it and invest.

Bitcoin ETF market updates

On 11 January 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds). This means you can now get exposure to Bitcoin's price through stock brokerages and trading platforms.

On 4 June 2024, Monochrome launched the first Australian Bitcoin ETF that holds Bitcoin directly. It trades under the ticker IBTC on the Cboe Australia exchange.

On 20 June 2024, VanEck launched the first Bitcoin ETF on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) under the ticker VBTC.

On 11 July 2024, Monochrome announced it would be cutting the fees on its IBTC ETF to 0.50% and launching a lending protocol where investors can borrow against their IBTC holdings.

On 20 November 2024, Bitcoin ETF options launched in the US, with almost US$2 billion of contracts traded.

Which companies offer Bitcoin ETFs?

  • BlackRock
  • Fidelity
  • Invesco
  • Grayscale
  • ARK & 21 Shares
  • Bitwise Invest
  • Franklin
  • VanEck
  • Wisdomtree
  • Valkyrie
  • Hashdex
  • Monochrome
  • Global X
  • Monochrome

Why buy a Bitcoin ETF?

A Bitcoin ETF allows investors to gain exposure to this volatile asset through a basket approach.

It's like any other thematic-based ETF. If you believe a certain sector, theme or market could be the major winner moving forward but are unsure of the individual winners, taking a basket approach allows you to gain exposure while offsetting individual business risk.

An ETF approach to Bitcoin also allows investors a different way to gain exposure.

While there are many Bitcoin ETFs in circulation, many of which are inaccessible, the available ones offer investors different solutions. Some track movement in price while others follow businesses that are exposed to crypto assets. And while you should know what you own, a Bitcoin ETF could be a way of gaining access to the fastest-growing trend in financial markets.

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Our expert says

"Buying a spot Bitcoin ETF is a really convenient way to invest in Bitcoin for anyone who just wants to speculate on the price and not worry about safe storage. The ETF issuer manages it all on your behalf, so you don't need to learn how to use a Bitcoin wallet or manage private keys."

Publisher

3 types of Bitcoin ETFs

Bitcoin ETFs all broadly follow the same theme, but they can be broken down into 3 main categories:

  1. Physically backed. This is probably the simplest form of ETF for investors to get their heads around. In this instance, the ETF you invest in will buy Bitcoin on your behalf and store it for you, most often in an offline wallet.
  2. Futures contracts. If you choose to buy a futures-backed ETF, you don't actually own Bitcoin. Instead, the ETF provider is trading contracts that reflect Bitcoin's price on your behalf. Should the price of Bitcoin increase, so will the next contract, lifting the price of what the ETF holds. The inverse is also true should the price of Bitcoin fall.
  3. Picks and shovels. In this instance, you're looking at companies that are mining Bitcoin. You are investing in the underlying tech instead of the outcome. Basically, you're making money selling the picks and shovels instead of buying Bitcoin itself.

Cryptocurrency ETFs vs cryptocurrency: Benefits and risks

  • Simplicity. Learning how to buy and store cryptocurrency can be a confusing and daunting process. ETFs make it easy to gain exposure to digital currencies without going through the hassle of owning any coins.
  • Create a diverse portfolio. The compartmentalised nature of the cryptocurrency industry means that acquiring and holding a large collection of currencies all at once is complicated and time-consuming. You may have to open several wallets and maintain accounts on multiple cryptocurrency exchanges. While US choices track only Bitcoin at the moment, in theory, cryptocurrency ETFs allow you to track multiple digital coins and tokens at once, saving you a lot of time and effort.
  • Avoid the risk of hacking. Cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets are susceptible to hacking attacks and theft. Buying units in a cryptocurrency 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 expenses.
  • Regulation. Futures markets used by current Bitcoin ETFs are federally regulated while Bitcoin has more limited regulation. Some will consider this a benefit, others a drawback.
  • Limited choice. There's currently limited choice available for anyone wanting to invest in cryptocurrency-related ETFs in the US. However, now that the SEC has approved its first cryptocurrency ETF, this will likely soon change.
  • Volatility. Cryptocurrencies are famous for their volatility. They can also experience substantial price fluctuations in a short period. If the market moves against you, the value of your cryptocurrency ETF units could take a sharp dive.
  • Tracking vs owning. With futures-based cryptocurrency ETFs, you're also looking at a value that tracks the coin indirectly. It won't match the asset and you could gain or lose as the asset moves in price. It's a great unknown at this point.
  • Lack of risk diversification. Traditional ETFs often include an extensive range of securities to help achieve diversification. They sometimes include government bonds and debt to mitigate market risk. However, most versions of cryptocurrency ETFs only provide access to a limited range of digital currencies. When you 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 doesn't mean these risks cease to exist. Issues such as hacking will still need to be managed by the ETF provider.
  • Fees apply. On top of 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 ETF units located in another country, such as XBT Provider's funds, be aware that foreign tax may apply.

