BITB 10-K
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
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Commission file number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of |
(I.R.S. Employer |
c/o Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well‑known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ☐ Yes ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S‑T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such
files). ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non‑accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.). ☐ Yes
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $
As of February 27, 2026, the registrant had
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) includes “forward-looking statements” with respect to the financial conditions, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (the “Trust”). In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify some of the forward-looking statements. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this Annual Report that address activities, events, or developments that will or may occur in the future, including such matters as movements in the digital asset markets, the Trust’s operations, the plans of Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Sponsor”), and references to the Trust’s future success and other similar matters, are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from such statements. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses the Sponsor has made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate in the circumstances.
Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to the Sponsor’s expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the Trust’s business, financial condition or results of operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from the Trust's expectations include, but are not limited to:
All the forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments the Sponsor anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, the Trust’s operations or the value of the Shares.
Should one (1) or more of these risks discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” under Item 1A – Risk Factors of this Annual Report or other uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on the Sponsor’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made, and neither the Trust nor the Sponsor is under a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or to reflect a change in the Sponsor’s expectations or predictions, other than as required by applicable laws. Investors are therefore cautioned against relying on forward-looking statements.
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF
Table of Contents
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Item 1. |
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Item 1A. |
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Item 1B. |
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Item 1C. |
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Item 2. |
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Item 3. |
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Item 5. |
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Item 6. |
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Item 7. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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Item 7A. |
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Item 8. |
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Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
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Item 9A. |
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Item 10. |
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Item 11. |
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Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
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Item 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
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Item 14. |
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Item 15. |
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Item 16. |
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Glossary of Defined Terms |
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Part I.
Item 1. Business.
Summary
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (the “Trust”) is a Delaware statutory trust formed on August 29, 2019. The Trust continuously issues common Shares (“Shares”), representing units of undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust. The Shares are listed on the NYSE Arca Inc. (the “Exchange”) under the ticker symbol “BITB.” The Trust commenced operations on January 10, 2024 and commenced trading on the Exchange on January 11, 2024.
The Trust’s investment objective is to seek to provide shareholders of the Trust (“Shareholders”) with exposure to the value of bitcoin held by the Trust that is reflective of the actual bitcoin market in which investors can purchase or sell bitcoin, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations and other liabilities. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Trust holds bitcoin and establishes its net asset value (the “NAV”) by reference to the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant (the “BRRNY”). The BRRNY was designed to provide a daily, 4:00 p.m. EST reference rate of the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin and is calculated by CF Benchmarks Ltd. (the “Benchmark Provider”) based on an aggregation of executed trade flow of major bitcoin trading platforms (the “Constituent Platforms”).
Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Sponsor”) serves as the sponsor of the Trust. Delaware Trust Company (the “Trustee”) serves as trustee of the Trust. The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”) serves as the Trust’s administrator (the “Administrator”), transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and custodian of the Trust’s cash holdings (the “Cash Custodian”). Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC (the “Bitcoin Custodian”) serves as the Trust’s bitcoin custodian and is responsible for safekeeping the bitcoin owned by the Trust. Foreside Financial Services, LLC (the “Marketing Agent”) serves as the Trust’s marketing agent.
When the Trust creates or redeems its Shares, it does so in blocks of 10,000 Shares (each, a “Basket”) based on the quantity of bitcoin attributable to each Share of the Trust (net of accrued but unpaid expenses and liabilities) multiplied by the number of Shares comprising a Basket (10,000) (the “Basket Amount”). The Basket Amount required to create each Basket changes from day to day. On each day that the Exchange is open for regular trading, the Administrator adjusts the quantity of bitcoin constituting the Basket Amount as appropriate to reflect accrued expenses and any loss of bitcoin that may occur. The computation is made by the Administrator each business day prior to the commencement of trading on the Exchange. The Administrator determines the Basket Amount for a given day by dividing the number of bitcoin held by the Trust as of the opening of business on that business day, adjusted for the amount of bitcoin constituting estimated accrued but unpaid fees and expenses of the Trust as of the opening of business on that business day, by the quotient of the number of Shares outstanding at the opening of business divided by 10,000. Fractions of a bitcoin smaller than a satoshi (0.00000001 bitcoin) are disregarded for purposes of the computation of the Basket Amount.
For an order to create (purchase) a Basket, the purchase shall be in the amount of U.S. dollars needed to purchase the Basket Amount (plus a per order transaction fee), as calculated by the Administrator. For an order to redeem a Basket, the Sponsor shall arrange for the Basket Amount of bitcoin to be sold and the cash proceeds (minus a per order transaction fee) distributed. The Trust only creates and redeems Baskets in transactions with financial firms that are authorized to purchase or redeem Shares with the Trust (each, an “Authorized Participant”). Shares initially comprising the same Basket but offered by the Authorized Participants to the public at different times may have different offering prices, which depend on various factors, including the supply and demand for Shares, the value of the Trust’s assets, and market conditions at the time of a transaction. Investors who buy or sell Shares during the day from their broker may do so at a premium or discount relative to the NAV of the Shares.
The Trust is managed and controlled by the Sponsor pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Sponsor Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2024, between the Trust and the Sponsor. The Sponsor is a limited liability company formed in the state of Delaware on June 4, 2018. Except as required under applicable federal law or under the rules or regulations of the Exchange, Shareholders of the Trust do not have any voting rights, take no part in the management or control of, and have no voice in, the Trust’s operations or business. The Shares are neither interests in, nor obligations of, the Sponsor or the Trustee.
The Sponsor maintains a website for the Trust, www.BITBetf.com, through which the Trust’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), can be accessed free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Additional information regarding the Trust may also be found on the SEC’s EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
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The contents of the websites referred to above and any websites referred to herein are not incorporated into this filing or any other report or documents the Trust files with or furnishes to the SEC. Further, the Trust's references to the URLs for these websites are intended to be inactive textual references only.
Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies
Investment Objective
The Trust’s investment objective is to seek to provide Shareholders with exposure to the value of bitcoin held by the Trust that is reflective of the actual bitcoin market in which investors can purchase or sell bitcoin, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations and other liabilities.
Principal Investment Strategies
In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Trust holds bitcoin and establishes its NAV by reference to the BRRNY. The Trust accrues the Sponsor’s management fee (the “Sponsor Fee”) in U.S. dollars and values its bitcoin holdings, net assets and the Shares daily based on the BRRNY. On December 31, 2025, the BRRNY was $87,315.53.
The Trust is passively managed and does not pursue active management investment strategies. Additionally, the Sponsor does not actively manage the bitcoin held by the Trust. This means that the Sponsor does not sell bitcoin at times when its price is high or acquire bitcoin at low prices in the expectation of future price increases. It also means that the Sponsor does not make use of any of the hedging techniques available to professional bitcoin investors to attempt to reduce the risks of losses resulting from price decreases. The Trust will not utilize leverage or any similar arrangements in seeking to meet its investment objective. Bitcoin is the only digital asset held by the Trust.
Because the Trust currently conducts creations and redemptions of Shares for cash, it is responsible for purchasing and selling bitcoin in connection with those creation and redemption orders. The Trust may also be required to sell bitcoin to pay certain extraordinary, non-recurring expenses that are not assumed by the Sponsor. The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, typically seeks to buy and sell bitcoin at a price as close to the BRRNY as practical. Such purchase and sale transactions may be conducted pursuant to two models: (i) the “Trust-Directed Trade Model”; and (ii) the “Agent Execution Model.” The Trust would utilize the Trust-Directed Trade Model for all purchases and sales of bitcoin and only utilize the Agent Execution Model in the event that no Bitcoin Trading Counterparty is willing or able to effectuate the Trust’s purchase or sale of bitcoin.
Under the Trust-Directed Trade Model, the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, is responsible for acquiring bitcoin from a bitcoin trading counterparty that has been approved by the Sponsor (each, a “Bitcoin Trading Counterparty”). As of December 31, 2025, B2C2 USA Inc., Coinbase, Inc., Cumberland DRW LLC, FalconX (d/b/a Solios, Inc.), Flow Traders B.V., CMI Cayman Limited, JSCT, LLC, Nonco Group LLC, Virtu Financial Singapore Pte. Ltd., and Wintermute Trading Ltd. have been approved as Bitcoin Trading Counterparties. JSCT, LLC is an affiliate of Jane Street Capital, LLC, which is an Authorized Participant to the Trust. The Sponsor has entered into contractual agreements with the Bitcoin Trading Counterparties, and these agreements set forth the general parameters under which a transaction in bitcoin will be effectuated, should any transaction with a Bitcoin Trading Counterparty occur. These agreements do not require the Sponsor to utilize any particular Bitcoin Trading Counterparty, and do not create any contractual obligations on the part of any Bitcoin Trading Counterparty to participate in cash orders for creations or redemptions. All transactions between the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, and a Bitcoin Trading Counterparty are done on an arm’s-length basis.
Under the Agent Execution Model, Coinbase, Inc. (“Coinbase Inc.” or the “Prime Execution Agent”, which is an affiliate of the Bitcoin Custodian), acting in an agency capacity, conducts bitcoin purchases and sales on behalf of the Trust with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service pursuant to an agreement (the “Prime Execution Agreement.”) To utilize the Agent Execution Model, the Trust may maintain some bitcoin or cash in a trading account (the “Trading Balance”) with the Prime Execution Agent. To avoid having to pre-fund purchases or sales of bitcoin in connection with cash creations and redemptions and sales of bitcoin to pay Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, to the extent applicable, the Trust may borrow bitcoin or cash as trade credit (“Trade Credit”) from Coinbase Credit, Inc. (the “Trade Credit Lender”) on a short-term basis pursuant to the Coinbase Credit Committed Trade Financing Agreement (the “Trade Financing Agreement”).
Characteristics of the Shares
Although the Shares are not the exact equivalent of a direct investment in bitcoin, they provide investors with an alternative that constitutes a relatively cost-effective way to obtain bitcoin exposure through the securities market. An investment in Shares provides investors with the opportunity to access the market for bitcoin through a traditional brokerage account without the potential barriers to entry or risks involved with acquiring and holding bitcoin directly. The Trust does not use derivatives
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that could subject the Trust to additional counterparty and credit risks. The Sponsor believes that the design of the Trust will enable certain investors to more effectively and efficiently implement strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies that use bitcoin by investing in the Shares rather than purchasing, holding and trading bitcoin directly.
Trust Holdings
The Trust’s only assets are bitcoin and cash. From time to time, the Trust may come into possession of rights incident to its ownership of bitcoin, which permit the Trust to acquire, or otherwise establish dominion and control over, other digital assets. These rights are generally expected to be forked assets (“Forked Assets”) that arise in connection with hard forks in the Bitcoin blockchain, airdrops offered to holders of bitcoins and digital assets arising from other similar events without any action of the Trust or of the Sponsor or Trustee on behalf of the Trust. These rights are referred to as “Incidental Rights” and any digital assets acquired through Incidental Rights are referred to as “IR Assets.” Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”), dated as of December 27, 2023, the Trust has explicitly disclaimed all Incidental Rights and IR Assets. Such assets are not considered assets of the Trust at any point in time and will not be taken into account for purposes of determining the Trust’s NAV and the NAV per Share.
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, to the extent that the Trust involuntarily receives such assets in a Trust wallet, it will, as soon as practicable, and, if possible, immediately, distribute such assets to the Sponsor. At such time, the Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s) will be the property of the Sponsor. Once acquired, the Sponsor, subject to a reasonable, good faith determination, may take any lawful action necessary or desirable in connection with its acquisition of such assets. In the event that the Sponsor decides to sell the Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s), it will seek to do so for cash. This may be a sale of the Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s) directly in exchange for cash, or in exchange for another digital asset which may subsequently be exchanged for cash. The Sponsor would then contribute that cash back to the Trust, which in turn would distribute the cash to the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to be distributed to Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares owned.
Custody of the Trust’s Holdings
The Bitcoin Custodian maintains custody of all of the Trust’s bitcoin (other than bitcoin maintained in the Trading Balance) in a special account that holds the Trust’s bitcoin (the “Trust Bitcoin Account”). The Sponsor expects that all of the Trust’s bitcoin is held in cold storage of the Bitcoin Custodian on an ongoing basis. Cold storage in the context of bitcoin means keeping the reserve of bitcoin offline, which is a widely-used security precaution, especially when dealing with a large amount of bitcoin. Bitcoin held under custodianship with the Bitcoin Custodian is kept in high-security, offline, multi-layer cold storage vaults. This means that the private keys, the cryptographic component that allows a user to access bitcoin, are stored offline on hardware that has never been connected to the internet. Storing the private key offline minimizes the risk of the bitcoin being stolen. In addition to holding the Trust’s bitcoin in cold storage, the Bitcoin Custodian utilizes the following additional safety and security measures relating to the custody of the Trust’s bitcoin:
In addition to the above measures, in accordance with the Bitcoin Custody Agreement, bitcoin held in custody with the Bitcoin Custodian is segregated from both the proprietary property of the Bitcoin Custodian and the assets of any other customer in accounts that clearly identify the Trust as the owner of the accounts.
