skip to Main Content
bitcoin
Bitcoin (BTC) $ 95,209.51 1.81%
ethereum
Ethereum (ETH) $ 3,280.93 1.24%
tether
Tether (USDT) $ 0.998725 0.05%
xrp
XRP (XRP) $ 2.21 1.13%
bnb
BNB (BNB) $ 648.81 1.74%
solana
Solana (SOL) $ 180.61 0.11%
dogecoin
Dogecoin (DOGE) $ 0.312864 2.39%
usd-coin
USDC (USDC) $ 0.999809 0.02%
staked-ether
Lido Staked Ether (STETH) $ 3,277.03 1.09%
cardano
Cardano (ADA) $ 0.885013 1.73%

Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained

You must confirm the subscription in your inbox.”,”subscribe_email_required”:”Email required”,”subscribe_email_invalid”:”A valid email address must be provided. “,”shares”:”Total shares”,”views”:”Total views”,”sponsoredBadge”:”stretch_banners.sponsored.badge”}” :post=”{“id”:84784,”seo_title”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained”,”seo_description”:”Crypto enthusiasts and the government have long contended over the Bitcoin ETF. Let’s examine Bitcoin spot vs futures ETFs”,”keywords”:”Bitcoin,ETF,Futures”,”canonical”:”https://cointelegraph.com/explained/bitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”thumb”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/1024_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy80NTlkZDc0NzM4NWM0MDAzMTIyNzJlMjBmMWI1YmI0Zi5qcGc=.jpg”,”img”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/2048_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy80NTlkZDc0NzM4NWM0MDAzMTIyNzJlMjBmMWI1YmI0Zi5qcGc=.jpg”,”youtube”:””,”og_title”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained”,”og_description”:”Crypto enthusiasts and the government have long contended over the Bitcoin ETF. Let’s examine Bitcoin spot vs futures ETFs.”,”twitter_title”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained”,”twitter_description”:”Crypto enthusiasts and the government have long contended over the Bitcoin ETF. Let’s examine Bitcoin spot vs futures ETFs.”,”published”:”2022-04-16T15:00:00+01:00″,”noindex”:0,”modified”:”2022-04-16T12:41:00+01:00″,”title”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained”,”leadtext”:”Crypto enthusiasts and the government have long contended over the Bitcoin ETF. Let’s examine Bitcoin spot vs futures ETFs.”,”amp”:”https://cointelegraph.com/explained/bitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained/amp”,”alternates”:[],”alternatesLinks”:[],”url”:”bitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”url_full”:”/explained/bitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”category”:{“id”:65,”url”:”explained”,”priority”:0,”created”:null,”modified”:null,”parent_id”:0,”is_hidden”:0,”created_at”:”-0001-11-30 00:00:00″,”updated_at”:”2022-02-22 18:25:15″,”deleted_at”:null,”admin_weight”:30,”enabled”:1,”is_blog”:0,”relevant”:0,”category_id”:65,”language_id”:1,”title”:”Explained”,”alt”:””,”keywords”:””,”seo_title”:”Explained: articles for beginners about cryptocurrency and blockchain.”,”description”:”

What is Bitcoin? How does blockchain work? How to mine cryptocurrency? We are glad to help you answer these questions with our quick guides in Explained section.

