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Coinbase ETFs and Cryptocurrency Investing is a rapidly growing space, and for good reason - it offers a way to invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum without actually buying the coins themselves.
Coinbase, a well-established cryptocurrency exchange, recently launched its first ETF, the Coinbase Bitcoin ETF. This ETF is designed to track the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency without the need to buy and store it themselves.
Investors can use ETFs as a way to diversify their portfolios and gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without the volatility that often comes with buying individual coins.
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Types of Coinbase ETFs
There are several types of Coinbase ETFs available, each with its own unique characteristics.
The VanEck Digital Transformation ETF, for example, tracks the performance of the MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index, a collection of companies that participate in the digital assets economy.
This ETF has a weighted average market cap of $10.4 billion, with mid-cap stocks making up 54% of the fund's net assets.
Coinbase Global is one of the top holdings of this ETF, which accounts for roughly 52% of the current portfolio.
Here are some key stats about the VanEck Digital Transformation ETF:
- Assets under management: $144.3 million
- Expenses: 0.51%
Understanding ETPs
ETPs offer a convenient way to gain exposure to bitcoin, and one such example is the IBIT ETP.
If you're an advisor, you might find it useful to build an iBonds ladder, as mentioned in the article.
VanEck Digital Transformation
The VanEck Digital Transformation ETF is a great option for investors looking to play the growing adoption of digital assets. It's a passively managed fund that tracks the MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index.
The fund has a relatively small size, with assets under management of $144.3 million and expenses of 0.51%. It was launched in April 2021, unfortunately timing its debut with the start of the second crypto winter.
The fund's holdings are diverse, with a weighted average market cap of $10.4 billion and a mix of mid-cap, large-cap, and small-cap stocks. U.S. stocks make up the majority of the portfolio, followed by firms in Canada and Germany.
The top holdings of the fund are a who's who of the crypto space, including MicroStrategy, Coinbase Global, and Block. These names account for roughly 52% of the current portfolio.
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Here's a breakdown of the fund's holdings:
The fund has seen a steady uptrend in early 2023 and is up about 30% year to date in 2024, making it a promising option for investors looking to get in on the growing digital assets market.
Key Facts
The VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP) has assets under management of $144.3 million and expenses of 0.51%. This ETF tracks the MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index, which focuses on companies that participate in the digital assets economy.
A $10,000 investment in DAPP at its inception in April 2021 would be worth around $4,000 today, due to the second crypto winter starting at the end of 2021. However, the fund has established a steady uptrend in early 2023 and is up about 30% year to date in 2024.
The top holdings of the VanEck Digital Transformation ETF account for roughly 52% of the current portfolio, including MicroStrategy, Coinbase Global, Block, and other prominent names in the crypto space.
Here is a breakdown of the VanEck Digital Transformation ETF's key statistics:
The VanEck Digital Transformation ETF's holdings are primarily mid-cap stocks, making up 54% of the fund's net assets, followed by large-caps at 23% and small-cap stocks at 22%.
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Investing in Coinbase ETFs
Coinbase ETFs offer a convenient way to invest in cryptocurrency, removing operational, tax, and custody complexities associated with holding it directly.
You can access Coinbase ETFs through an exchange-traded product, making it easier to get exposure to bitcoin.
IBIT, a notable example, has been the most traded bitcoin exchange-traded product since its launch, providing investors with potentially lower transaction costs due to its strong trading volume and narrow bid-ask spreads.
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager by AUM, manages the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, which leverages a multi-year technology integration developed with Coinbase Prime, a full-service prime broker of Coinbase, Inc.
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Why Ibit?
Ibit offers a convenient way to get exposure to bitcoin through an exchange-traded product, eliminating the complexities of holding bitcoin directly.
IBIT has been the most traded bitcoin exchange-traded product since launch, providing investors with potentially lower transaction costs due to its strong trading volume and narrow bid-ask spreads.
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, manages IBIT, leveraging a multi-year technology integration developed with Coinbase Prime, the world's largest institutional digital asset custodian.
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Having a large asset manager like BlackRock at the helm can give investors peace of mind, knowing that their investment is being managed by a reputable and experienced company.
As of March 31, 2024, BlackRock managed $10.5 trillion in assets under management, a testament to their expertise and capabilities.
Coinbase Prime, the custodian of IBIT, is a full-service prime broker of Coinbase, Inc., an affiliate of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, with $171 billion in institutional assets under custody as of March 31, 2024.