The Trust’s cash holdings are held in an account with the Cash Custodian.
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The CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate – New York Variant (BRRNY)
The Trust uses the BRRNY to calculate its daily NAV. The BRRNY was designed to provide a daily, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) reference rate of the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin that may be used to develop financial products. It is calculated by the Benchmark Provider based on an aggregation of executed trade flow of the Constituent Platforms. The BRRNY uses the same methodology as the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (“BRR”), which was designed by the CME Group and CF Benchmarks Ltd. to facilitate the cash settlement of bitcoin futures contracts traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”). The only material difference between the BRRNY and BRR is that the BRR measures the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin as of 4:00 p.m. London time and the BRRNY measures the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin as of 4:00 pm Eastern time. The CME Group also publishes the CME CF Bitcoin Real Time Index (the “CME Bitcoin Real Time Price”), which is a continuous measure of the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin calculated once per second. Each of the BRRNY, BRR and the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price is representative of the bitcoin trading activity on the Constituent Platforms, which include, as of December 31, 2025, Coinbase, Bitstamp, ItBit, Kraken, Gemini, Bullish Exchange, Crypto.com, and LMAX Digital.
The BRRNY is calculated based on the qualifying bitcoin transactions (the “Relevant Transactions”) on all of the Constituent Platforms as follows:
All Relevant Transactions are added to a joint list, recording the time of execution, trade price and size for each transaction.
As of December 31, 2025, the BRRNY Constituent Platforms included Coinbase, Bitstamp, ItBit, Kraken, Gemini, Bullish Exchange, Crypto.com, and LMAX Digital.
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An oversight function is implemented by the Benchmark Provider in seeking to ensure that the BRRNY is administered through the Benchmark Provider’s codified policies for index integrity. The BRRNY is administered through the Benchmark Provider’s codified policies for index integrity, including a conflicts of interest policy, a control framework, an accountability framework, and an input data policy. It is also subject to the U.K. Benchmarks Regulation, compliance with which regulations has been subject to a Limited Assurance Audit under the International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000 standard as of September 12, 2022, which is publicly available.
The BRRNY is subject to oversight by the CME CF Oversight Committee. The CME CF Oversight Committee is comprised of at least five members, including at least: (i) two who are representatives of CME; (ii) one who is a representative of CF Benchmarks Ltd.; and (iii) two who bring expertise and industry knowledge relating to benchmark determination, issuance and operations. The CME CF Oversight Committee meets no less frequently than quarterly. The CME CF Oversight Committee’s Founding Charter and quarterly meeting minutes are publicly available.
In the event that there are errors or irregularities in the calculation and publication of the BRRNY, including delayed, missing data or erroneous data, the Benchmark Provider will apply the “Contingency Calculation Rules” as it relates to the BRRNY that are set forth on the Benchmark Provider’s website. Such rules dictate how the Benchmark Provider will calculate the BRRNY, depending upon the type of error or irregularity. For instance, in the event that no Relevant Transaction occurs on a Constituent Platform on a given day, or one (1) or more Relevant Transactions do occur on the Constituent Platform but cannot be retrieved by the Benchmark Provider, the Constituent Platform is disregarded in the calculation of the BRRNY for that day. In addition, all Relevant Transactions are subject to automated screening for erroneous data. Relevant Transactions that have been flagged as erroneous pursuant to the automated screening and the Contingency Calculation Rules are disregarded in the calculation of the BRRNY for a given day. If, for whatever reason, the Benchmark Provider is unable to calculate and publish the BRRNY by the stipulated dissemination time, it shall publish a notification on its website informing BRRNY users, including the Trust, the calculation and publication have been delayed.
BRRNY data and the description of the BRRNY are based on information made publicly available by the Benchmark Provider on its website at https://www.cfbenchmarks.com. None of the information on the Benchmark Provider’s website is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
The Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may cause the Trust to price its portfolio based upon an index, benchmark or standard other than the BRRNY at any time, with prior notice to the Shareholders, if investment conditions change or the Sponsor believes that another index, benchmark or standard better aligns with the Trust’s investment objective and strategy. The Sponsor may make this decision for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, a determination that the BRRNY price of bitcoin differs materially from the global market price of bitcoin and/or that third parties are able to purchase and sell bitcoin on public or private markets not included among the Constituent Platforms, and such transactions may take place at prices materially higher or lower than the BRRNY price. The Sponsor, however, is under no obligation whatsoever to make such changes in any circumstance. In the event that the Sponsor intends to establish the Trust’s NAV by reference to an index, benchmark or standard other than the BRRNY, it will provide Shareholders with notice in a prospectus supplement and/or through a Current Report on Form 8-K or in the Trust’s annual or quarterly reports.
Calculation of Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
Under normal circumstances, the Trust’s only asset would be bitcoin and, under limited circumstances, cash. The Trust’s bitcoin are carried, for financial statement purposes, at fair value, as required by the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Trust’s NAV is determined by the Administrator once each Exchange trading day at 4:00 p.m. EST, or as soon thereafter as practicable. The NAV for a normal trading day is released after 4:00 p.m. EST. Trading during the core trading session on the Exchange typically closes at 4:00 p.m. EST. However, NAVs are not officially struck until later in the day (often by 5:30 p.m. and almost always by 8:00 p.m.). The pause between 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (or later) provides an opportunity for the Sponsor to algorithmically detect, flag, investigate, and correct unusual pricing should it occur.
The Administrator calculates the NAV of the Trust by multiplying the number of bitcoin held by the Trust by the BRRNY for such day, adding any additional receivables and subtracting the accrued but unpaid expenses and liabilities of the Trust. The Trust’s NAV per Share is calculated by dividing the Trust’s NAV by the number of Shares then outstanding. The Administrator determines the price of the Trust’s bitcoin by reference to the BRRNY, which is published between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EST) on every calendar day. The methodology used to calculate the BRRNY price to value bitcoin in determining the NAV of the Trust may not be deemed consistent with GAAP. To the extent the methodology used to calculate the BRRNY is deemed inconsistent with GAAP, the Trust utilizes an alternative GAAP-consistent pricing source for purposes of the Trust’s periodic financial statements.
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The Trust’s periodic financial statements may not utilize the NAV of the Trust determined by reference to the BRRNY to the extent the methodology used to calculate the BRRNY is deemed not to be consistent with GAAP. The Trust’s periodic financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC Topic 820”) and utilize an exchange-traded price from the Trust’s principal market for bitcoin on the Trust’s financial statement measurement date. The Sponsor determines in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The Trust has engaged a third-party vendor to obtain a price from a principal market for bitcoin, which is determined and designated by such third-party vendor daily based on its consideration of several exchange characteristics, including oversight, and the volume and frequency of trades. Under GAAP, such a price is expected to be deemed a Level 1 input in accordance with the ASC Topic 820 because it is expected to be a quoted price in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
The Trust's NAV and NAV per share are presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are reconciled against GAAP metrics in the financial statements as set forth in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Calculation and Dissemination of ITV
The Trust utilizes the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price to calculate an Indicative Trust Value (“ITV”). The ITV is disseminated on a Per-Share basis every 15 seconds during regular Exchange trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST. The ITV is intended to provide additional information not otherwise available to the public that may be useful to investors and market professionals in connection with the trading of the Shares on the Exchange. It is calculated by using the prior day’s holdings at close of business and the most recently reported price level of the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price.
The ITV is calculated by using the prior day’s closing NAV per Share of the Trust as a base and updating that value throughout the trading day to reflect changes in the most recently reported price level of the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price. The ITV disseminated during the Exchange core trading session hours should not be viewed as an actual real time update of the NAV, because NAV per Share is calculated only once at the end of each trading day based upon the relevant end of day values of the Trust’s investments. The ITV is disseminated on a Per-Share basis every 15 seconds during regular Exchange core trading session hours of 9:30 a.m. EST to 4:00 p.m. EST. The Exchange disseminates the ITV value through the facilities of CTA/CQ High Speed Lines that allow for high-speed data transmission. In addition, the ITV is published on the Exchange’s website and is available through online information services such as Bloomberg and Reuters. The ITV (which is based upon the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price) may differ from the NAV (which is based upon the BRRNY) due to differences in how the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price and BRRNY are calculated. While the BRRNY is calculated as described in the section above entitled “The CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate – New York Variant,” the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price is calculated once per second, in real time by utilizing the Order Books of bitcoin – U.S. dollar trading pairs operated by all Constituent Platforms. An “Order Book” is a list of buy and sell orders with associated limit prices and sizes that have not yet been matched, that is reported and disseminated by CF Benchmarks Ltd., as the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price calculation agent. The Order Books are aggregated into one consolidated order book by the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price calculation agent and the bid-price volume curve, ask price-volume curve, mid-price volume curve and mid-spread volume curve are calculated. The mid-price volume curve is the average of the bid price-volume curve (which maps transaction volume to the marginal price per cryptocurrency unit a seller is required to accept in order to sell this volume to the consolidated order book) and the ask price-volume curve (which maps a transaction volume to the marginal price per cryptocurrency unit a buyer is required to pay in order to purchase this volume from the consolidated order book). The mid price-volume curve is weighted by the normalized probability density of the exponential distribution up to the utilized depth (utilized depth being calculated as the maximum cumulative volume for which the mid spread-volume curve does not exceed a certain percentage deviation from the mid price). The CME Bitcoin Real Time Price is then given by the sum of the weighted mid price-volume curve obtained in the previous step.
Dissemination of the ITV provides additional information that is not otherwise available to the public and may be useful to investors and market professionals in connection with the trading of the Shares on the Exchange. Investors and market professionals are able to compare the market price of the Trust and the ITV throughout the trading day. If the market price of the Shares diverges significantly from the ITV, market professionals will have an incentive to execute arbitrage trades. For example, if the Trust appears to be trading at a discount compared to the ITV, a market professional could buy the Shares on the Exchange and sell short futures contracts. Such arbitrage trades can tighten the tracking between the market price of the Trust and the ITV and thus can be beneficial to all market participants.
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Creation and Redemption of Shares
When the Trust creates or redeems its Shares, it does so only in Baskets (blocks of 10,000 Shares) based on the quantity of bitcoin attributable to each Share of the Trust (net of accrued but unpaid expenses and liabilities) multiplied by the number of Shares comprising a Basket (10,000). This is called the “Basket Amount.”
Authorized Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. Authorized Participants must be (i) registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions, that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions described below, and (ii) DTC Participants. To become an Authorized Participant, a person must enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement. The Authorized Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of the cash or Shares required for such creation and redemptions. The Authorized Participant Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by the Trust, without the consent of any Shareholder or Authorized Participant. Authorized Participants must pay the Transfer Agent a non-refundable fee for each order they place to create or redeem one (1) or more Baskets. The transaction fee may be waived, reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Trust or the Sponsor, and no such person will have any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.
Each Authorized Participant is required to be registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and a member in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or exempt from being or otherwise not required to be licensed as a broker-dealer or a member of FINRA, and is qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so requires. Certain Authorized Participants may also be regulated under federal and state banking laws and regulations. Each Authorized Participant has its own set of rules and procedures, internal controls and information barriers as it determines is appropriate in light of its own regulatory regime.
Under the Authorized Participant Agreement, the Sponsor, and the Trust under limited circumstances, have agreed to indemnify the Authorized Participants against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act"), and to contribute to the payments the Authorized Participants may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
Determination of Basket Amount
The Basket Amount required to create each Basket changes from day to day. On each day that the Exchange is open for regular trading, the Administrator adjusts the quantity of bitcoin constituting the Basket Amount as appropriate to reflect accrued expenses and any loss of bitcoin that may occur. The computation is made by the Administrator each business day prior to the commencement of trading on the Exchange. The Administrator determines the Basket Amount for a given day by dividing the number of bitcoin held by the Trust as of the opening of business on that business day, adjusted for the amount of bitcoin constituting estimated accrued but unpaid fees and expenses of the Trust as of the opening of business on that business day, by the quotient of the number of Shares outstanding at the opening of business, multiplied by 10,000. Fractions of a bitcoin smaller than a satoshi (0.00000001 bitcoin) are disregarded for purposes of the computation of the Basket Amount. The Basket Amount so determined is communicated via electronic mail message to all Authorized Participants and made available on the Sponsor’s website for the Shares. The Exchange also publishes the Basket Amount determined by the Administrator as indicated above.
Creation Procedures
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may create Shares by placing an order to purchase one (1) or more Baskets with the Transfer Agent through the Marketing Agent in exchange for cash (a “Purchase Order”). Such orders are subject to approval by the Marketing Agent and Transfer Agent. For purposes of processing creation and redemption orders, a “business day” means any day other than a day when the Exchange is closed for regular trading. Purchase Orders must be placed by 2:00 p.m., EST, or the close of regular trading on the Exchange, whichever is earlier (the “Purchase Order Cut-Off Time”). The Purchase Order Cut-Off time may be modified by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. The day on which a Purchase Order is accepted by the Transfer Agent is considered the “Purchase Order Date.”