rn”,”seo_description”:”What is Bitcoin? How does blockchain work? How to mine cryptocurrency? We are glad to help you answer these questions with our quick guides in Explained section.”},”words_count”:725,”description”:”Crypto enthusiasts and the government have long contended over the Bitcoin ETF. Let’s examine Bitcoin spot vs futures ETFs”,”author”:{“id”:1332,”title”:”Max Moeller”,”url”:”max-moeller”,”twitter”:””,”google_plus”:””,”photo”:””,”gender”:”male”,”description”:”Max is a cryptocurrency journalist with an affinity for games and emerging technology. After leaving school to start a writing career, he wrote his first article on blockchain and fell down the rabbit hole. Max has been published in various blockchain and crypto related magazines, doing his best to educate everyone on this nascent technology.”,”facebook”:””,”email”:”maxwell.m@cointelegraph.com”,”linkedin”:””,”created_at”:”2021-07-28 20:00:24″,”updated_at”:”2021-11-23 17:19:00″,”deleted_at”:null,”avatar”:”https://cointelegraph.com/assets/img/icons/author_male.jpg”,”hash”:”aHR0cHM6Ly9jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9hdXRob3JzL21heC1tb2VsbGVy”,”relativeUrl”:”https://cointelegraph.com/authors/max-moeller”,”user_id”:1332,”language_id”:1,”name”:”Max Moeller”,”desc”:”Max is a cryptocurrency journalist with an affinity for games and emerging technology. After leaving school to start a writing career, he wrote his first article on blockchain and fell down the rabbit hole. Max has been published in various blockchain and crypto related magazines, doing his best to educate everyone on this nascent technology.”,”seo_title”:””,”seo_description”:””,”enabled”:1,”show_in_authors”:0,”show_in_experts”:0},”category_id”:65,”audio”:””,”tags”:[{“name”:”Bitcoin”,”uri”:”/tags/bitcoin”,”super”:1,”page_title”:”Bitcoin News”},{“name”:”ETF”,”uri”:”/tags/etf”,”super”:0,”page_title”:”ETF News”},{“name”:”Futures”,”uri”:”/tags/futures”,”super”:0,”page_title”:””}],”tag_title”:”Bitcoin”,”date”:”43 MINUTES AGO”,”badge”:{“title”:”Explained”,”label”:”default”},”qty”:37,”stats_pixel”:”“,”stats_pixel_url”:”https://zoa.cointelegraph.com/pixel?postId=84784&regionId=1″,”shares”:0,”infographic”:false,”sponsored”:false,”explained”:true,”press_release”:false,”show_referral”:false,”social_description”:”An ETF is one of the more traditional financial investment vehicles that have yet to fully integrate themselves into the crypto ecosystem. While we’ve seen our fair share of Bitcoin futures ETFs, we’ve yet to see a spot Bitcoin ETF. What’s the difference?”,”social_translators”:{“clipboard_popup_label”:”Link copied”,”socialWechatFooterError”:”WeChat error”,”socialWechatFooterText”:”WeChat share”,”socialWechatHeaderText”:”WeChat share”},”social_shares”:{“post_id”:84784,”post_url”:”https://cointelegraph.com/explained/bitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”post_titles”:{“normal”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained”,”twitter”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained”},”post_text”:{“normal”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained”,”twitter”:”Bitcoin spot vs. futures ETFs: Key differences explained https://cointelegraph.com/explained/bitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained via @cointelegraph”},”accounts”:{“twitter”:”@cointelegraph”}},”socials”:{“facebook”:{“url”:”https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fexplained%2Fbitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”count”:null,”short”:”fb”,”fa”:”facebook”},”twitter”:{“url”:”https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Bitcoin+spot+vs.+futures+ETFs%3A+Key+differences+explained https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fexplained%2Fbitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained via @cointelegraph”,”count”:null,”short”:”tw”,”fa”:”twitter”},”telegram”:{“url”:”https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fexplained%2Fbitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained &text=Bitcoin+spot+vs.+futures+ETFs%3A+Key+differences+explained”,”count”:null,”short”:”tg”,”fa”:”paper-plane”},”whatsapp”:{“url”:”https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=Bitcoin+spot+vs.+futures+ETFs%3A+Key+differences+explained&href=https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fexplained%2Fbitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”count”:null,”short”:”wu”,”fa”:”whatsapp”},”gplus”:{“url”:”https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fexplained%2Fbitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”count”:null,”short”:”gplus”,”fa”:”google-plus”},”reddit”:{“url”:”https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fexplained%2Fbitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained&title=Bitcoin+spot+vs.+futures+ETFs%3A+Key+differences+explained”,”count”:null,”short”:”reddit”,”fa”:”reddit-alien”},”linkedin”:{“url”:”https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fexplained%2Fbitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained&title=Bitcoin+spot+vs.+futures+ETFs%3A+Key+differences+explained”,”count”:null,”short”:”li”,”fa”:”linkedin”}},”hide_disclaimer”:false,”elink”:”https://cointelegraph.com”,”etitle”:”Cointelegraph”,”elogo_x2″:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/528_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy9hYjAzYTJhMmNlOWEyMWRjMWYwOTYxZDkxNzMxYzhiYS5wbmc=.png”,”elogo_x1″:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/260_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy9hYjAzYTJhMmNlOWEyMWRjMWYwOTYxZDkxNzMxYzhiYS5wbmc=.png”,”elogo_svg”:false,”content”:[{“id”:3320,”post_id”:84784,”title”:”What is a Bitcoin ETF?”,”content”:”

A Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) allows buyers to invest in Bitcoin without buying the actual asset. This investment method streamlines the buying process, enabling users to circumvent signing up for an exchange or dealing with crypto wallets. 

nn

In traditional investing, an ETF is a form of investment that tracks the price of either an asset or a group of assets. ETFs represent an easy way to invest in multiple assets concurrently without actually holding said assets. 

nn

In Bitcoin’s case, a Bitcoin ETF is an asset that simply tracks the price of Bitcoin. By investing in a Bitcoin ETF, users can still profit from Bitcoin’s gains without going through the process of acquiring Bitcoin, such as signing up for an exchange and going through various verification methods.

nn

That said, the Bitcoin ETF, in and of itself, is quite limited. The first so-called Bitcoin ETF, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), launched in October 2021. However, this ETF doesn’t invest directly in the asset, but in Bitcoin futures exchange-traded funds as an alternative, making ProShares’ offering more of a “false” ETF.

nnn”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:38:34″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:02″,”sort”:1,”translations”:{“id”:3313,”explained_post_id”:3320,”title_en”:”What is a Bitcoin ETF?”,”content_en”:”

A Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) allows buyers to invest in Bitcoin without buying the actual asset. This investment method streamlines the buying process, enabling users to circumvent signing up for an exchange or dealing with crypto wallets. 

nn

In traditional investing, an ETF is a form of investment that tracks the price of either an asset or a group of assets. ETFs represent an easy way to invest in multiple assets concurrently without actually holding said assets. 

nn

In Bitcoin’s case, a Bitcoin ETF is an asset that simply tracks the price of Bitcoin. By investing in a Bitcoin ETF, users can still profit from Bitcoin’s gains without going through the process of acquiring Bitcoin, such as signing up for an exchange and going through various verification methods.