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The Price War
In January 2024, ten would-be spot Bitcoin ETF issuers filed forms with the SEC, disclosing the fees they intended to charge.
These issuers are engaged in a price war, with many Bitcoin ETFs slashing their fees and offering limited-time promotional fee waivers.
The flood of SEC filings continued until hours before the SEC's approval announcement, and may still be ongoing.
This price war is a sign of the competitive landscape in the ETF market, where issuers are vying for investors' attention and assets.
Specific Coinbase ETFs
The Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund is a unique offering that allows you to invest in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap, with a hefty expense ratio of 2.5%.
Bitcoin and Ethereum make up more than 90% of the underlying portfolio, making them the largest cryptocurrencies invested in this fund.
The fund is actively managed and rebalanced monthly to account for changes in crypto prices, giving you exposure to the top cryptocurrencies in the market.
Here are the other notable holdings in the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund:
- Solana (SOL 3.31%)
- Cardano (CRYPTO:ADA)
- Avalanche (AVAX 1.81%)
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process Index
The First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process Index is a global universe of equities in both developed and emerging markets. It starts by eliminating stocks with market caps of less than $250 million and three-month average daily trading of less than $1 million.
The index also eliminates stocks that haven't traded on 90% of the eligible trading days, have a free float of less than 20% of the shares outstanding, or have share prices greater than $10,000. This helps to ensure that only liquid and stable stocks are included.
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The index then applies a score of 1 for companies actively developing blockchain technology, 2 for companies actively using blockchain technology, and 3 for companies actively exploring blockchain technology. Companies scoring 3 are excluded altogether.
The index only includes companies scoring 1 or 2, giving 50% of the weighting to firms scoring 1 and 50% to those scoring 2.
Here's a breakdown of the index's selection process:
- Market cap: $250 million minimum
- Three-month average daily trading: $1 million minimum
- Trading days: 90% of eligible trading days
- Free float: 20% of shares outstanding minimum
- Share price: $10,000 maximum
The portfolio is capped at 100 stocks, and the index is rebalanced and reconstituted twice a year. This helps to ensure that the index remains up-to-date and reflects the current market landscape.
Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund
The Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund is a unique offering that allows investors to tap into the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. It's actively managed, which means it has a 2.5% expense ratio, or $25 in annualized fees deducted from fund performance per $1,000 invested.
The fund invests in the top 10 cryptocurrencies, with bitcoin making up a significant 74% of the portfolio, followed by Ethereum at 17.1%. Solana, Cardano, and Avalanche are also part of the portfolio.
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Here are the top 3 cryptocurrencies in the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund by weight:
- Bitcoin (74%)
- Ethereum (17.1%)
- Solana (4.6%)
The fund is rebalanced monthly to account for changes in crypto prices, and it trades over the counter, which can sometimes result in a severe discount or premium to the underlying crypto prices it owns.
2x Long Coin Daily
The 2x Long Coin Daily fund is a unique investment option that aims to track the daily performance of Coinbase Global Inc. It seeks to match 200% of the daily percentage change of COIN's common stock.
There's no guarantee the fund will meet this objective, and it's essential to keep that in mind when considering investment.
The fund's goal is not to provide 2 times the cumulative return of COIN for periods longer than a day, so if you're looking for long-term gains, this might not be the best fit.
Cryptocurrency and Investing
Investing in cryptocurrency ETFs can provide a way to gain exposure to the crypto market with less risk than investing directly in cryptocurrencies.
There are several types of cryptocurrency ETFs available, including Bitcoin ETFs, Ethereum ETFs, and ETFs that invest in multiple cryptocurrencies or crypto-related companies.
Some notable benefits of these ETFs include the ability to invest through a Roth IRA for tax-free withdrawals in retirement and the option to invest in companies developing and using blockchain technology.
You can also find ETFs that invest in crypto futures contracts, but keep in mind that futures, especially crypto futures, carry much more risk.
Here are some key features of a few notable cryptocurrency ETFs:
What is a Spot?
A spot Bitcoin ETF is a highly liquid fund that changes price throughout the trading day, just like a stock, and directly tracks the price of Bitcoin by holding a large amount of the cryptocurrency itself.
It's similar to a spot gold ETF, which holds physical gold bullion on behalf of its shareholders.