The Sponsor may in its sole discretion limit the number of Shares created pursuant to Purchase Orders on any specified day without notice to the Authorized Participants and may direct the Marketing Agent to reject any Purchase Orders in excess of such capped amount. The Sponsor may choose to limit the number of Shares created pursuant to Purchase Orders when it deems so doing to be in the best interest of Shareholders. It may choose to do so when it believes the market is too volatile to execute a bitcoin transaction, when it believes the price of bitcoin is being inconsistently, irregularly, or discontinuously
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published from bitcoin trading venues and other data sources, or when it believes other similar circumstances may create a scenario in which accepting Purchase Orders would not be in the best interests of the Shareholders. The Sponsor does not believe that the Trust’s ability to arrive at such a determination would have a significant impact on the Shares in the secondary market because it believes that the ability to create Shares would be reinstated shortly after such determination is made, and any entity desiring to create Shares would be able to do so once the ability to create Shares is reinstated. However, it is possible that such a determination would cause the Shares to trade at premiums or discounts relative to the Trust’s NAV on the secondary market if arbitrageurs believe that there is risk that the creation and redemption process is not available, as this process is a component of keeping the price of the Shares on the secondary market closely aligned to the Trust’s NAV.
The manner by which creations are made is dictated by the terms of the Authorized Participant Agreement. By placing a Purchase Order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deposit, or cause the deposit of, cash with the Trust in an equivalent amount of cash equal to the required amount of bitcoin as described in the “Determination of Basket Amount” sub-section above, multiplied by the BRRNY price, plus any additional cash required to account for the price at which the Trust agrees to purchase the requisite amount of bitcoin to the extent it is greater than the BRRNY price on each Purchase Order Date. On each Purchase Order Date, the Administrator communicates to the Authorized Participant the full cash amount required to settle the transaction. Authorized Participants may not withdraw a creation request. If an Authorized Participant fails to consummate the foregoing, the Purchase Order would be cancelled. The Sponsor causes to be published each night the amount of bitcoin that is acquired in exchange for each Purchase Order, from which can be computed the estimated amount of cash required to create each Basket, prior to accounting for any additional cash required to acquire the requisite amount of bitcoin if the price paid by the Trust is in excess of the BRRNY on each Purchase Order Date.
An Authorized Participant who places a Purchase Order is responsible for facilitating the delivery of the required amount of cash to the Cash Custodian by 3:00 pm, EST, on the business day following the Purchase Order Date. Pursuant to the cash creation and redemption process, the Trust is responsible for acquiring and selling bitcoin, which it may do pursuant to two different models: (i) the “Trust-Directed Trade Model,” and (ii) the “Agent Execution Model.”
Under the Trust-Directed Trade Model, the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, is responsible for acquiring bitcoin from an approved Bitcoin Trading Counterparty in an amount equal to the Basket Amount. When seeking to purchase bitcoin on behalf of the Trust, the Sponsor seeks to purchase bitcoin at a price as close to the BRRNY as practical. Once the trade has been agreed upon with a Bitcoin Trading Counterparty, the transaction generally occurs on an “over-the-counter” basis. Transfers of bitcoin from the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty to the Trust Bitcoin Account are “on-chain” transactions represented on the Bitcoin blockchain. Upon receipt of the deposit amount of bitcoin in the Trust Bitcoin Account at the Bitcoin Custodian from the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty, the Bitcoin Custodian would notify the Sponsor that the bitcoin has been received. The Sponsor would then notify the Transfer Agent that the bitcoin has been received, and the Transfer Agent would direct DTC to credit the number of Shares ordered to the Authorized Participant’s DTC account and would wire the cash previously sent by the Authorized Participant to the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty to complete settlement of the Purchase Order and the acquisition of the bitcoin by the Trust. If the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty fails to deliver the bitcoin to the Bitcoin Custodian, no cash is sent from the Cash Custodian to the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty, no Shares are transferred to the Authorized Participant’s DTC account, the cash is returned to the Authorized Participant, and the Purchase Order is cancelled.
Under the Agent Execution Model, the Prime Execution Agent, acting in an agency capacity, conducts bitcoin purchases on behalf of the Trust with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service pursuant to the Prime Execution Agreement. On the evening of the Purchase Order Date, the Trust enters into a transaction to buy bitcoin through the Prime Execution Agent for cash. Because the Trust’s Trading Balance may not be funded with cash on the Purchase Order Date for the purchase of bitcoin in connection with the Purchase Order under the Agent Execution Model, the Trust may borrow Trade Credits in the form of cash from the Trade Credit Lender pursuant to the Trade Financing Agreement or may require the Authorized Participant to deliver the required cash for the Purchase Order on the Purchase Order Date. The extension of Trade Credits on the Purchase Order Date allows the Trust to purchase bitcoin through the Prime Execution Agent on the Purchase Order Date, with such bitcoin being deposited in the Trust’s Trading Balance. On the day following the Purchase Order Date, the settlement date of a Purchase Order (the “Purchase Order Settlement Date”), the Trust delivers Shares to the Authorized Participant’s DTC account in exchange for cash received from the Authorized Participant. Where applicable, the Trust uses the cash to repay the Trade Credits borrowed from the Trade Credit Lender. On the Purchase Order Settlement Date for a Purchase Order utilizing the Agent Execution Model, the bitcoin associated with the Purchase Order and purchased on the Purchase Order Date is swept from the Trust’s Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent to the Trust Bitcoin Account with the Bitcoin Custodian pursuant to a regular end-of-day sweep process. Transfers of bitcoin into the Trust’s Trading Balance are off-chain transactions and transfers from the Trust’s Trading Balance to the Trust Bitcoin Account are “on-chain” transactions represented on the Bitcoin blockchain. Any financing fee owed to the Trade Credit Lender is deemed part of trade execution costs and embedded in the trade price for each transaction.
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As between the Trust and the Authorized Participant, the expense and risk of the difference between the value of bitcoin calculated by the Administrator for daily valuation using the BRRNY and the price at which the Trust acquires the bitcoin are borne solely by the Authorized Participant to the extent that the Trust pays more for bitcoin than the price used by the Trust for daily valuation. Any such additional cash amount is included in the amount of cash calculated by the Administrator on the Purchase Order Date, communicated to the Authorized Participant on the Purchase Order Date, and wired by the Authorized Participant to the Cash Custodian on the Purchase Order Settlement Date.
Rejection of Purchase Orders
The Sponsor or its designee has the absolute right, but does not have any obligation, to reject any purchase order if the Sponsor determines that:
None of the Sponsor, the Marketing Agent, the Cash Custodian or the Bitcoin Custodian is liable for the rejection of any Purchase Order.
Redemption Procedures
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Transfer Agent through the Marketing Agent to redeem one (1) or more Baskets (a “Redemption Order”). Redemption Orders must be placed by 2:00 pm, EST, which may be modified by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. A Redemption Order is effective on the date it is accepted by the Transfer Agent (the “Redemption Order Date”). The redemption distribution from the Trust in exchange for a redemption of Shares consists of a movement of cash representing the Basket Amount of bitcoin, less any trading expenses incurred by the Trust in liquidating the bitcoin, to the redeeming Authorized Participant or its designee.
Under the Trust-Directed Trade Model, the procedures by which an Authorized Participant can redeem one (1) or more Baskets mirror the procedures for the creation of Baskets under the Trust-Directed Trade Model with an additional safeguard on bitcoin being removed from the Trust Bitcoin Account, which would not occur until cash has been received by the Cash Custodian in an amount equal to the Basket Amount of bitcoin multiplied by the price at which the Trust agrees with the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty to sell the bitcoin on the Redemption Order Date. When seeking to sell bitcoin on behalf of the Trust, the Sponsor seeks to sell bitcoin at a price as close to the BRRNY as practical. Once the trade has been agreed upon with a Bitcoin Trading Counterparty, the transaction generally occurs on an “over-the-counter” basis. Transfers of bitcoin from the Trust Bitcoin Account to the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty are “on-chain” transactions represented on the Bitcoin blockchain. The Authorized Participant must deliver the Shares represented by the Basket to be redeemed to the Trust’s DTC account by end of day EST on the business day following the Redemption Order Date (the “Redemption Order Settlement Date”). The Bitcoin Custodian would not send the Basket Amount of bitcoin from the Trust Bitcoin Account to the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty until the Cash Custodian has received the cash from the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty and is instructed by the Sponsor to make such transfer. Once the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty has sent the cash to the Cash Custodian in an agreed upon amount to settle the agreed upon sale of the Basket Amount of bitcoin, the Transfer Agent would notify Sponsor. The Sponsor would then notify the Bitcoin Custodian to transfer the bitcoin to the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty, and the Transfer Agent would facilitate the redemption of Shares in exchange for cash. Once the Authorized Participant has delivered the Shares represented by the Basket to be redeemed to the Trust’s DTC account, the Cash Custodian would wire the requisite amount of cash to the Authorized Participant. Transfers of bitcoin from the Trust Bitcoin Account to the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty are “on-chain” transactions represented on the Bitcoin blockchain. In the event that by the end of the day on the Redemption Order Settlement Date, the Trust’s account at DTC shall not have been credited with the total number of Shares corresponding to the total number of Baskets to be redeemed pursuant to such Redemption Order, the Transfer Agent shall send to the Authorized Participant, the Sponsor and the Bitcoin Custodian via fax or electronic mail message notice of such fact and the Authorized Participant shall have two (2) business days following receipt of such notice to correct such failure. If such failure is not cured within such two (2) business day period, the Transfer Agent (in consultation with the Sponsor) would cancel such Redemption Order and would send via fax or electronic mail message notice of such cancellation to the
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Authorized Participant and the Bitcoin Custodian, and the Authorized Participant would be solely responsible for all costs incurred by the Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor or the Bitcoin Custodian related to the cancelled Redemption Order.
For a redemption of Baskets utilizing the Agent Execution Model, the Authorized Participant may be required to submit a Redemption Order by an earlier than normal order cutoff time (the “Redemption Early Order Cut-Off Time”). The Redemption Early Order Cut-Off Time may be as early as 5:00 p.m. EST on the business day prior to the Redemption Order Date. Once a Redemption Order is received, the Sponsor instructs the Bitcoin Custodian to prepare to transfer the bitcoin associated with the Redemption Order from the Trust Bitcoin Account with the Bitcoin Custodian to the Trust’s Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent. For a Redemption Order utilizing the Agent Execution Model, on the evening of the Redemption Order Date, the Prime Execution Agent, acting in an agency capacity, conducts bitcoin sales on behalf of the Trust with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service in exchange for cash. The Trust’s Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent may not be funded with bitcoin on the evening of the Redemption Order Date at the time of the intended execution of the sale of bitcoin in connection with the Redemption Order because such bitcoin is still in the Trust Bitcoin Account at the Bitcoin Custodian. In those circumstances the Trust may borrow Trade Credits in the form of bitcoin from the Trade Credit Lender, which allows the Trust to sell bitcoin through the Prime Execution Agent on the evening of the Redemption Order Date, and the cash proceeds are deposited in the Trust’s Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent. Such cash is then transferred to the Cash Custodian. The Trust will subsequently transfer the Basket Amount of bitcoin from the Trust Bitcoin Account to the Trust’s Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent. Once the Authorized Participant has delivered the Shares represented by the Basket to be redeemed to the Trust’s DTC account, the Cash Custodian will then wire the requisite amount of cash to the Authorized Participant. In the event Trade Credits were used, the Trust will use the bitcoin that is moved from the Trust Bitcoin Account with the Bitcoin Custodian to the Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent to repay the Trade Credits borrowed from the Trade Credit Lender. Transfers of bitcoin from the Trust Bitcoin Account to the Trust’s Trading Balance are “on-chain” transactions represented on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Suspension or Rejection of Redemption Orders
The Sponsor may, in its discretion, suspend the right of purchase or redemption or may postpone the Redemption Order Settlement Date, for (i) any period during which the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted, (ii) any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the fulfillment of a purchase order or the redemption distribution is not reasonably practicable (for example, as a result of an interruption in services or availability of the Prime Execution Agent, Bitcoin Custodian, Cash Custodian, Administrator, or other service providers to the Trust, act of God, catastrophe, civil disturbance, government prohibition, war, terrorism, strike or other labor dispute, fire, force majeure, interruption in telecommunications, internet services, or network provider services, unavailability of Fedwire, SWIFT or banks’ payment processes, significant technical failure, bug, error, disruption or fork of the Bitcoin network, hacking, cybersecurity breach, or power, internet, or Bitcoin network outage, or similar event), or (iii) such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of the Shareholders of the Trust (for example, where acceptance of the U.S. dollars needed to create each Basket would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Trust or its Shareholders). For example, the Sponsor may determine that it is necessary to suspend redemptions to allow for the orderly liquidation of the Trust’s assets. If the Sponsor has difficulty liquidating the Trust’s positions, e.g., because of a market disruption event, it may be appropriate to suspend redemptions until such time as such circumstances are rectified. None of the Sponsor, the person authorized to take Redemption Orders in the manner provided in the Authorized Participant Agreement, the Bitcoin Custodian or the Cash Custodian will be liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
Redemption Orders must be made in whole Baskets. The Sponsor acting by itself or through the person authorized to take Redemption Orders in the manner provided in the Authorized Participant Agreement may, in its sole discretion, reject any Redemption Order (i) the Sponsor determines not to be in proper form, (ii) the fulfillment of which its counsel advises may be illegal under applicable laws and regulations, or (iii) if circumstances outside the control of the Sponsor, the person authorized to take redemption orders in the manner provided in the Authorized Participant Agreement or the Bitcoin Custodian make it for all practical purposes not feasible for the Shares to be delivered under the Redemption Order. The Sponsor may also reject a Redemption Order if the number of Shares being redeemed would reduce the remaining outstanding Shares to 100,000 Shares (i.e., ten Baskets) or less.
Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee
To compensate the Transfer Agent for expenses incurred in connection with the creation and redemption of Baskets, an Authorized Participant is required to pay a transaction fee to the Transfer Agent to create or redeem Baskets, which does not vary in accordance with the number of Baskets in such order. The transaction fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor.
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Tax Responsibility
Authorized Participants are responsible for any transfer tax, sales or use tax, stamp tax, recording tax, value added tax or similar tax or governmental charge applicable to the creation or redemption of Baskets, regardless of whether or not such tax or charge is imposed directly on the Authorized Participant, and agree to indemnify the Sponsor and the Trust if they are required by law to pay any such tax, together with any applicable penalties, additions to tax and interest thereon.
Secondary Market Transactions
As discussed above, Authorized Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. Authorized Participants must be registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions. An Authorized Participant is under no obligation to create or redeem Baskets, and an Authorized Participant is under no obligation to offer to the public Shares of any Basket it does create.
Authorized Participants that do offer to the public Shares from the Basket they create do so at per-Share offering prices that are expected to reflect, among other factors, the trading price of the Shares on the Exchange, the NAV of the Trust at the time the Authorized Participant purchased the Baskets, the NAV of the Shares at the time of the offer of the Shares to the public, the supply of and demand for Shares at the time of sale, and the liquidity of bitcoin or other portfolio investments. Baskets are generally expected to be redeemed when the price per Share is at a discount to the NAV per Share. Shares initially comprising the same Basket but offered by Authorized Participants to the public at different times may have different offering prices. An order for one (1) or more Baskets may be placed by an Authorized Participant on behalf of multiple clients. Authorized Participants who make deposits of cash with the Trust in exchange for Baskets receive no fees, commissions or other forms of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Trust or the Sponsor and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.
Shares are expected to trade in the secondary market on the Exchange. Shares may trade in the secondary market at prices that are lower or higher relative to their NAV per Share. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per Share may be influenced by various factors, including the number of investors who seek to purchase or sell Shares in the secondary market and the liquidity of bitcoin.
Additional Information on Bitcoin and the Bitcoin Market
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital asset that is native to, and created and transmitted through the operations of, the peer-to-peer Bitcoin network, a decentralized network of computers that operates on cryptographic protocols. No single entity owns or operates the Bitcoin network, the infrastructure of which is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. The Bitcoin network allows people to exchange tokens of value, called bitcoin, which are recorded on a public transaction ledger known as the Bitcoin blockchain. Bitcoin can be used to pay for goods and services, or it can be converted to fiat currencies, such as the U.S. dollar, at rates determined on digital asset trading platforms or in individual end-user-to-end-user transactions under a barter system. Although nascent in use, bitcoin may be used as a medium of exchange, unit of account or store of value.
The Bitcoin network is decentralized and does not require governmental authorities or financial institution intermediaries to create, transmit or determine the value of bitcoin. In addition, no party may easily censor transactions on the Bitcoin network. As a result, the Bitcoin network is often referred to as decentralized and censorship resistant.
The value of bitcoin is determined by the supply of and demand for bitcoin. New bitcoin are created and rewarded to the parties providing the Bitcoin network’s infrastructure (“miners”) in exchange for their expending computational power to verify transactions and add them to the Bitcoin blockchain. The Bitcoin blockchain is effectively a decentralized database that includes all blocks that have been solved by miners and it is updated to include new blocks as they are solved. Each bitcoin transaction is broadcast to the Bitcoin network and, when included in a block, recorded in the Bitcoin blockchain. As each new block records outstanding bitcoin transactions, and outstanding transactions are settled and validated through such recording, the Bitcoin blockchain represents a complete, transparent and unbroken history of all transactions of the Bitcoin network.
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Bitcoin Network
Bitcoin was first described in a white paper released in 2008 and published under the name “Satoshi Nakamoto.” The protocol underlying Bitcoin was subsequently released in 2009 as open source software and currently operates on a worldwide network of computers. The Bitcoin network and its software has been under active development since that time by a group of computer engineers known as core developers, each of whom operates under a volunteer basis and without strict hierarchical administration.
The Bitcoin network utilizes a digital asset known as “bitcoin,” which can be transferred among parties via the internet. Unlike other means of electronic payments such as credit card transactions, one of the advantages of bitcoin is that it can be transferred without the use of a central administrator or clearing agency. As a central party is not necessary to administer bitcoin transactions or maintain the bitcoin ledger, the term decentralized is often used in descriptions of bitcoin. Unless it is using a third-party service provider, a party transacting in bitcoin is generally not afforded some of the protections that may be offered by intermediaries.
The first step in directly using the Bitcoin network for transactions is to download specialized software referred to as a “bitcoin wallet.” A user’s bitcoin wallet can run on a computer or smartphone, and can be used both to send and to receive bitcoin. Within a bitcoin wallet, a user can generate one (1) or more unique “bitcoin addresses,” which are conceptually similar to bank account numbers. After establishing a bitcoin address, a user can send or receive bitcoin from his or her bitcoin address to another user’s bitcoin address. Sending bitcoin from one bitcoin address to another is similar in concept to sending a bank wire from one person’s bank account to another person’s bank account; however, such transactions are not managed by an intermediary and erroneous transactions generally may not be reversed or remedied once sent.
The amount of bitcoin associated with each bitcoin address, as well as each bitcoin transaction to or from such bitcoin address, is transparently reflected in the Bitcoin blockchain and can be viewed by websites that operate as “Bitcoin blockchain explorers.” Copies of the Bitcoin blockchain exist on thousands of computers on the Bitcoin network throughout the internet. A user’s bitcoin wallet will either contain a copy of the Bitcoin blockchain or be able to connect with another computer that holds a copy of the Bitcoin blockchain. The innovative design of the Bitcoin network protocol allows each Bitcoin user to trust that their copy of the Bitcoin blockchain will generally be updated consistent with each other user’s copy.
When a Bitcoin user wishes to transfer bitcoin to another user, the sender must first request a Bitcoin address from the recipient. The sender then uses his or her Bitcoin wallet software to create a proposed transaction that is confirmed and settles when included in the Bitcoin blockchain. The transaction would reduce the amount of bitcoin allocated to the sender’s address and increase the amount allocated to the recipient’s address, in each case by the amount of bitcoin desired to be transferred. The transaction is completely digital in nature, similar to a file on a computer, and it can be sent to other computers participating in the Bitcoin network; however, the use of cryptographic verification is believed to prevent the ability to duplicate or counterfeit bitcoin.
Bitcoin Protocol
The Bitcoin protocol is built using open source software allowing for any developer to review the underlying code and suggest changes. There is no official company or group that is responsible for making modifications to the Bitcoin protocol. There are, however, a number of individual developers that regularly contribute to the reference software known as “Bitcoin Core,” a specific distribution of Bitcoin software that provides the de-facto standard for the Bitcoin protocol.
Significant changes to the Bitcoin protocol are typically accomplished through a so-called “Bitcoin Improvement Proposal” or BIP. Such proposals are generally posted on websites, and the proposals explain technical requirements for the protocol change as well as reasons why the change should be accepted by users. Because Bitcoin has no central authority, updating the reference software’s Bitcoin protocol will not immediately change the Bitcoin network’s operations. Instead, the implementation of a change is achieved by users (including miners) downloading and running the updated versions of Bitcoin Core or other Bitcoin software that abides by the new Bitcoin protocol. Users and miners must accept any changes made to the Bitcoin source code by downloading a version of their Bitcoin software that incorporates the proposed modification of the Bitcoin network’s source code. A modification of the Bitcoin network’s source code or protocol is only effective with respect to those Bitcoin users and miners who download it. If an incompatible modification is accepted by a less than overwhelming percentage of users and miners, a division in the Bitcoin network will occur such that one network will run the pre-modification source code and the other network will run the modified source code. Such a division is known as a “fork” in the Bitcoin network.
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Recent development on the Bitcoin network has enabled some functionality other than the transfer of value on the Bitcoin blockchain. Following the recent activation of Segregated Witness on the Bitcoin network, an alpha version of the Lightning Network was released. The Lightning Network is an open-source decentralized network that enables instant off-blockchain transfers of the ownership of bitcoin without the need for a trusted third party. In 2021, the Bitcoin protocol implemented the Taproot upgrade to add enhanced support for complex transactions on the network such as multi-signature transactions, which require two or more parties to execute a transaction on the Bitcoin network. Other efforts include increased use of smart contracts and distributed registers built into, built atop or pegged alongside the Bitcoin blockchain. The Trust’s activities will not directly relate to such projects, though such projects may utilize bitcoin as tokens for the facilitation of their non-financial uses, thereby potentially increasing the utility of the Bitcoin network as a whole. Conversely, projects that operate and are built within the Bitcoin blockchain may increase the data flow on the Bitcoin network and could either “bloat” the size of the Bitcoin blockchain or slow confirmation times. At this time, such projects remain in early stages.
Bitcoin Transactions
A bitcoin transaction is similar in concept to an irreversible digital check. The transaction contains the sender’s bitcoin address, the recipient’s bitcoin address, the amount of bitcoin to be sent, a transaction fee and the sender’s digital signature. Bitcoin transactions are secured by cryptography known as “public-private key cryptography,” represented by the bitcoin addresses and digital signature in a transaction’s data file. Each Bitcoin network address, or wallet, is associated with a unique “public key” and “private key” pair, both of which are lengthy alphanumeric codes, derived together and possessing a unique relationship.
The use of key pairs is a cornerstone of the Bitcoin network technology. This is because the use of a private key is the only mechanism by which a bitcoin transaction can be signed. If a private key is lost, the corresponding bitcoin is thereafter permanently non-transferable. Moreover, the theft of a private key provides the thief immediate and unfettered access to the corresponding bitcoin. Bitcoin users must therefore understand that in this regard, bitcoin is similar to cash: that is, the person or entity in control of the private key corresponding to a particular quantity of bitcoin has de facto control of the bitcoin. For large quantities of bitcoin, holders often embrace sophisticated security measures. For a discussion of how the Trust secures its bitcoin, see the section entitled “The Bitcoin Custodian” below.
The public key is visible to the public and analogous to the Bitcoin network address. The private key is a secret and is used to digitally sign a transaction in a way that proves the transaction has been signed by the holder of the public-private key pair, and without having to reveal the private key. A user’s private key must be kept safe in accordance with appropriate controls and procedures to ensure it is used only for legitimate and intended transactions. If an unauthorized third person learns of a user’s private key, that third person could apply the user’s digital signature without authorization and send the user’s bitcoin to their or another bitcoin address, thereby stealing the user’s bitcoin. Similarly, if a user loses his private key and cannot restore such access (e.g., through a backup), the user may permanently lose access to the bitcoin associated with that private key and bitcoin address.
To prevent the possibility of double-spending of bitcoin, each validated transaction is recorded, time stamped and publicly displayed in a “block” in the Bitcoin blockchain, which is publicly available. Thus, the Bitcoin network provides confirmation against double-spending by memorializing every transaction in the Bitcoin blockchain, which is publicly accessible and downloaded in part or in whole by all users of the Bitcoin network software program. Any user may validate, through their Bitcoin wallet or a blockchain explorer, that each transaction in the Bitcoin network was authorized by the holder of the applicable private key, and Bitcoin network mining software consistent with reference software requirements validates each such transaction before including it in the Bitcoin blockchain. This cryptographic security ensures that bitcoin transactions may not generally be counterfeited, although it does not protect against the “real world” theft or coercion of use of a Bitcoin user’s private key, including the hacking of a Bitcoin user’s computer or a service provider’s systems.
A Bitcoin transaction between two parties is recorded if included in a valid block added to the Bitcoin blockchain, when that block is accepted as valid through consensus formation among Bitcoin network participants. Validation of a block is achieved by confirming the cryptographic hash value included in the block’s data and by the block’s addition to the longest confirmed Bitcoin blockchain on the Bitcoin network. For a transaction, inclusion in a block in the Bitcoin blockchain constitutes a “confirmation” of validity. As each block contains a reference to the immediately preceding block, additional blocks appended to and incorporated into the Bitcoin blockchain constitute additional confirmations of the transactions in such prior blocks, and a transaction included in a block for the first time is confirmed once against double-spending. This layered confirmation process makes changing historical blocks (and reversing transactions) exponentially more difficult the further back one goes in the Bitcoin blockchain.