nn

That said, the Bitcoin ETF, in and of itself, is quite limited. The first so-called Bitcoin ETF, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), launched in October 2021. However, this ETF doesn’t invest directly in the asset, but in Bitcoin futures exchange-traded funds as an alternative, making ProShares’ offering more of a “false” ETF.

nnn”,”title_es”:””,”content_es”:”n”,”title_cn”:””,”content_cn”:”n”,”title_de”:””,”content_de”:”n”,”title_fr”:””,”content_fr”:”n”,”title_it”:””,”content_it”:”n”,”title_ar”:””,”content_ar”:”n”,”title_br”:””,”content_br”:”n”,”title_jp”:””,”content_jp”:”n”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:38:34″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:02″,”title_kr”:””,”content_kr”:”n”,”title_tr”:””,”content_tr”:”n”}},{“id”:3321,”post_id”:84784,”title”:”What is a Bitcoin futures ETF?”,”content”:”

A Bitcoin futures ETF provides users the ability to bet on Bitcoin’s price, having them agree to buy or sell Bitcoin at a specific price on a set date. 

nn

A Bitcoin futures ETF is an agreement in which one will buy or sell Bitcoin at a specified price on a pre-determined date. For example, when buying via the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, an investor could create a contract with ProShares to buy $10,000 in Bitcoin on June 15, regardless of Bitcoin’s actual value on that date.

nn

Why would one choose to buy Bitcoin on a future date despite the asset’s volatility? It’s because they have reason to believe that Bitcoin’s price will be lower by then, and the entire process is carried out by the platform rather than the user. Plus, traders can also short the asset and create a sell contract.

nn

Sure, one could simply just buy any amount of Bitcoin at any time without ProShares but a futures ETF ensures that users can invest in digital assets without inconveniencing themselves via exchanges. This method also costs less in fees when compared to most crypto exchanges. However, a futures ETF doesn’t involve investing in Bitcoin at its spot price, which is why some enthusiasts might not consider the offering a “real” crypto adoption.

nn

Also, companies that offer a Bitcoin futures ETF may charge annual fees to keep contracts and accounts open. That, and these ETFs can occasionally fail to track Bitcoin’s price accurately. These issues leave many wanting an alternative ETF option in which to invest.

nnn”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:39:03″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:02″,”sort”:2,”translations”:{“id”:3314,”explained_post_id”:3321,”title_en”:”What is a Bitcoin futures ETF?”,”content_en”:”

A Bitcoin futures ETF provides users the ability to bet on Bitcoin’s price, having them agree to buy or sell Bitcoin at a specific price on a set date. 

nn

A Bitcoin futures ETF is an agreement in which one will buy or sell Bitcoin at a specified price on a pre-determined date. For example, when buying via the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, an investor could create a contract with ProShares to buy $10,000 in Bitcoin on June 15, regardless of Bitcoin’s actual value on that date.

nn

Why would one choose to buy Bitcoin on a future date despite the asset’s volatility? It’s because they have reason to believe that Bitcoin’s price will be lower by then, and the entire process is carried out by the platform rather than the user. Plus, traders can also short the asset and create a sell contract.

nn

Sure, one could simply just buy any amount of Bitcoin at any time without ProShares but a futures ETF ensures that users can invest in digital assets without inconveniencing themselves via exchanges. This method also costs less in fees when compared to most crypto exchanges. However, a futures ETF doesn’t involve investing in Bitcoin at its spot price, which is why some enthusiasts might not consider the offering a “real” crypto adoption.

nn

Also, companies that offer a Bitcoin futures ETF may charge annual fees to keep contracts and accounts open. That, and these ETFs can occasionally fail to track Bitcoin’s price accurately. These issues leave many wanting an alternative ETF option in which to invest.

nnn”,”title_es”:””,”content_es”:”n”,”title_cn”:””,”content_cn”:”n”,”title_de”:””,”content_de”:”n”,”title_fr”:””,”content_fr”:”n”,”title_it”:””,”content_it”:”n”,”title_ar”:””,”content_ar”:”n”,”title_br”:””,”content_br”:”n”,”title_jp”:””,”content_jp”:”n”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:39:03″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:02″,”title_kr”:””,”content_kr”:”n”,”title_tr”:””,”content_tr”:”n”}},{“id”:3322,”post_id”:84784,”title”:”How does a Bitcoin ETF work?”,”content”:”

A spot Bitcoin ETF provides the same streamlined investment capabilities as a Bitcoin futures ETF, but it only allows users to invest at Bitcoin’s spot price rather than a future value.

nn

A spot Bitcoin ETF brings all the benefits of a futures ETF, such as investing in Bitcoin without using an exchange, paying less in fees than on a crypto exchange, and streamlining the process overall. But a spot ETF invests in Bitcoin on the spot.

nn

That’s right, a spot ETF invests in Bitcoin at its spot price, meaning buyers will be holding Bitcoin within their contracts. Enthusiasts view a spot ETF as a more legitimate method of investment because a spot ETF involves holding Bitcoin. 

nn

However, as of now, there’s no such thing as an actual Bitcoin spot ETF due to the industry’s nascent nature. Crypto industry pundits often fight for a firm to establish a Bitcoin spot ETF as they believe that markets will take Bitcoin seriously after a spot ETF has been established.