Compare online ETF brokers

To invest in Bitcoin ETFs, you need a brokerage account. Review platform features and fees to find the account that best fits your needs.

Product AUFST Brokerage on AU ETFs Inactivity fee Asset class
$3
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Finder exclusive: Unlock up to AUD$4,000 AND US$4,000 in $0 brokerage over 60 days. T&Cs apply.
Trade US, Asian and CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks and get access to social trading.
Tiger Brokers
Finder AwardExclusive
Tiger Brokers logo
$2.99
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Finder exclusive: Get 4 brokerage-free trades and pay no FX fees on the first $2,000 you exchange each month with first deposit of any amount + plus get an $80 cash voucher when you deposit up to $2000. T&Cs apply.
Trade US, Asian and CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks and US options.
CMC Invest
Finder AwardExclusive
CMC Invest logo
$0
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Finder exclusive: Get $100 trading credit when you transfer $10k+ of either Australian or international stocks to CMC Invest. Only available for the first 50 new clients to participate. Use promo code “100CMC”. T&Cs apply.
Trade over 45,000 shares and ETFs from Australia and 15 major global markets. Plus, buy Aussie shares or ETFs for $0 brokerage up to $1,000 (First buy order of each security, each day - excludes margin loan settled trades).
$2
$0
ASX shares, US shares, ETFs
Sign up with code ‘finder24’ and get US$10 of Nvidia stock when you fund your account with $100 or more within 30 days. T&Cs apply.
Enjoy US$2 brokerage (other fees may apply) on US stocks and buying ETFs as well as $2 fee to trade Australian shares up to $20,000.
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Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.

What Bitcoin ETFs are listed in Australia?

There are 3 Bitcoin ETFs trading in Australia, as well as 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US that you may be able to trade from Australia, depending on your broker.

These are the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (ASX: VBTC), Monochrome Bitcoin ETF (CBOE: IBTC) and Global X 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (CBOE: EBTC).

Here are some of the other options:

Product GXFST-ETF Symbol Listed on Assets held Who can invest? Management fee Link
VanEck Bitcoin ETF
VanEck logo
VBTC
ASX (AU)
BTC
0.59%
View details
Monochrome Bitcoin ETF
Monochrome logo
IBTC
Cboe (AU)
BTC
0.98%
View details
Global X 21Shares Bitcoin ETF
21Shares logo
EBTC
Cboe (AU)
BTC
1.25%
View details
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Product GXFST-ETF Symbol Listed on Assets held Who can invest? Management fee Link
21Shares Ethereum ETF
21Shares logo
EETH
Cboe (AU)
ETH
1.49%
View details
3iQ CoinShare Ether Feeder ETF
3iQ logo
ET3Q
Cboe (AU)
ETH
1.20%
View details
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1 - 13 of 13
Product GXFST-ETF Symbol Listed on Assets held Who can invest? Management fee Link
BITO
NYSE (US)
BTC
Anyone
0.65%
View details
VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF
VanEck logo
XBTF
Cboe BZX (US)
BTC
Anyone
0.65%
View details
Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF
Valkyrie logo
BTF
NASDAQ (US)
BTC
Anyone
0.95%
View details
Bitcoin Tracker Euro
XBT Provider logo
COINXBE
Nasdaq Stockholm (Sweden)
BTC
Anyone
2.5%
View details
Bitcoin Tracker One
XBT Provider logo
COINXBT
NASDAQ (US), Nasdaq Stockholm (Sweden)
BTC
Anyone
2.5%
View details
Evolve Bitcoin ETF
XBT Provider logo
EBIT
Toronto Stock Exchange (CA)
BTC
0.75%
View details
3iQ CoinShares Bitcoin ETF
3iQ logo
BTCQ
Toronto Stock Exchange (CA)
BTC
1.00%
View details
CI Galaxy Bitcoin ETF
XBT Provider logo
BTCX.U
Toronto Stock Exchange (CA)
BTC
0.40%
View details
OKEX OK06ETT
OKEx logo
OK06ETT
OKEx (SC)
BTC, ETH, BCH, EOS
0.20%
View details
XBT Ether Tracker Euro
Ether logo
ETHEREUM XBTE
Nasdaq Stockholm (Sweden)
ETH
2.5%
View details
Coinbase Index Fund
Coinbase logo
CBIFS
Coinbase Pro (US)
BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA
1%
View details
Purpose Bitcoin ETF
XBT Provider logo
BTCC
Toronto Stock Exchange (CA)
BTC
1%
View details
XBT Ether Tracker One
XBT Provider logo
ETHEREUM XBT
Toronto Stock Exchange (CA)
ETH
2.5%
View details
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Bitcoin ETF fees

This is a summary of the fees charged on the 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs that have been approved:

ETF issuerSymbolInitial feeLong-term feeDetails
BlackRockIBIT0.20%0.30%First 12 months or US$5 billion AUM
FidelityFBTC0%0.39%First 6 months or US$1 billion AUM
InvescoBTCO0%0.59%First 6 months and US$5 billion AUM
GrayscaleGBTC1.50%1.50%N/A
ARK & 21 SharesARKB0%0.25%First 6 months or $1 billion AUM
Bitwise InvestBITB0%0.24%First 6 months or $1 billion AUM
FranklinEXBC0.29%0.29%N/A
VanEckHODL0.25%0.25%N/A
WisdomtreeBTCW0.50%0.50%N/A
ValkyrieBRRR0.80%0.80%N/A
HashdexDEFI0.90%0.90%N/A

How do ETFs affect the price of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin ETFs should positively affect Bitcoin price. Bitcoin will get more attention from mainstream investors, including financial advisers who wouldn't otherwise want to get exposure to cryptocurrency. Having Bitcoin ETFs approved by the SEC could also boost investor confidence in this alternative asset.

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 comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades.

Who are Bitcoin ETFs suited to?

Bitcoin ETFs are suited to a number of investors ranging from those who are already stock traders to those who are bullish on the future price of the asset class.

Buying one of the current Bitcoin ETFs means you will be investing in future contracts or in a company's exposure to Bitcoin's assets, but you will not hold the "physical" asset itself. As such, investors who are bullish on the price of the underlying asset but do not want the hassle of owning a cryptocurrency wallet could favour a Bitcoin ETF instead.

An ETF structure might also appeal to investors who own other stocks but want to gain exposure to Bitcoin assets.

Rather than signing up for 2 different accounts and having to track 2 different asset classes, investors can simply own an ETF.

Limitations of Bitcoin ETFs

While an ETF gives you the opportunity to get into the market, as it currently stands you won't own the actual underlying assets. Instead, most trade using a model based on business exposure to Bitcoin or based on contracts for difference (CFDs), meaning you are trading on the future price of Bitcoin without owning it.

If you want to own Bitcoin, an ETF approach may not be best suited to your needs.

Trying to get a handle on the markets? Cut through the noise with our overview of the best cryptos to buy right now, explore some strategies for how to trade crypto or see if there's a better platform for you with our guide to the best crypto exchanges.

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.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Jason Loewenthal as part of our fact-checking process.
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Kylie Purcell is the senior investments editor and analyst at Finder. She has completed a Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments (RG146) and specialises in investment products including online brokers, robo-advisors, stocks and ETFs. See full bio

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