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To undo past transactions in a block recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain, a malicious actor would have to exert tremendous hashrate in re-solving each block in the Bitcoin blockchain starting with and after the target block and broadcasting all such blocks to the Bitcoin network. The Bitcoin network is generally programmed to consider the longest Bitcoin blockchain containing solved and valid blocks to be the most accurate Bitcoin blockchain. In order to undo multiple layers of confirmation and alter the Bitcoin blockchain, a malicious actor must re-solve all of the old blocks sought to be regenerated and be able to continuously add new blocks to the Bitcoin blockchain at a speed that would have to outpace that of all of the other miners on the Bitcoin network, who would be continuously solving for and adding new blocks to the Bitcoin blockchain. Given the size and speed of the Bitcoin network, it is generally agreed that the cost of amassing such computational power exceeds the profit to be obtained by double-spending or attempting to fabricate prior blocks.
If a malicious actor is able to amass ten (10) percent of the Bitcoin network’s aggregate hashrate, there is estimated to be a 0.1 percent chance that it would be able to overcome six (6) confirmations. Therefore, given the difficulty in amassing such hashrate, six (6) confirmations is an often-cited standard for the validity of transactions. The Trust has adopted a policy whereby a transaction will be deemed confirmed upon this industry standard of six (6) confirmations (the “Confirmation Protocol”). The Bitcoin network targets the addition of one (1) new block to the blockchain approximately every ten (10) minutes. Under standard network conditions and using the Confirmation Protocol, a transaction is typically considered confirmed beyond a reasonable doubt in approximately one (1) hour. Merchants selling high-value goods and services, as well as bitcoin trading platforms and many experienced users, are believed to generally use the six (6) confirmations standard. This confirmation system, however, does not mean that merchants must always wait for multiple confirmations for transactions involving low-value goods and services. As discussed below, the value of a successful double-spending attack involving a low-value transaction may, and perhaps likely will, be significantly less than the cost involved in arranging and executing such double-spending attacks. Furthermore, merchants engaging in low-value transactions may then view the reward of quicker transaction settlements with limited or no Bitcoin blockchain confirmation as greater than the related risk of not waiting for six (6) confirmations with respect to low-value transactions at points of sale. Conversely, for high-value transactions that are not time sensitive, additional settlement security can be provided by waiting for more than six (6) confirmations.
Bitcoin Mining
The process by which bitcoin are created and bitcoin transactions are verified is called “mining.” To begin mining, a user, or “miner,” can download and run a mining “client,” which, like regular Bitcoin network software programs, turns the user’s computer into a “node” on the Bitcoin network, and in this case has the ability to validate transactions and add new blocks of transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain.
Miners, through the use of the bitcoin software program, engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to verify transactions and compete for the right to add a block of verified transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain and thereby confirm bitcoin transactions included in that block’s data. The miner who successfully “solves” the complex mathematical calculations has the right to add a block of transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain and is then rewarded by a grant of bitcoin, known as a “coinbase,” plus any transaction fees paid for the transactions included in such block.
Confirmed and validated bitcoin transactions are recorded in blocks added to the Bitcoin blockchain. Each block contains the details of some or all of the most recent transactions that are not memorialized in prior blocks, as well as a record of the award of bitcoin to the miner who added the new block. Each unique block can only be solved and added to the Bitcoin blockchain by one (1) miner; therefore, all individual miners and mining pools on the Bitcoin network must engage in a competitive process of constantly increasing their computing power to improve their likelihood of solving for new blocks. As more miners join the Bitcoin network and its processing power increases, the Bitcoin network adjusts the complexity of a block-solving equation to maintain a predetermined pace of adding a new block to the Bitcoin blockchain approximately every ten (10) minutes.
Mathematically Controlled Supply
The method for creating new bitcoin is mathematically controlled in a manner so that the supply of bitcoin grows at a limited rate pursuant to a pre-set schedule. The number of bitcoin awarded for solving a new block is automatically halved every 210,000 blocks. Thus, the current fixed reward for solving a new block is 3.125 bitcoin per block; the reward decreased from 25 bitcoin to 12.5 bitcoin in July 2016 to 6.25 bitcoin in May 2020, and to 3.125 bitcoin in April 2024. It is estimated to halve again in mid-2028. This deliberately controlled rate of bitcoin creation means that the number of bitcoin in existence will never exceed twenty-one (21) million and that bitcoin cannot be devalued through excessive production unless the Bitcoin network’s source code (and the underlying protocol for bitcoin issuance) is altered. As of December 2025, approximately 19.9 million bitcoins were outstanding and the date when the 21 million Bitcoin limitation will be reached is estimated to be the year 2140.
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Competition
As of December 31, 2025, more than 10,000 cryptocurrencies, as tracked by CoinMarketCap.com, have been developed since the inception of bitcoin. While bitcoin remains the most developed digital asset because of the length of time it has been in existence, the investment in the infrastructure that supports it, and the network of individuals and entities that are using bitcoin in transactions, central banks in various countries are actively developing Central Bank Digital Currency (the “CBDC”). As of December 31, 2025, central banks representing at least 137 countries have published work on retail or wholesale CBDCs, ranging from initial research to advanced pilot projects. Whether or not CBDCs incorporate blockchain or similar technologies, they hold certain competitive advantages over cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, particularly because they are legal tender within their issuing jurisdictions. CBDCs could potentially replace or compete with bitcoin as a medium of exchange or store of value. Central banks and other governmental entities have also launched cooperative initiatives and consortia with private sector entities, with the goal of leveraging blockchain and other technologies to reduce friction in cross-border and interbank payments and settlement processes, and commercial banks and other financial institutions have also announced a number of initiatives of their own to incorporate new technologies, including blockchain and similar technologies, into their payments and settlement activities. These efforts aim to reduce friction and improve efficiency in financial transactions, which could lessen demand for bitcoin as an alternative payment method.
Regulation of Bitcoin
As bitcoin and digital assets have grown in both popularity and market size, the U.S. Congress and a number of U.S. federal and state agencies (including FinCEN, the SEC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), FINRA, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”), the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Federal Reserve and state financial institution regulators, and others) have been examining the operations of digital asset networks, digital asset users and the digital asset exchange markets, with particular focus on the extent to which digital assets can be used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities, evade sanctions, or fund criminal or terrorist enterprises and the safety and soundness of trading platforms and other service providers that hold or have custody of digital assets for users. Many of these state and federal agencies have brought enforcement actions and issued advisories and rules relating to digital asset markets. Ongoing and future regulatory actions with respect to digital assets generally or bitcoin in particular may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the nature of an investment in the Shares and/or the ability of the Trust to continue to operate.
The events of 2022 and 2023, among others, including the bankruptcy filings of Genesis Global, FTX and its subsidiaries, Three Arrows Capital, Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, Genesis, BlockFi and others, and other developments in the digital asset markets, have resulted in calls for heightened scrutiny and regulation of the digital asset industry, with a specific focus on intermediaries such as digital asset exchanges, platforms, and custodians. Bankrupt crypto platforms like FTX and Genesis Global have adopted differing approaches to repaying customers with FTX compensating customers in cash based on asset values at the time of its bankruptcy filing, while Genesis repaying in cryptocurrency, allowing customers to benefit from subsequent market rallies. Federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies may introduce and enact new laws and regulations to regulate crypto asset intermediaries, such as digital asset exchanges and custodians. The March 2023 collapses of Silicon Valley Bank, Silvergate Bank, and Signature Bank, which in some cases provided services to the digital assets industry, or similar future events, have continued to influence regulatory discourse. In January 2024, the SEC and CFTC jointly released guidance on custodial practices and risk management for firms holding crypto assets, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding asset segregation and operational transparency. In August 2024, the Federal Reserve announced increased oversight of banks engaging in digital asset-related activities through its Novel Activities Supervision Program. Although banking organizations are not prohibited from crypto-asset related activities, the federal banking agencies have reiterated their significant safety and soundness concerns with business models that are concentrated in crypto-asset related activities or have concentrated exposures to the crypto-asset sector.
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U.S. federal and state regulators, as well as the White House, have issued reports and releases concerning digital assets, including bitcoin and digital asset markets. In 2023, the House of Representatives formed two new subcommittees: the Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Subcommittee and the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee, each of which were formed in part to analyze issues concerning crypto assets and demonstrate a legislative intent to develop and consider the adoption of federal legislation designed to address the perceived need for regulation of and concerns surrounding the digital asset industry. In 2024, the U.S. Congress and various federal agencies continued to intensify their oversight. The introduction of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (“Fit21”) aimed to establish a comprehensive framework to regulate digital assets by delineating jurisdiction between the SEC and the CFTC. Additionally, the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023, championed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, proposed stricter anti-money laundering rules for digital asset service providers, highlighting concerns over illicit activities in the crypto sector. However, the extent and content of any forthcoming laws and regulations are not yet ascertainable with certainty, and it may not be ascertainable in the near future. A divided Congress makes any prediction difficult.
In August 2021, Gary Gensler, the chair of the SEC stated that he believed investors using digital asset trading platforms are not adequately protected, and that activities on the platforms can implicate the securities laws, commodities laws and banking laws, raising a number of issues related to protecting investors and consumers, guarding against illicit activity, and ensuring financial stability. The chair expressed a need for the SEC to have additional authorities to prevent transactions, products, and platforms from “falling between regulatory cracks,” as well as for more resources to protect investors in “this growing and volatile sector.” The chair called for federal legislation centering on digital asset trading, lending, and decentralized finance platforms, seeking “additional plenary authority” to write rules for digital asset trading and lending. In January 2024, Gary Gensler, the chair of the SEC, announced the SEC’s approval of multiple spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products, including BITB. Despite this progress, the SEC has regularly stated that certain digital assets may be considered “securities” under federal securities laws, and this classification can have significant implications for digital assets, including bitcoin. The legal test for determining whether any given crypto asset, product, or service is an investment contract security was set forth in the 1946 Supreme Court case SEC v. W.J. Howey Co. and whether any given crypto asset, product, or service is a note in the 1990 Supreme Court case Reves v. Ernst & Young. The legal tests for determining whether any given crypto asset, product, or service is a security requires a highly complex, fact-driven analysis. Accordingly, whether any given crypto asset, product or service would be ultimately deemed by a federal court to be a security is uncertain and difficult to predict notwithstanding the conclusions of the SEC or any conclusions the Trust may draw regarding the likelihood that a particular crypto asset, product or service could be deemed a “security” or “securities offering” under applicable laws. Certain statements by SEC officials have suggested that bitcoin does not meet the criteria of an investment contract under the federal securities laws. None of these statements are comprehensive or binding, and the SEC continues to scrutinize aspects of the digital asset space, including bitcoin.
Moreover, the SEC has taken a number of actions. For example, in February 2023, the SEC proposed amendments to the custody rules under Rule 406(4)-2 of the Investment Advisers Act. The proposed rule changes would amend the definition of a “qualified custodian” under Rule 206(4)-2(d)(6) and expand the current custody rule in 406(4)-2 to cover digital assets and related advisory activities. If enacted as proposed, these rules would likely impose additional regulatory requirements with respect to the custody and storage of digital assets and could lead to additional regulatory oversight of the digital asset ecosystem more broadly. In April 2023, the SEC reopened the comment period of a January 2022 rule proposal that would amend the 1934 Act Rule 3b-16, which defines “exchange” for the purposes of the 1934 Act. If adopted, the proposed rule change would broaden the definition of “exchange” to capture a larger amount of trading activity in the U.S.
The SEC and CFTC brought several enforcement actions in 2023 and 2024 against major crypto-asset exchanges and custodians, citing violations of registration requirements, improper asset segregation, and inadequate risk disclosures. In March 2023, the CFTC filed a lawsuit against Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao, for knowingly disregarding provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act to profit from their operation of an illegal digital assets derivative exchange. Subsequently, in June 2023, the SEC filed lawsuits against Binance, alleging that sales of Binance’s own digital assets on its platform along with facilitating the sales of various other cryptocurrencies on its platform, constituted violations of securities laws. In February 2025, the SEC and Binance jointly requested a 60-day stay of the SEC's civil lawsuit to allow for potential resolution following the SEC's establishment of a Crypto Task Force. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson granted this request, pausing the lawsuit for 60 days.
In July 2023, Judge Analisa Torres of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a summary judgment on the SEC’s action against Ripple Labs, Inc. (“Ripple”) brought in 2020. The court found that offers and sales of XRP, Ripple’s digital token, to institutions and sophisticated individuals constituted securities transactions, but that offers and sales of XRP on crypto exchanges, distributions to employees, and other third-party developers were not securities transactions. The SEC filed a motion to certify an interlocutory appeal of the court’s summary judgment, which was denied
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by Judge Torres, stating that the SEC had not met the requisite legal standards for such an appeal at that stage. In August 2024, Judge Torres issued the final judgment in the Ripple case, concluding the prolonged legal battle. The court ordered Ripple to pay a civil penalty of $125 million for institutional sales of XRP that were deemed unregistered securities offerings the amount of which was significantly less than the $2 billion initially sought by the SEC. In October 2024, the SEC appealed the court’s decision, seeking a reassessment of the penalties imposed on Ripple, and submitted its brief by January 15, 2025. During a closed meeting held on February 20, 2025, the SEC Commissioners deliberated on the ongoing appeal. While the SEC has not publicly disclosed the outcome of this meeting, industry experts, including former SEC enforcement attorney John Reed Stark, have suggested that the SEC may consider withdrawing its appeal against Ripple.