nnn”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:39:26″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:02″,”sort”:3,”translations”:{“id”:3315,”explained_post_id”:3322,”title_en”:”How does a Bitcoin ETF work?”,”content_en”:”

A spot Bitcoin ETF provides the same streamlined investment capabilities as a Bitcoin futures ETF, but it only allows users to invest at Bitcoin’s spot price rather than a future value.

nn

A spot Bitcoin ETF brings all the benefits of a futures ETF, such as investing in Bitcoin without using an exchange, paying less in fees than on a crypto exchange, and streamlining the process overall. But a spot ETF invests in Bitcoin on the spot.

nn

That’s right, a spot ETF invests in Bitcoin at its spot price, meaning buyers will be holding Bitcoin within their contracts. Enthusiasts view a spot ETF as a more legitimate method of investment because a spot ETF involves holding Bitcoin. 

nn

However, as of now, there’s no such thing as an actual Bitcoin spot ETF due to the industry’s nascent nature. Crypto industry pundits often fight for a firm to establish a Bitcoin spot ETF as they believe that markets will take Bitcoin seriously after a spot ETF has been established.

nnn”,”title_es”:””,”content_es”:”n”,”title_cn”:””,”content_cn”:”n”,”title_de”:””,”content_de”:”n”,”title_fr”:””,”content_fr”:”n”,”title_it”:””,”content_it”:”n”,”title_ar”:””,”content_ar”:”n”,”title_br”:””,”content_br”:”n”,”title_jp”:””,”content_jp”:”n”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:39:26″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:02″,”title_kr”:””,”content_kr”:”n”,”title_tr”:””,”content_tr”:”n”}},{“id”:3323,”post_id”:84784,”title”:”The fight for a Bitcoin spot ETF”,”content”:”

The Bitcoin spot ETF does not yet exist, with crypto companies proposing various concepts to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the years. However, a few companies have legitimized the Bitcoin futures ETF. 

nn

Crypto companies have fought to legitimize a Bitcoin spot ETF in the United States for years, but the SEC has yet to give in despite its recent two allegedly “crypto-positive” chairmen. 

nn

For instance, Jay Clayton, who was head of the SEC from May 4, 2017, to December 23, 2020, is a fan of Bitcoin as a store of value. However, no proposal convinced Clayton that a Bitcoin ETF of any kind was ready. Clayton’s successor, Gary Gensler, approved ProShares’ BITO.

nn

Other ETF proposals, including those from Valkyrie and Van Eck, have also seen approval. That said, one company, Grayscale, might be the first to implement a Bitcoin spot ETF.

nn

Grayscale, which holds the world’s only SEC-approved, publicly-traded Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), proposed its Bitcoin spot ETF to the SEC in 2016. The group shortly withdrew its application in 2017 due to a stalemate in the conversation.

nn

As of March 2022, Grayscale remains committed to converting GBTC to the world’s first Bitcoin spot ETF, even threatening to sue the SEC if its latest attempts don’t go through. In opposition, the SEC claims that market manipulation is its largest holdup to a Bitcoin spot ETF approval.

nnn”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:39:51″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:01″,”sort”:4,”translations”:{“id”:3316,”explained_post_id”:3323,”title_en”:”The fight for a Bitcoin spot ETF”,”content_en”:”

The Bitcoin spot ETF does not yet exist, with crypto companies proposing various concepts to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the years. However, a few companies have legitimized the Bitcoin futures ETF. 

nn

Crypto companies have fought to legitimize a Bitcoin spot ETF in the United States for years, but the SEC has yet to give in despite its recent two allegedly “crypto-positive” chairmen. 

nn

For instance, Jay Clayton, who was head of the SEC from May 4, 2017, to December 23, 2020, is a fan of Bitcoin as a store of value. However, no proposal convinced Clayton that a Bitcoin ETF of any kind was ready. Clayton’s successor, Gary Gensler, approved ProShares’ BITO.

nn

Other ETF proposals, including those from Valkyrie and Van Eck, have also seen approval. That said, one company, Grayscale, might be the first to implement a Bitcoin spot ETF.

nn

Grayscale, which holds the world’s only SEC-approved, publicly-traded Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), proposed its Bitcoin spot ETF to the SEC in 2016. The group shortly withdrew its application in 2017 due to a stalemate in the conversation.

nn

As of March 2022, Grayscale remains committed to converting GBTC to the world’s first Bitcoin spot ETF, even threatening to sue the SEC if its latest attempts don’t go through. In opposition, the SEC claims that market manipulation is its largest holdup to a Bitcoin spot ETF approval.

nnn”,”title_es”:””,”content_es”:”n”,”title_cn”:””,”content_cn”:”n”,”title_de”:””,”content_de”:”n”,”title_fr”:””,”content_fr”:”n”,”title_it”:””,”content_it”:”n”,”title_ar”:””,”content_ar”:”n”,”title_br”:””,”content_br”:”n”,”title_jp”:””,”content_jp”:”n”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:39:51″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:02″,”title_kr”:””,”content_kr”:”n”,”title_tr”:””,”content_tr”:”n”}},{“id”:3324,”post_id”:84784,”title”:”Are spot Bitcoin ETFs better than futures?”,”content”:”

Bitcoin spot ETFs and Bitcoin futures ETFs both have their pros and cons.

