BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust Leads in Trading Volume
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust has emerged as the leader in trading volume among the 11 newly opened spot bitcoin ETFs. In the first hour, this nine trillion dollar asset manager attracted trading volume of $17.9 million. Following closely behind is Grayscale, a “crypto native” asset manager, which converted its closed-ended trust into an ETF after winning a court case against the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Takes Advantage of Headstart
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust already has $28 billion in assets under management, giving it a significant advantage over its competitors. It recorded early volumes of $16.7 million.
Smaller Players Struggle with Trading Volume
Among the smaller players, the Hashdex Bitcoin Futures ETF had the lowest trading volume in the first hour at $25,864. However, it is worth noting that DEFI is currently one of only two spot bitcoin ETFs in the green with a price increase of 2.5% at $56.45.
Fees and Waivers
To attract buyers, several issuers have waived their management fees for an introductory period, effectively reducing fees to 0%. Other issuers like BlackRock have reduced their charges. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust is charging 0.12% for 12 months up to $5 billion in assets, after which the fee increases to 0.25%.
Bitcoin’s Volatility and Market Conditions
The price of bitcoin has been volatile, reaching $48,922 before returning to around $46,300. Strong inflation figures affecting the broader stock market have impacted crypto as well. However, those with a longer-term view may find comfort in Standard Chartered’s price target of $100,000 by year-end and $200,000 in 2025.
Bitcoin Minetrix Offers Unique Exposure to Mining
Bitcoin Minetrix is a project that brings tokenized bitcoin cloud mining to the market. Its native token, $BTCMTX, has raised $8.2 million in presale. By staking the token, holders earn cloud mining credits and a share of bitcoin mining rewards. This provides a novel way to gain exposure to the bitcoin growth story as mining becomes more profitable and bitcoin becomes scarcer.
Essential Information for Navigating the Spot Bitcoin ETF Market
For a breakdown of essential information about the spot bitcoin ETF market, refer to the infographic below:
Hot Take: Bitcoin ETF Essential Facts
As trading volume picks up for spot bitcoin ETFs, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust takes the lead with impressive trading volume. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust also benefits from its headstart due to its existing assets under management. While smaller players struggle with trading volume, one such player, DEFI, is currently in the green. Various issuers have waived their management fees or reduced charges to attract buyers. Bitcoin’s volatility and market conditions continue to impact its price. However, those looking at the long term may find optimism in Standard Chartered’s price targets for bitcoin. Additionally, Bitcoin Minetrix offers a unique opportunity for exposure to bitcoin mining through its tokenized cloud mining platform.