Shortly after the 2023 Binance case, the SEC brought a similar lawsuit against Coinbase in June 2023, alleging that Coinbase had been operating as an unregistered securities exchange, broker and clearing agency in violation of U.S. federal securities laws. In March 2024, the SEC received a mixed decision when Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York denied Coinbase’s motion to dismiss the case. Coinbase then sought to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in April 2024. On February 27, 2025, the SEC formally filed a joint stipulation with Coinbase to dismiss the ongoing civil enforcement action.
Recent SEC developments indicate possible shifts in its regulatory approach, although the SEC’s long-term direction remains uncertain. In addition to the recent developments aforementioned, the SEC: 1) withdrew Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, eliminating the requirement for companies to recognize a liability and corresponding asset for safeguarding digital assets; and 2) formed a new Crypto Task Force led by Commissioner Hester Peirce aimed at providing greater regulatory clarity to the digital asset industry. That said, any permanent regulatory shift remains uncertain at this time, and there is no assurance a more favorable U.S. regulatory environment will emerge at the federal or state levels. Any adverse regulatory developments or enforcement actions could negatively impact the value of these assets and related products, including the Trust.
FinCEN requires any administrator or exchanger of convertible digital assets to register with FinCEN as a money transmitter and comply with the anti-money laundering regulations applicable to money transmitters. In 2015, FinCEN assessed a $700,000 fine against a sponsor of a digital asset for violating several requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act by acting as a money services business and selling the digital asset without registering with FinCEN, and by failing to implement and maintain an adequate anti-money laundering program. In 2017, FinCEN assessed a $110 million fine against BTC-e, a now defunct digital asset exchange, for similar violations. The requirement that exchangers that do business in the U.S. register with FinCEN and comply with anti-money laundering regulations may increase the cost of buying and selling bitcoin and therefore may adversely affect the price of bitcoin and an investment in the Shares. In a March 2018 letter from FinCEN’s assistant secretary for legislative affairs to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, the assistant secretary indicated that under current law both the developers and the exchanges involved in the sale of tokens in an initial coin offering (“ICO”) may be required to register with FinCEN as money transmitters and comply with the anti-money laundering regulations applicable to money transmitters. In May 2019, FinCEN released comprehensive guidance clarifying that entities engaging in activities involving convertible virtual currencies (“CVCs”), such as accepting and transmitting CVCs or buying and selling them, are considered money transmitters under FinCEN's regulations and are therefore subject to anti-money laundering requirements. In October 2023, FinCEN proposed a new rule identifying international CVC mixing services as a class of transactions of primary money laundering concern.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury Department”) has added digital currency addresses, including addresses on the Bitcoin Network to the list of Specially Designated Nationals whose assets are blocked, and with whom U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing. Such actions by OFAC, or by similar organizations in other jurisdictions, may introduce uncertainty in the market as to whether bitcoin that has been associated with such addresses in the past can be easily sold. This “tainted” bitcoin may trade at a substantial discount to untainted bitcoin. Reduced fungibility in the Bitcoin markets may reduce the liquidity of bitcoin and therefore adversely affect their price.
Under regulations from the NYSDFS, businesses involved in digital asset business activity for third parties in or involving New York, excluding merchants and consumers, must apply for a license, commonly known as a BitLicense, from the NYSDFS and must comply with anti-money laundering, cyber security, consumer protection, and financial and reporting requirements, among others. As an alternative to a BitLicense, a firm can apply for a charter to become a limited purpose trust company under New York law qualified to engage in digital asset business activity. Other states have considered or approved digital asset business activity statutes or rules, passing, for example, regulations or guidance indicating that certain digital asset business activities constitute money transmission requiring licensure.
The inconsistency in applying money transmitting licensure requirements to certain businesses may make it more difficult for these businesses to provide services, which may affect consumer adoption of bitcoin and its price. In an attempt to address
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these issues, the Uniform Law Commission passed a model law in July 2017, the Uniform Regulation of Virtual Currency Businesses Act (“URVCBA”), which has many similarities to the BitLicense and features a multistate reciprocity licensure feature, wherein a business licensed in one state could apply for accelerated licensure procedures in other states. The adoption of the URVCBA has been limited. While states such as Connecticut, Hawaii, and Nebraska have introduced bills to enact the URVCBA, none have fully implemented the legislation. It is still unclear, however, how many states, if any, will manage to adopt some or all of the model legislation.
In addition, the SEC, U.S. state securities regulators and several foreign governments have issued warnings that digital assets sold in ICOs may be classified as securities and that both those digital assets and ICOs may be subject to securities regulations. Generally speaking, ICOs are offered and conducted on the Ethereum network or similar “smart contract” platforms, rather than the Bitcoin network; however, bitcoin has been used for consideration in ICOs on multiple networks and ICOs may be conducted using the Bitcoin network. On-going and future regulatory actions may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the nature of an investment in the Shares or the ability of the Trust to continue to operate. Additionally, U.S. state and federal, and foreign regulators and legislatures have taken action against digital asset businesses or enacted restrictive regimes in response to adverse publicity arising from hacks, consumer harm, or criminal activity stemming from digital asset activity. In July 2019, U.S. Treasury Department Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated that he had “very serious concerns” about digital assets. Secretary Mnuchin indicated that one source of concern is digital assets’ potential to be used to fund illicit activities. In June 2020, digital asset businesses that are financial institutions were required to comply with the “travel rule” guidelines promoted by the Financial Action Task Force and adopted by government regulators in a substantial number of developed economies. The travel rule requires financial institutions to pass on certain transaction information in connection with financial transfers of size; because of the nature of the Bitcoin network, compliance with this mandate represents a challenge for digital asset businesses including digital asset trading platforms. Despite the introduction of the travel rule, the implementation has been gradual in 2024 with 70% of jurisdictions enacting legislation for the rule, up from previous years, and 15 more in the process.
Various foreign jurisdictions have, and may continue to, in the near future, adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect the Bitcoin network, the bitcoin markets, and their users, particularly digital asset trading platforms and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions’ regulatory scope. Some countries have classified digital assets broadly as “securities,” while others, like Switzerland, Malta, and Singapore, have adopted a more nuanced approach. As a result, digital assets may be considered securities in one country but not in another. In addition, in June 2023, the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (“MiCA”) regulation entered into force, with regulations for stablecoins coming into effect, and broader rules for digital assets and service providers entered into force in December 2024. MiCA aims to create a unified regulatory framework that could either attract more participants to the EU market or lead to heightened compliance costs for digital asset firms operating there. In contrast, China continues its strict stance on digital assets. After the 2021 crackdown on bitcoin mining, Chinese regulators have remained vigilant, recently intensifying their scrutiny of unauthorized cryptocurrency-related activities and enforcing stringent measures against any local exchanges or OTC platforms operating under the radar. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has taken steps to bring crypto firms within the fold of its financial regulatory regime. In October 2023, the UK government announced its final proposals on a comprehensive framework for regulating fiat-backed stablecoins, while the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ramped up its enforcement actions against unregistered crypto ATMs. Laws and regulations in these and other regions may conflict with those in the U.S., negatively impacting the global acceptance of digital assets by users, merchants, and service providers. Such regulatory divergence may impede the growth and sustainability of the digital asset economy worldwide, potentially reducing the value of digital assets, including bitcoin, and thereby adversely affecting the value of the Shares.
The transparency of blockchains has in the past facilitated investigations by law enforcement agencies. However, certain privacy-enhancing features have been or are expected to be introduced to a number of digital asset networks, and these features may provide law enforcement agencies with less visibility into transaction histories. Although no regulatory action has been taken to treat privacy-enhancing digital assets differently, this may change in the future.
Uncertainty about the jurisdiction over digital assets by federal and state authorities has resulted in calls for comprehensive digital asset legislation, and the expansion of the digital asset market, along with significant industry developments in recent years, has led to increased scrutiny by consecutive U.S. Presidents and the U.S. Congress. On January 23, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14178, titled “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” which revoked President Biden’s March 2022 Executive Order 14067, “Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets.” Among other things, Trump’s order establishes the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, tasked with proposing a federal regulatory framework for digital assets within 180 days. This working group is directed to focus on fostering innovation, reducing regulatory burdens, and ensuring U.S. competitiveness in global digital financial markets. Traditional financial services competitors also have long-established relationships with policymakers and have cultivated lobbying efforts to advance their interests. While members of the cryptocurrency industry have begun engaging with policymakers and external advisors to advocate for balanced regulation, the relative infancy of these efforts compared to other industries leaves the cryptocurrency industry vulnerable to unfavorable regulatory outcomes. New laws, regulations, or
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interpretations of existing regulations may emerge in the U.S. and internationally that are detrimental to digital asset platforms, potentially disrupting the Trust's business operations, financial performance, or growth opportunities. Furthermore, political and advocacy activities from the Trust and the Sponsor aimed at influencing the regulatory environment may attract negative perceptions from investors and the public. Such perceptions could harm the Trust’s reputation and its overall market position, compounding the challenges posed by an increasingly complex and uncertain regulatory landscape. It is difficult to predict whether, or when, any of these developments will lead to Congress granting additional authorities to the SEC or other regulators, what the nature of such additional authorities might be, how additional legislation and/or regulatory oversight might impact the ability of digital asset markets to function or how any new regulations or changes to existing regulations might impact the value of digital assets generally and those held by the Trust specifically. Any change in the classification of bitcoin may require substantial compliance steps resulting in extraordinary expenses to the Trust. If these developments significantly alter the regulatory landscape, the Sponsor may choose to terminate the Trust, potentially leading to liquidation at a time that could be disadvantageous for Shareholders and adversely impact the value of the Shares.
Fees and Expenses
Management Fee
The Trust pays the unitary Sponsor Fee of 0.20% per annum of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings. For a 6-month period commencing on January 11, 2024, the day the Shares were initially listed on the Exchange, the Sponsor waived the entire Sponsor Fee on the first $1 billion of Trust assets through July 10, 2024.
The Sponsor Fee is paid by the Trust to the Sponsor as compensation for services performed under the Trust Agreement and agreement between the Trust and the Sponsor (the “Sponsor Agreement”). After the period during which all or a portion of the Sponsor Fee was waived, the Sponsor Fee has been accruing daily since July 11, 2024, and is payable in bitcoin monthly in arrears. The Administrator calculates the Sponsor Fee on a daily basis by applying a 0.20% annualized rate to the Trust’s total bitcoin holdings, and the amount of bitcoin payable in respect of each daily accrual shall be determined by reference to the BRRNY. The NAV of the Trust is reduced each day by the amount of the Sponsor Fee calculated each day. On the last day of each month, an amount of bitcoin is transferred from the Trust Bitcoin Account to the Sponsor Bitcoin Account equal to the sum of all daily Sponsor Fees accrued for the month in U.S. dollars divided by the BRRNY on the last day of the month. The Trust is not responsible for paying any fees or costs associated with the transfer of bitcoin to the Sponsor.
The Sponsor, from time to time, may temporarily waive all or a portion of the Sponsor Fee in its sole discretion. To the extent not already disclosed in this Annual Report, the Sponsor may notify Shareholders of its intent to commence, or cease, waiving the Sponsor Fee on the Trust’s website, in a prospectus supplement, through a Current Report on Form 8-K and/or in the Trust’s annual or quarterly reports.
Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Expenses
In exchange for the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume and pay the normal operating expenses of the Trust, which include the Trustee’s monthly fee and out-of-pocket expenses, the fees of the Trust’s regular service providers (Cash Custodian, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, Marketing Agent, Transfer Agent and Administrator), exchange listing fees, tax reporting fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to $500,000 per annum in ordinary legal fees and expenses. The Sponsor may determine in its sole discretion to assume legal fees and expenses of the Trust in excess of $500,000 per annum. The Sponsor also paid the costs of the Trust’s organization.
Non‑Recurring Fees and Expenses
The Trust may incur certain extraordinary, non-recurring expenses that are not assumed by the Sponsor, including but not limited to, taxes and governmental charges, any applicable brokerage commissions, financing fees, Bitcoin network fees and similar transaction fees, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Sponsor (or any other service provider) on behalf of the Trust to protect the Trust or the Shareholders (including, for example, in connection with any fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, any Incidental Rights and any IR Assets), any indemnification of the Cash Custodian, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, Transfer Agent, Administrator or other agents, service providers or counterparties of the Trust, and extraordinary legal fees and expenses, including any legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with litigation, regulatory enforcement or investigation matters.