nn

While spot Bitcoin ETFs are certainly more “legitimate” than Bitcoin futures ETFs as they involve actually buying Bitcoin, it’s hard to say which is better.

nn

After all, a Bitcoin futures ETF might not involve buying in at Bitcoin’s spot price, but it streamlines the buying process and allows investors to bet on the market whether they choose to short it or otherwise. In that same vein, some Bitcoin futures ETFs struggle to accurately track Bitcoin’s price and many charge annual fees for holding contracts with the company.

nn

Conversely, a Bitcoin spot ETF, according to many Bitcoin enthusiasts, will bring “legitimacy” to the asset as it’s allowing users to invest in Bitcoin without actually holding it — and doing so at Bitcoin’s actual price point.

nnn”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:40:13″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:01″,”sort”:5,”translations”:{“id”:3317,”explained_post_id”:3324,”title_en”:”Are spot Bitcoin ETFs better than futures?”,”content_en”:”

Bitcoin spot ETFs and Bitcoin futures ETFs both have their pros and cons.

nn

While spot Bitcoin ETFs are certainly more “legitimate” than Bitcoin futures ETFs as they involve actually buying Bitcoin, it’s hard to say which is better.

nn

After all, a Bitcoin futures ETF might not involve buying in at Bitcoin’s spot price, but it streamlines the buying process and allows investors to bet on the market whether they choose to short it or otherwise. In that same vein, some Bitcoin futures ETFs struggle to accurately track Bitcoin’s price and many charge annual fees for holding contracts with the company.

nn

Conversely, a Bitcoin spot ETF, according to many Bitcoin enthusiasts, will bring “legitimacy” to the asset as it’s allowing users to invest in Bitcoin without actually holding it — and doing so at Bitcoin’s actual price point.

nnn”,”title_es”:””,”content_es”:”n”,”title_cn”:””,”content_cn”:”n”,”title_de”:””,”content_de”:”n”,”title_fr”:””,”content_fr”:”n”,”title_it”:””,”content_it”:”n”,”title_ar”:””,”content_ar”:”n”,”title_br”:””,”content_br”:”n”,”title_jp”:””,”content_jp”:”n”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:40:13″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:01″,”title_kr”:””,”content_kr”:”n”,”title_tr”:””,”content_tr”:”n”}},{“id”:3325,”post_id”:84784,”title”:”How many Bitcoin ETFs are there?”,”content”:”

There are various companies offering Bitcoin ETFs, and each is available on their own respective exchanges.

nn

While the only Bitcoin ETFs in existence are Bitcoin futures ETFs, there are quite a few out there in which one can choose to invest. This article previously mentioned the ProShares BITO Bitcoin futures ETF, which currently holds around $1 billion in investments. BITO is listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). 

nn

Another Bitcoin ETF is the Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF. Also offering Bitcoin futures ETFs, Valkyrie is listed on Nasdaq with the BTF ticker. Then, we have the VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF. Providing users with exposure to Bitcoin futures ETFs, the VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF is listed on the CBOE exchange with the XBTF ticker.

nn

There are various other Bitcoin futures ETFs on the market, but those mentioned previously are some of the most popular. Which ETF is best is up to the user, of course, as they’re available on different exchanges, which can vary in rates.

nnn”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:40:34″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:01″,”sort”:6,”translations”:{“id”:3318,”explained_post_id”:3325,”title_en”:”How many Bitcoin ETFs are there?”,”content_en”:”

There are various companies offering Bitcoin ETFs, and each is available on their own respective exchanges.

nn

While the only Bitcoin ETFs in existence are Bitcoin futures ETFs, there are quite a few out there in which one can choose to invest. This article previously mentioned the ProShares BITO Bitcoin futures ETF, which currently holds around $1 billion in investments. BITO is listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). 

nn

Another Bitcoin ETF is the Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF. Also offering Bitcoin futures ETFs, Valkyrie is listed on Nasdaq with the BTF ticker. Then, we have the VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF. Providing users with exposure to Bitcoin futures ETFs, the VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF is listed on the CBOE exchange with the XBTF ticker.

nn

There are various other Bitcoin futures ETFs on the market, but those mentioned previously are some of the most popular. Which ETF is best is up to the user, of course, as they’re available on different exchanges, which can vary in rates.