These funds are different from other crypto-related ETFs and trusts that were already on the market, but they are the first cryptocurrency funds to trade on a major exchange and hold Bitcoin directly.
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The first spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved in January 2024, marking a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency space.
Here are some key features of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs:
Each of these brokers has its own unique features and promotions, such as Charles Schwab's $0 per online equity trade fee and Public's offer of earning up to $10,000 when you transfer your investment portfolio.
What Is a Strategy?
A strategy in cryptocurrency investing is about making informed decisions to achieve your goals. It's not just about buying and holding, but rather about how you approach the market.
Some investors use a strategy to track the price of Bitcoin indirectly through various investments. This can include investing in Bitcoin futures or Bitcoin mining stocks.
Investing in Bitcoin futures or mining stocks can be a way to indirectly invest in Bitcoin without actually owning the cryptocurrency. However, these investments can be prone to deviating from the returns of Bitcoin.
These indirect investments can be a good option for those who want to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market without directly owning Bitcoin. However, it's essential to understand the potential risks involved.
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Do Spot Have Custodianship Risk?
Spot Bitcoin ETFs rely on third-party custodians to store their Bitcoin holdings, just like spot gold ETFs store their physical gold in a vault.
Coinbase is the custodian for ten of the 12 currently trading spot Bitcoin ETFs.
The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund uses Fidelity itself as a custodian, and the VanEck Bitcoin Trust uses Gemini.
If Coinbase were to run into severe financial trouble, the holdings of Bitcoin ETFs could be at risk.
In the event of a Coinbase bankruptcy, there are mechanisms to recover ETF holdings, but they wouldn't be instant or automatic.
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Fidelity Crypto and Digital Payments
The Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF is a relatively new fund, launching in April 2022.
It tracks the performance of the Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments Index, which includes companies involved in cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital payments processing.
The index starts with the global equity universe, eliminating companies with insufficient trading volume and market cap.
Approximately 60% of the index is made up of crypto and blockchain companies.
The fund is rebalanced quarterly to ensure it stays on track.
FDIG currently has 42 holdings, with the top 10 stocks accounting for 55% of net assets.
The three biggest stocks by weighting are Coinbase Global, MARA Holdings, and CleanSpark.
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7 Top Cryptocurrency
If you're considering investing in cryptocurrency, you're not alone. Many people are turning to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a way to get involved.
There are several top cryptocurrency ETFs to choose from, each with its own unique focus and characteristics.
Here are 7 top cryptocurrency ETFs to consider:
Each of these ETFs offers a unique way to invest in the cryptocurrency market, and it's worth doing your research to find the one that best fits your investment goals and risk tolerance.
Investing in Cryptocurrency
Investing in cryptocurrency can be a bit overwhelming, but it's worth understanding the basics. There are several types of cryptocurrency ETFs available, with the largest being Bitcoin ETFs that invest solely in Bitcoin.
You can also find ETFs that invest in multiple cryptocurrencies, crypto-related companies, or crypto futures contracts. Note that futures, in general, and especially crypto futures, carry much more risk.
If you're new to cryptocurrency, it's essential to start small and focus on the long-term potential for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology overall. As with any emerging asset class, expect lots of volatility – both in cryptos themselves and in the companies focused on their development.
There are several ETFs that track the performance of Bitcoin, including the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust (FBTC) and the Global X Blockchain & Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITS). These ETFs can be a great way to invest in Bitcoin without having to buy and store it yourself.
Here are some key facts about cryptocurrency ETFs:
If you're interested in investing in a specific type of cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum or Bitcoin, there are ETFs available that track the performance of those cryptocurrencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Bitcoin ETF on Coinbase?
The current price of the Bitcoin ETF is CA$0.000452. It's currently trading at 96.93% below its all-time high of CA$0.0147.
Do any ETFs have cryptocurrency?
Yes, there are ETFs that provide direct exposure to specific cryptocurrencies, offering a convenient alternative to buying and managing digital assets. These ETFs track the spot price of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, providing a similar investment experience without the complexities of digital wallets.
Sources
- https://www.ishares.com/us/products/333011/ishares-bitcoin-trust-etf
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/spot-bitcoin-etf
- https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/cryptocurrency/603600/bitcoin-etfs-cryptocurrency-funds
- https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/financials/cryptocurrency-stocks/cryptocurrency-etf/
- https://graniteshares.com/institutional/us/en-us/etfs/conl/
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