Selling Commission
Retail investors may buy and sell Shares in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares are bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded securities. When buying or selling Shares through a broker, most investors incur customary brokerage commissions and charges. Shareholders are encouraged to review the terms of their
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brokerage account for details on applicable charges. Authorized Participants that do offer to the public Shares from the Basket they create do so at per-Share offering prices that are expected to reflect, among other factors, the trading price of the Shares on the Exchange, the NAV of the Trust at the time the Authorized Participant purchased the Baskets, the NAV of the Shares at the time of the offer of the Shares to the public, the supply of and demand for Shares at the time of sale, and the liquidity of bitcoin or other portfolio investments. The price at which an Authorized Participant sells a Share may be higher or lower than the price paid by such Authorized Participant in connection with the creation of such Share in a Basket.
Brokerage Commissions and Fees
The Trust pays all of the brokerage commissions, financing fees, Bitcoin network fees and similar transaction fees in connection with the Trust’s bitcoin trading activities.
Employees
The Trust has no employees.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Summary of Risk Factors
Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in the Shares speculative or risky. This summary does not address all of the risks that the Trust faces. Additional discussion of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that the Trust faces, can be found below and should be read in conjunction with the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the Trust’s financial statements and related notes thereto, and its other filings with the SEC, before making an investment decision regarding the Shares. See the section entitled “Glossary of Defined Terms” for the definition of certain capitalized terms used in this Annual Report. All other capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein have the meanings given to them in the Trust Agreement.
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The following risks, some of which have occurred and any of which may occur in the future, can have a material adverse effect on the Trust's business or financial performance, which in turn can affect the price of the Shares. These are not the only risks the Trust faces. There may be other risks the Trust is not currently aware of or that the Trust currently deems not to be material but may become material in the future.
Risks Associated with Digital Assets
The trading prices of many digital assets, including bitcoin, have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to do so. Extreme volatility in the future, including further declines in the trading price of bitcoin, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value.
The trading prices of many digital assets, including bitcoin, have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to do so. For instance, there were steep increases in the value of certain digital assets, including bitcoin, over the course of 2017, followed by steep drawdowns throughout 2018 in digital asset trading prices, including for bitcoin. These drawdowns notwithstanding, digital asset prices, including bitcoin, increased significantly again during 2019, decreased significantly again in the first quarter of 2020 amidst broader market declines as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and increased significantly again over the remainder of 2020 and the first half of 2021. Digital asset prices, including bitcoin, continued to experience significant and sudden changes throughout 2021 followed by steep drawdowns in the third quarter of 2021, as well as throughout 2022. Since then, digital asset prices have continued to fluctuate through 2024, 2025, and early 2026.
Extreme volatility in the future, including further declines in the trading price of bitcoin, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value. Furthermore, negative perceptions, a lack of stability, and the absence of standardized regulation in the digital asset economy may reduce confidence in the digital asset economy and may lead to greater volatility in the price of bitcoin and other digital assets, including a depreciation in value. The Trust is not actively managed and will not take any actions to take advantage, or mitigate the impacts, of volatility in the price of bitcoin.
Many digital assets, including bitcoin, were only introduced within the past few decades, and the medium-to-long term value of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the capabilities and development of blockchain technologies and to the fundamental investment characteristics of digital assets.
Many digital assets, including bitcoin, were only introduced within the past few decades, and the medium-to-long-term value and viability of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the capabilities and development of blockchain technologies, such as the recentness of their development; their dependence on the internet, and other technologies; their dependence on the role played by users, developers and miners, and the potential for malicious activity. The value of the Shares is directly related to the value of bitcoin held by the Trust. The price of digital assets, including bitcoin, has fluctuated significantly. Several factors may impact the price of bitcoin and other digital assets, including, but not limited to the following:
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Moreover, because digital assets, including bitcoin, have been in existence for a relatively short period of time and are continuing to develop, there may be additional risks in the future that are challenging to predict as of the date of this Annual Report. In addition, investors should be aware that there is no assurance that bitcoin will maintain its long-term value and viability in terms of purchasing power in the future or that the acceptance of bitcoin for payments by mainstream retail merchants and commercial businesses will continue to grow. In the event that the price of bitcoin declines, the Sponsor expects the value of an investment in the Shares to decline proportionately.
The blockchains on which ownership of digital assets, including bitcoin, is recorded are dependent on the efforts of third parties acting in their capacity as blockchain transaction participants, including miners, and if these third parties fail to successfully perform these functions, the operation of the blockchains that record ownership of digital assets could be compromised.
Blockchain participants, including miners, maintain the record of ownership of digital assets. If these entities suffer from cyberattacks or other security incidents (whether from hacking, which involves efforts to gain unauthorized access to
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information or systems, or to cause intentional malfunctions or the loss or corruption of data, software, hardware, or other computer equipment, or from the inadvertent transmission of computer viruses or other malware, other forms of malicious attacks, malfeasance, or negligent acts of their personnel, or via other means, including phishing attacks and other forms of social engineering), or if for financial or other reasons they cease to perform these functions, the functioning of the blockchains on which the ownership of digital assets is recorded and the basis of their valuation may be jeopardized. Any such interruption could result in impermissible transfers of digital assets and/or the loss of digital assets and/or their value.
The value of digital assets is dependent, directly or indirectly, on prices established by digital asset exchanges and other digital asset trading venues, which are new and, in most cases, largely unregulated.
Digital asset exchanges and other trading venues on which digital assets trade are relatively new and, in most cases, largely unregulated and may therefore be more exposed to fraud and failure than established, regulated exchanges for securities, derivatives, and other currencies. Much of the daily trading volume of digital assets is conducted on poorly capitalized, unregulated, unaudited, and unaccountable exchanges located outside of the U.S., where there is little to no regulation governing trading. Such exchanges may engage in unethical practices that may have a significant impact on digital asset pricing, such as front-running, wash trading, and trading with insufficient funds. To the extent that digital asset exchanges or other digital asset trading venues are involved in fraud or experience security failures or other operational issues, this could result in a reduction in digital asset market prices and adversely affect an investment in the Shares. The SEC, in March 2017, stated that digital asset exchanges currently lack the ability to enter into surveillance-sharing agreements with significant, regulated markets for trading in digital assets thereby lacking the ability to detect and deter price manipulation. Although there has been improvement on this front with the self-certification of certain bitcoin futures contracts resulting in information sharing agreements between certain futures markets and several digital asset exchanges, regulators still lack the ability to surveil many digital asset exchanges. In addition, users transacting on digital asset trading platforms do not receive many of the market protections that they would when transacting through broker-dealers on registered securities exchanges or alternative trading systems, such as best execution, prohibitions on front running, short sale restrictions, and custody and capital requirements.
During the past few years, a number of digital asset exchanges have been closed due to fraud, business failure, or security breaches. In many of these instances, the customers of the closed digital asset exchanges were not compensated or made whole for the partial or complete losses of their account balances in such digital asset exchanges.
Digital asset prices on public digital asset exchanges have been volatile and subject to influence by many factors, including the levels of liquidity on the exchanges specifically and on the digital asset exchange market generally. Even the largest exchanges have been subject to operational interruptions (e.g., thefts of digital assets from operational or “hot” wallets, suspension of trading on exchanges due to distributed denial of service attacks by hackers and/or malware, and bankruptcy proceedings or cessation of services by exchanges), limiting the liquidity of digital assets on the affected digital asset exchange and resulting in volatile prices and a reduction in confidence in the digital asset exchange market generally. The price of digital assets on public exchanges may also be impacted by policies regarding or interruptions in the deposit or withdrawal of fiat currency into or out of larger digital asset exchanges.
On large digital asset exchanges, users may buy or sell digital assets for fiat currency or transfer digital assets to other wallets. Operational limits (including regulatory, exchange policy or technical or operational limits) on the size or settlement speed of fiat currency deposits by users into digital asset exchanges may (1) reduce demand on such exchanges, resulting in a reduction in the digital asset price on such exchanges, or (2) reduce supply on such exchanges, potentially resulting in a temporary increase in the digital asset price on such exchanges during the existence of such operational limits. To the extent that fees for the transfer of digital assets either directly or indirectly apply between digital asset exchanges, the impact on digital asset prices due to operational limits on fiat currency deposits and withdrawals may be reduced by “exchange shopping” among digital asset exchange users. For example, a delay in U.S. dollar withdrawals on one site may temporarily increase the price on such site by reducing supply (i.e., sellers transferring digital assets to another exchange without operational limits in order to settle sales more rapidly). However, the resulting increase in price will also reduce demand because bidders on digital assets will follow increased supply on other digital asset exchanges not experiencing operational limits. To the extent that users are able or willing to utilize or arbitrage prices between more than one digital asset exchange, exchange shopping may mitigate the short-term impact of and volatility in digital asset prices due to operational limits on the deposit or withdrawal of fiat currency into or out of larger digital asset exchanges. These risks also apply to other digital asset trading venues, including over-the-counter markets and derivatives platforms, which may be used by public digital asset exchanges and therefore by the Sponsor in calculating the NAV of the Trust.
Despite efforts to ensure accurate pricing, the Trust, and the price of bitcoin generally, remain subject to volatility experienced by digital asset exchanges and other digital asset trading venues. Such volatility can adversely affect an investment in the
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Shares. The value of bitcoin is also dependent on the availability of exchanges on which to buy and sell such assets. If exchanges for bitcoin become increasingly sparse, then there would be a material adverse impact on the value of bitcoin and an investment in the Shares.
Smart contracts, including those relating to decentralized applications (“dApps”), are a new technology and their ongoing development and operation may result in problems, which could reduce the demand for digital assets, including bitcoin, or cause a wider loss of confidence in blockchain networks, either of which could have an adverse impact on the value of bitcoin and the value of the Shares.
Smart contracts are self-executing programs on blockchain networks that automatically trigger when specified conditions are met. Since these contracts are typically immutable and irreversible, vulnerabilities in their coding, such as logic errors or security flaws, can lead to significant financial losses. Attackers may exploit these flaws, resulting in unintended outcomes or manipulation of contract behavior. Although the Bitcoin network is not commonly associated with the complex smart contracts found on platforms like Ethereum, vulnerabilities in the underlying Bitcoin blockchain can still affect its security and, in turn, undermine the reliability of simpler Bitcoin-based contracts. For example, a 51% attack—where a single entity gains control of more than 50% of the network’s mining power—can enable blockchain manipulation, including double-spending, which may interfere with the execution of Bitcoin-based contracts. Despite these risks, Bitcoin’s simpler smart contracts—such as multi-signature wallets and hashed time lock contracts (HTLCs)—help reduce central points of control and enhance decentralization within the network. These developments support Bitcoin’s long-standing principles of decentralization and security.
Layer 2 solutions and sidechains, such as the Lightning Network, Stacks, and Liquid Network, have extended Bitcoin’s functionality by enabling more complex DeFi features, including smart contracts. These platforms allow users to invest digital assets in lending pools or other decentralized financial services without intermediaries. However, these smart contracts often have super users or admin key holders who may possess centralized control, enabling them to liquidate assets, extract funds, or modify key functions. Even decentralized governance, driven by governance tokens, can concentrate power in the hands of a few core community members, allowing unilateral changes to smart contracts that could harm users and the value of associated digital assets. Additionally, super users and admin key holders can become prime targets for hackers. If an attacker gains control of these privileges, they could misappropriate funds, causing substantial losses for users interacting with the smart contract. In extreme cases, assets may become burned, stolen, or permanently locked. Such incidents could result in negative publicity for the DApp and undermine trust in the Bitcoin ecosystem, as these applications represent a significant source of demand for Bitcoin. Consequently, any major breach or loss of confidence in dApps built on Layer 2 solutions could have an adverse impact on the value of bitcoin and the value of the Shares.
Moreover, information asymmetries may exist in smart contracts, even if they are open source. Certain participants may have hidden technological or informational advantages, leading to an unequal playing field. This could enable fraudulent schemes such as exit scams, rug pulls, or Ponzi schemes, where developers or influencers manipulate smart contracts for personal gain. For example, rug pulls occur when developers of a smart contract drain funds after promoting an application, leaving users with substantial losses. Other blockchain networks, such as Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain, which support more sophisticated smart contracts, have experienced significant exploits. DeFi platforms and cross-chain bridges have been particularly vulnerable, with attackers siphoning over $3.8 billion worth of digital assets from smart contracts by exploiting their weaknesses. This trend continued in 2023, with an additional $1.1 billion lost to various smart contract-related attacks. While Bitcoin itself does not natively support such complex contracts, vulnerabilities in the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem may indirectly affect the value of bitcoin and the value of the Shares by eroding confidence in digital assets more broadly.
Risks Associated with Bitcoin, the Bitcoin Network, and the Market for Bitcoin
The price of bitcoin has exhibited periods of extreme volatility, which could have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust.
The trading prices of bitcoin have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to do so. For example, there were steep increases in the value of bitcoin over the course of 2021, and multiple market observers asserted that bitcoin was experiencing a “bubble.” These increases were followed by steep drawdowns throughout 2022 in bitcoin trading prices. These episodes of rapid price appreciation followed by steep drawdowns have occurred multiple times throughout bitcoin’s history, including in 2011-2012, 2013-2015, and 2017-2018, before repeating again in 2021-2022. Over the course of 2023, bitcoin prices continued to exhibit extreme volatility. Over the past 12 months ending December 31, 2025, bitcoin has exhibited a historical annualized volatility of 43.42% and maximum annual price increase of 42.52%.