nnn”,”title_es”:””,”content_es”:”n”,”title_cn”:””,”content_cn”:”n”,”title_de”:””,”content_de”:”n”,”title_fr”:””,”content_fr”:”n”,”title_it”:””,”content_it”:”n”,”title_ar”:””,”content_ar”:”n”,”title_br”:””,”content_br”:”n”,”title_jp”:””,”content_jp”:”n”,”created_at”:”2022-04-16 12:40:34″,”updated_at”:”2022-04-16 12:41:01″,”title_kr”:””,”content_kr”:”n”,”title_tr”:””,”content_tr”:”n”}}],”is_partner_material”:false,”commentsSection”:{“schemaEntityUrl”:”//cointelegraph.com/explained/bitcoin-spot-vs-futures-etfs-key-differences-explained”,”list”:[],”amount”:0,”i18n”:{“addComment”:”Add a comment…”,”amountOnePostfix”:”Comment”,”amountPostfix”:”Comments”,”cancel”:”Cancel”,”delete”:”Delete”,”edit”:”Edit”,”errorBig”:”Comment text cannot be longer than 2000 characters”,”errorDuplicate”:”Duplicate comment”,”errorSmall”:”Comment text must be at least 2 characters long”,”hideButton”:”Hide comments”,”noComments”:” “,”commentOnModeration”:”Comment on moderation”,”postComment”:”Post”,”reply”:”Reply”,”showAllComments”:”Show All Comments”,”showButtonPostfix”:”comments”,”showButtonPrefix”:”Show”,”signIn”:”Sign in”,”update”:”Update comment”,”commentWasDeleted”:”This comment has been deleted”}},”related”:[{“id”:46058,”retina”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/1480_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy81MzgzMjU4NzkzMTAxZDA1YWRjNGExOWYyNzk1MWM0ZC5qcGc=.jpg”,”img”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/740_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy81MzgzMjU4NzkzMTAxZDA1YWRjNGExOWYyNzk1MWM0ZC5qcGc=.jpg”,”thumb”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/370_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy81MzgzMjU4NzkzMTAxZDA1YWRjNGExOWYyNzk1MWM0ZC5qcGc=.jpg”,”thumb370″:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/370_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy81MzgzMjU4NzkzMTAxZDA1YWRjNGExOWYyNzk1MWM0ZC5qcGc=.jpg”,”amp_thumb”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/150_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy81MzgzMjU4NzkzMTAxZDA1YWRjNGExOWYyNzk1MWM0ZC5qcGc=.jpg”,”thumb150″:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/150_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy81MzgzMjU4NzkzMTAxZDA1YWRjNGExOWYyNzk1MWM0ZC5qcGc=.jpg”,”url”:”https://cointelegraph.com/news/the-big-four-are-gearing-up-to-become-crypto-and-blockchain-auditors”,”title”:”The Big Four Are Gearing Up to Become Crypto and Blockchain Auditors”,”lead”:”Professional service giants like the Big Four are innovating in the blockchain and crypto space. Is it enough to make an impact?”,”leadfull”:””,”category_id”:19,”category_url”:”https://cointelegraph.com/category/analysis”,”category_title”:”Analysis”,”author_url”:”https://cointelegraph.com/authors/rachel-wolfson”,”author_hash”:”aHR0cHM6Ly9jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9hdXRob3JzL3JhY2hlbC13b2xmc29u”,”author_title”:”Rachel Wolfson”,”author_img”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/32_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy81OGI2YmIyMjI0MGRjOGI5M2UxYTUxYzMzZTMzNjY2Mi5qcGc=.jpg”,”date”:”MAY 29, 2020″,”flash_date”:”MAY 29, 2020″,”sponsored”:false,”press_release”:false,”sponsored_label”:”Sponsored”,”explained”:false,”badge”:{“title”:”Analysis”,”label”:”info”},”published”:{“date”:”2020-05-29 17:00:00.000000″,”timezone_type”:3,”timezone”:”Europe/London”},”stat_uniqs”:235619,”rss_date”:”Fri, 29 May 2020 17:00:00 +0100″,”publishedW3″:”2020-05-29T17:00:00+01:00″,”show_referral”:true,”isMagazine”:false},{“id”:84156,”retina”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/1480_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy8yYzRmZDUyOGJmODgyNzkwNzkwNWI1OGRhMjNjNjBhOC5qcGVn.jpeg”,”img”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/740_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy8yYzRmZDUyOGJmODgyNzkwNzkwNWI1OGRhMjNjNjBhOC5qcGVn.jpeg”,”thumb”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/370_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy8yYzRmZDUyOGJmODgyNzkwNzkwNWI1OGRhMjNjNjBhOC5qcGVn.jpeg”,”thumb370″:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/370_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy8yYzRmZDUyOGJmODgyNzkwNzkwNWI1OGRhMjNjNjBhOC5qcGVn.jpeg”,”amp_thumb”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/150_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy8yYzRmZDUyOGJmODgyNzkwNzkwNWI1OGRhMjNjNjBhOC5qcGVn.jpeg”,”thumb150″:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/150_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy8yYzRmZDUyOGJmODgyNzkwNzkwNWI1OGRhMjNjNjBhOC5qcGVn.jpeg”,”url”:”https://cointelegraph.com/news/forex-exchange-layer-demonstrates-the-possibility-of-defi-cross-border-payment-use-case”,”title”:”Forex exchange layer demonstrates the possibility of DeFi cross-border payment use case”,”lead”:”Remittance payments are essential to support vulnerable classes of society; unfortunately, high fees often limit their impact.”,”leadfull”:””,”category_id”:62,”category_url”:”https://cointelegraph.com/category/sponsored”,”category_title”:”Sponsored”,”author_url”:”https://cointelegraph.com/authors/sarah-jansen”,”author_hash”:”aHR0cHM6Ly9jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9hdXRob3JzL3NhcmFoLWphbnNlbg==”,”author_title”:”Sarah Jansen”,”author_img”:”https://images.cointelegraph.com/images/32_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9zdG9yYWdlL3VwbG9hZHMvdmlldy84N2IwYjRjMzkyZjlhYmM4ZjlhZDNiZTU3Y2FjZGJmZC5qcGc=.jpg”,”date”:”APR 06, 2022″,”flash_date”:”APR 06, 2022″,”sponsored”:true,”press_release”:false,”sponsored_label”:”Sponsored”,”explained”:false,”badge”:{“title”:”Sponsored”,”label”:”default”},”published”:{“date”:”2022-04-06 17:30:00.000000″,”timezone_type”:3,”timezone”:”Europe/London”},”stat_uniqs”:1171,”rss_date”:”Wed, 06 Apr 2022 17:30:00 +0100″,”publishedW3″:”2022-04-06T17:30:00+01:00″,”show_referral”:true,”isMagazine”:false}]}” :shares=”{“facebook”:{“url”:”https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=%URL%”,”icon”:”facebook”,”title”:”Facebook”,”sizesAllowed”:[{“size”:”lg”,”label”:”Large devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 1200px”},{“size”:”md”,”label”:”Medium devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 992px”},{“size”:”sm”,”label”:”Small tablets”,”breakpoint”:”> 768px”},{“size”:”xs”,”label”:”Smartphones”,”breakpoint”:”> 480px”},{“size”:”xxs”,”label”:”Extra small devices”,”breakpoint”:”< 480px"}],"position":1,"status":true},"twitter":{"url":"https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%TEXT%","icon":"twitter","title":"Twitter","position":2,"status":true,"sizesAllowed":[{"size":"xxs","label":"Extra small devices","breakpoint":"< 480px"},{"size":"xs","label":"Smartphones","breakpoint":"> 480px”},{“size”:”sm”,”label”:”Small tablets”,”breakpoint”:”> 768px”},{“size”:”md”,”label”:”Medium devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 992px”},{“size”:”lg”,”label”:”Large devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 1200px”}]},”telegram”:{“url”:”https://t.me/share/url?url=%URL%&text=%TEXT%”,”icon”:”telegram”,”title”:”Telegram”,”position”:3,”status”:true,”sizesAllowed”:[{“size”:”xxs”,”label”:”Extra small devices”,”breakpoint”:”< 480px"},{"size":"xs","label":"Smartphones","breakpoint":"> 480px”},{“size”:”sm”,”label”:”Small tablets”,”breakpoint”:”> 768px”},{“size”:”md”,”label”:”Medium devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 992px”},{“size”:”lg”,”label”:”Large devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 1200px”}]},”linkedin”:{“url”:”https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=%URL%&title=%TITLE%”,”icon”:”linked-in”,”title”:”LinkedIn”,”position”:5,”status”:true,”sizesAllowed”:[{“size”:”xxs”,”label”:”Extra small devices”,”breakpoint”:”< 480px"},{"size":"xs","label":"Smartphones","breakpoint":"> 480px”},{“size”:”sm”,”label”:”Small tablets”,”breakpoint”:”> 768px”},{“size”:”md”,”label”:”Medium devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 992px”},{“size”:”lg”,”label”:”Large devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 1200px”}]},”copy”:{“url”:”%URL%”,”icon”:”copy”,”position”:7,”title”:”Copy Link”,”sizesAllowed”:[{“size”:”xxs”,”label”:”Extra small devices”,”breakpoint”:”< 480px"},{"size":"xs","label":"Smartphones","breakpoint":"> 480px”},{“size”:”sm”,”label”:”Small tablets”,”breakpoint”:”> 768px”},{“size”:”md”,”label”:”Medium devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 992px”},{“size”:”lg”,”label”:”Large devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 1200px”}],”status”:true},”whatsapp”:{“url”:”https://wa.me/?text=%TITLE% %URL%”,”icon”:”whats-app”,”title”:”Whatsapp”,”sizesAllowed”:[{“size”:”xxs”,”label”:”Extra small devices”,”breakpoint”:”< 480px"},{"size":"xs","label":"Smartphones","breakpoint":"> 480px”},{“size”:”sm”,”label”:”Small tablets”,”breakpoint”:”> 768px”},{“size”:”md”,”label”:”Medium devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 992px”},{“size”:”lg”,”label”:”Large devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 1200px”}],”position”:6,”status”:true},”reddit”:{“url”:”https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=%URL%&title=%TITLE%”,”icon”:”reddit”,”title”:”Reddit”,”sizesAllowed”:[{“size”:”xxs”,”label”:”Extra small devices”,”breakpoint”:”< 480px"},{"size":"xs","label":"Smartphones","breakpoint":"> 480px”},{“size”:”sm”,”label”:”Small tablets”,”breakpoint”:”> 768px”},{“size”:”md”,”label”:”Medium devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 992px”},{“size”:”lg”,”label”:”Large devices”,”breakpoint”:”> 1200px”}],”position”:4,”status”:true}}” is=”ExplainedPostPage”>

A Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) allows buyers to invest in Bitcoin without buying the actual asset. This investment method streamlines the buying process, enabling users to circumvent signing up for an exchange or dealing with crypto wallets. 

In traditional investing, an ETF is a form of investment that tracks the price of either an asset or a group of assets. ETFs represent an easy way to invest in multiple assets concurrently without actually holding said assets. 

In Bitcoin’s case, a Bitcoin ETF is an asset that simply tracks the price of Bitcoin. By investing in a Bitcoin ETF, users can still profit from Bitcoin’s gains without going through the process of acquiring Bitcoin, such as signing up for an exchange and going through various verification methods.

That said, the Bitcoin ETF, in and of itself, is quite limited. The first so-called Bitcoin ETF, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), launched in October 2021. However, this ETF doesn’t invest directly in the asset, but in Bitcoin futures exchange-traded funds as an alternative, making ProShares’ offering more of a “false” ETF.

A Bitcoin futures ETF provides users the ability to bet on Bitcoin’s price, having them agree to buy or sell Bitcoin at a specific price on a set date. 

A Bitcoin futures ETF is an agreement in which one will buy or sell Bitcoin at a specified price on a pre-determined date. For example, when buying via the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, an investor could create a contract with ProShares to buy $10,000 in Bitcoin on June 15, regardless of Bitcoin’s actual value on that date.

Why would one choose to buy Bitcoin on a future date despite the asset’s volatility? It’s because they have reason to believe that Bitcoin’s price will be lower by then, and the entire process is carried out by the platform rather than the user. Plus, traders can also short the asset and create a sell contract.

Sure, one could simply just buy any amount of Bitcoin at any time without ProShares but a futures ETF ensures that users can invest in digital assets without inconveniencing themselves via exchanges. This method also costs less in fees when compared to most crypto exchanges. However, a futures ETF doesn’t involve investing in Bitcoin at its spot price, which is why some enthusiasts might not consider the offering a “real” crypto adoption.

Also, companies that offer a Bitcoin futures ETF may charge annual fees to keep contracts and accounts open. That, and these ETFs can occasionally fail to track Bitcoin’s price accurately. These issues leave many wanting an alternative ETF option in which to invest.

A spot Bitcoin ETF provides the same streamlined investment capabilities as a Bitcoin futures ETF, but it only allows users to invest at Bitcoin’s spot price rather than a future value.

A spot Bitcoin ETF brings all the benefits of a futures ETF, such as investing in Bitcoin without using an exchange, paying less in fees than on a crypto exchange, and streamlining the process overall. But a spot ETF invests in Bitcoin on the spot.

That’s right, a spot ETF invests in Bitcoin at its spot price, meaning buyers will be holding Bitcoin within their contracts. Enthusiasts view a spot ETF as a more legitimate method of investment because a spot ETF involves holding Bitcoin. 

However, as of now, there’s no such thing as an actual Bitcoin spot ETF due to the industry’s nascent nature. Crypto industry pundits often fight for a firm to establish a Bitcoin spot ETF as they believe that markets will take Bitcoin seriously after a spot ETF has been established.

The Bitcoin spot ETF does not yet exist, with crypto companies proposing various concepts to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the years. However, a few companies have legitimized the Bitcoin futures ETF. 

Crypto companies have fought to legitimize a Bitcoin spot ETF in the United States for years, but the SEC has yet to give in despite its recent two allegedly “crypto-positive” chairmen. 

For instance, Jay Clayton, who was head of the SEC from May 4, 2017, to December 23, 2020, is a fan of Bitcoin as a store of value. However, no proposal convinced Clayton that a Bitcoin ETF of any kind was ready. Clayton’s successor, Gary Gensler, approved ProShares’ BITO.

Other ETF proposals, including those from Valkyrie and Van Eck, have also seen approval. That said, one company, Grayscale, might be the first to implement a Bitcoin spot ETF.

Grayscale, which holds the world’s only SEC-approved, publicly-traded Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), proposed its Bitcoin spot ETF to the SEC in 2016. The group shortly withdrew its application in 2017 due to a stalemate in the conversation.

As of March 2022, Grayscale remains committed to converting GBTC to the world’s first Bitcoin spot ETF, even threatening to sue the SEC if its latest attempts don’t go through. In opposition, the SEC claims that market manipulation is its largest holdup to a Bitcoin spot ETF approval.

Bitcoin spot ETFs and Bitcoin futures ETFs both have their pros and cons.

While spot Bitcoin ETFs are certainly more “legitimate” than Bitcoin futures ETFs as they involve actually buying Bitcoin, it’s hard to say which is better.

After all, a Bitcoin futures ETF might not involve buying in at Bitcoin’s spot price, but it streamlines the buying process and allows investors to bet on the market whether they choose to short it or otherwise. In that same vein, some Bitcoin futures ETFs struggle to accurately track Bitcoin’s price and many charge annual fees for holding contracts with the company.

Conversely, a Bitcoin spot ETF, according to many Bitcoin enthusiasts, will bring “legitimacy” to the asset as it’s allowing users to invest in Bitcoin without actually holding it — and doing so at Bitcoin’s actual price point.

There are various companies offering Bitcoin ETFs, and each is available on their own respective exchanges.

While the only Bitcoin ETFs in existence are Bitcoin futures ETFs, there are quite a few out there in which one can choose to invest. This article previously mentioned the ProShares BITO Bitcoin futures ETF, which currently holds around $1 billion in investments. BITO is listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). 

Another Bitcoin ETF is the Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF. Also offering Bitcoin futures ETFs, Valkyrie is listed on Nasdaq with the BTF ticker. Then, we have the VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF. Providing users with exposure to Bitcoin futures ETFs, the VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF is listed on the CBOE exchange with the XBTF ticker.

There are various other Bitcoin futures ETFs on the market, but those mentioned previously are some of the most popular. Which ETF is best is up to the user, of course, as they’re available on different exchanges, which can vary in rates.

Loading data ...
Comparison
View chart compare
View table compare
Back To Top