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Bitcoin price volatility may be influenced by, among other things, trading activity on and the closing of digital asset trading platforms (including those featuring leveraged trading) due to fraud, failure, security breaches, liquidity crises, or otherwise. Bitcoin price volatility may also be influenced by momentum pricing, which is commonly associated with growth stocks and other assets whose valuation, as determined by the investing public, accounts for anticipated future appreciation in value. The Sponsor believes that momentum pricing of bitcoin has resulted, and may continue to result, in speculation regarding future appreciation in the value of bitcoin, inflating the price of bitcoin and making it more volatile.
Additionally, speculators and investors who seek to profit from trading and holding bitcoin generate a significant portion of bitcoin demand. Such speculation regarding the potential future appreciation in the value of bitcoin may inflate the price of bitcoin. Conversely, a decrease in demand or speculation regarding bitcoin, as well as government regulation (including, without limitation, the tax treatment of bitcoin transactions) and the perception of onerous regulatory actions, may cause a drop in the price of bitcoin. Developments related to the Bitcoin network’s operations, individual digital asset trading platforms and the overall bitcoin market also contribute to the volatility in the price of bitcoin. These factors may continue to exacerbate the volatility of the price of bitcoin, which may have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust.
Extreme volatility may persist, and the value of the Shares may significantly decline in the future without recovery. The digital asset markets have previously experienced bubbles and may do so again in the future. The bankruptcy of major digital asset companies like Celsius Network, Voyager Digital Ltd., and Three Arrows Capital, along with the collapse of TerraUSD and FTX Trading Ltd. (“FTX”) in late 2022 severely impacted confidence in the digital asset market. These events have led to widespread negative publicity, further bankruptcies, and legal actions, highlighting the volatility and risks inherent in Bitcoin and other digital assets.
In response to these events, the digital asset markets experienced extreme price volatility and other entities in the digital asset industry were, and may continue to be, negatively affected, further undermining confidence in the digital asset markets. These events also negatively impacted the liquidity of the digital asset markets as certain entities affiliated with FTX engaged in significant trading activity. If the liquidity of the digital asset markets is negatively impacted by these events, digital asset prices, including bitcoin, may continue to experience significant volatility or price declines and confidence in the digital asset markets may be further undermined.
In addition, regulatory and enforcement scrutiny of digital assets has increased, including from, among others, the DOJ, the SEC, the CFTC, the White House and Congress, as well as state regulators and authorities. The regulatory landscape for digital assets remains uncertain and continues to evolve. For example, in January 2024, the SEC approved the listing and trading of several bitcoin spot ETFs. This decision came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found that the SEC’s previous denial of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust’s ETF listing was “arbitrary and capricious” due to insufficient explanation, especially given the approval of similar bitcoin futures-based ETFs. For more information about regulatory and enforcement scrutiny of digital assets, see the risk factor entitled “Regulatory changes or actions by federal or state executives or legislators may affect the value of the Shares or restrict the use of bitcoin, its mining activity or the operation of its networks or the digital asset markets in a manner that adversely affects the value of the Shares.”
It is not possible to predict at this time all of the risks that regulatory developments relating to the Bitcoin network and the broader cryptocurrency landscape may pose to the Trust, its service providers or the digital asset industry as a whole. Extreme volatility in the future, including further declines in the trading prices of bitcoin, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares, potentially resulting in their loss of substantial or all value. The Trust is not actively managed and will not take any actions to leverage, hedge against, or mitigate the effects of volatility in the price of bitcoin.
Fluctuations in bitcoin supply due to energy consumption, environmental regulations, and mining restrictions could adversely affect its network security and the value of the Shares
The Bitcoin network requires significant electricity to mine. This energy-consuming process involves the use of specialized high-powered computing equipment. Estimates and data vary widely, but several surveys have compared bitcoin mining’s total energy consumption to that of several small countries. For example, in 2021, Bitcoin’s annual electricity consumption was comparable to that of Poland. In addition, bitcoin mining generates substantial electronic waste, as existing computer chips become obsolete at an increasing rate are discarded as they are replaced with faster models. Increased awareness of these issues has led some companies, notably Tesla and Greenpeace, to restrict or refuse acceptance of bitcoin in payment.
Certain jurisdictions have implemented regulations regarding the energy consumption of the Bitcoin network, which could result in a significant reduction in mining activity and adversely affect the security of the Bitcoin network. Certain localities, such as China, have banned mining altogether, while others have imposed temporary suspensions until environmental impact
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studies can be conducted. Various countries, states and cities have implemented, or are considering implementing, moratoriums on bitcoin mining in their jurisdictions. Such moratoriums would impede bitcoin mining and/or limit the broader use of bitcoin. For example, in November 2022, New York imposed a two-year moratorium on new proof-of-work mining permits at fossil fuel plants in the state, in July 2023, Sweden eliminated tax incentives for Bitcoin mines, essentially ending the industry there, and in April 2024, Angola passed a law criminalizing crypto mining to protect its electrical grid.
In addition, the “proof-of-work” validation mechanism used to verify transactions on the Bitcoin network necessitates that bitcoin miners maintain high levels of computing power, which entails significant energy usage. Although measuring the electricity consumed by this process is difficult because these operations are performed by various machines with varying levels of efficiency, the process is widely recognized as being energy-intensive. Further, in addition to the direct energy costs of performing these calculations, there are indirect costs that impact the Bitcoin network’s total energy consumption, including the costs of cooling the machines that perform these calculations. The availability and cost of electricity also affect the feasibility of mining operations and constrain their geographic distribution. High costs of electricity may incentivize miners to redirect their resources to other validation protocols, such as proof-of-stake blockchains, or abandon their validation activities entirely. A shift away from proof-of-work due to high energy costs could significantly alter the Bitcoin ecosystem and reduce network security. A significant decrease in the computational resources dedicated to the Bitcoin network’s validation protocol could reduce the security of the network potentially diminishing bitcoin’s utility as a store of value or medium of exchange.
These concerns could result in increased mining bans, as well as a slowing or decrease in bitcoin payment acceptance, affecting both the supply of, and demand for, bitcoin. Stricter regulations and increasing environmental concerns may drive more regions to restrict bitcoin mining, impacting its availability and market dynamics. Depending on how future regulations are formulated and applied, such policies could negatively impact the price of bitcoin, and, in turn, the value of the Shares. Mining activity, increased regulatory scrutiny, and the corresponding compliance burdens of these regulations could additionally result in higher barriers to entry for bitcoin miners, which could increase the concentration of the hash rate, potentially having a negative impact on the availability and price of bitcoin.
A decline in the adoption of bitcoin could negatively impact the Trust.
The Sponsor does not have any strategy relating to the development of bitcoin and the Bitcoin network. However, a lack of expansion in the usage of bitcoin and the Bitcoin network could adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
The further development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network, which is part of a new and rapidly changing industry, is subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to evaluate. For example, the Bitcoin network faces significant obstacles to increasing the usage of bitcoin without resulting in higher fees or slower transaction settlement times. While solutions like the Lightning Network aim to address these issues, attempts to increase transaction volume directly on the main Bitcoin network have so far proven to only be partially effective. The slowing, stopping, or reversing of the development or acceptance or the usage of the Bitcoin network and associated smart contracts may adversely affect the price of bitcoin and, therefore, an investment in the Shares. The further adoption of bitcoin will require growth in its usage and in the Bitcoin network. Adoption of bitcoin will also require an accommodating regulatory environment.
The use of bitcoin for transactions, investments, and other applications is part of a new and rapidly evolving industry that employs digital assets based on computer-generated mathematical and/or cryptographic protocols. Bitcoin is a prominent, but not unique, part of this industry. The growth of this industry is subject to a high degree of uncertainty, as new assets and technological innovations continue to develop and evolve.
Today, there is relatively limited use of bitcoin in the retail, commercial, or payments sectors, and, in proportion to overall market activity, speculators appear to make up a significant portion of users. Certain merchants and major retail and commercial businesses have only recently begun accepting bitcoin as a means of payment. This pattern may contribute to outsized price volatility, which in turn can make bitcoin less attractive to merchants and commercial parties as a means of payment. A lack of expansion of bitcoin adoption into retail and commercial markets or a contraction in its commercial use may result in a reduction in the price of bitcoin, which could adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
There is no assurance that bitcoin will maintain its value and viability over the long term. The value of bitcoin is subject to risks related to its usage. Even if growth in Bitcoin adoption occurs in the near or medium term, there is no assurance that bitcoin usage will continue to grow over the long term. A contraction in bitcoin’s use may result in increased volatility or a reduction in the price of bitcoin, which would adversely impact the value of the Shares.
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The Bitcoin network faces significant scaling challenges and efforts to increase the volume and speed of transactions may not be successful.
The Bitcoin network, like many other digital asset networks, faces significant scaling challenges due to inherent trade-offs between security and scalability in public blockchains. One means through which public blockchains achieve security is decentralization, meaning that no intermediary is responsible for securing and maintaining these systems. A greater degree of decentralization generally means a given digital asset network is less susceptible to manipulation or capture. In practice, this typically means that every single miner on a given digital asset network is responsible for securing the system by processing every transaction and every single full node is responsible for maintaining a copy of the entire ledger of the network. As a result, a digital asset network may be limited in the number of transactions it can process because all miners participate in validating each block and each fully participating node must store and validate all transactions. The Bitcoin network community has failed to achieve consensus around the scaling of the Bitcoin network to increase transaction throughput and reduce Bitcoin blockchain bloat. In 2017, the scaling debate resulted in a material, contentious “hard fork,” a major change or upgrade to the Bitcoin blockchain protocol that is not backward-compatible and often leads to a permanent split in the Bitcoin blockchain, and a variety of proposals for upgrades to the Bitcoin network protocols to allow for more efficient transaction recording. Both hard forks and software upgrades may create uncertainty or fail to achieve their intended improvements, either of which could negatively affect an investment in the Shares.
As of December 2025, the Bitcoin network handled approximately 3 to 8 transactions per second. In an effort to increase the volume of transactions that can be processed on a given digital asset network, many digital assets have implemented or are exploring various features to increase the speed and throughput of transactions. However, if improvements in transaction throughput lag behind growth in the use of digital asset networks, average fees and settlement times may increase considerably. For example, the Bitcoin network has been, at times, at capacity, which has led to increased transaction fees. In 2025, the Bitcoin network experienced notable congestion, leading to increased transaction fees and a backlog of unconfirmed transactions. Average transaction fees fluctuated throughout the year, reaching a peak of $3.68 on January 20, 2025. By December 31, 2025, the average transaction fee had decreased to $0.68. If Bitcoin's network throughput continues to lag behind rising usage, rising fees and slower settlement times could limit its practical applications (e.g., micropayments) and reduce demand for bitcoin, potentially impacting its price and the value of the Shares.
Bitcoin core development has increasingly focused on modifying the Bitcoin protocol to enhance speed, throughput, and scalability while improving both existing and next-generation use. To address scaling challenges such as network congestion, slow throughput, and high transaction fees during demand spikes, network participants have explored various upgrade mechanisms. One such approach involves Layer 2 solutions, which aim to increase transaction capacity and reduce costs by processing transactions off-chain while relying on the security and integrity of the main Bitcoin network (known as “Layer 1”). The Lightning Network facilitates faster and cheaper transactions by creating a network of payment channels that reduce the burden on the Bitcoin blockchain. Another method, known as rollups, executes transactions outside the Layer 1 blockchain and then posts the data, typically in batches, back to Layer 1 for consensus. Within this framework, zero-knowledge rollups validate transactions off-chain and submit only a proof of validity rather than the entire transaction data, whereas optimistic rollups assume transactions are valid by default and only run fraud proofs if a transaction is challenged. Other proposed Layer 2 scaling solutions include state channels and sidechains. State channels allow participants to conduct a large number of transactions on the Layer 2 side channel protocol while submitting only two transactions to the Layer 1 Bitcoin blockchain, one to open the channel and one to close it. Sidechains operate as independent Layer 2 blockchain networks running parallel to the existing Layer 1 Bitcoin blockchain, enabling smart contracts and dApps to function without overloading the primary blockchain.
While these proposed upgrades seek to improve the Bitcoin network's scalability, their effectiveness and widespread adoption remain uncertain. If these mechanisms fail to resolve Bitcoin’s scaling limitations, network congestion and high transaction fees could persist, potentially hindering Bitcoin’s broader adoption and negatively impacting the value of an investment in the Shares. There is no guarantee that any of these mechanisms will be implemented effectively or that they will adequately address Bitcoin’s scaling challenges. Delays, technical failures, or lack of widespread adoption of these solutions could hinder Bitcoin’s ability to scale, negatively affecting adoption and price.
It is possible that proposed changes to the Bitcoin network could divide the community, potentially leading to another hard fork, or that the Bitcoin network’s decentralized governance could result in network participants failing to reach consensus on a particular solution. Either outcome could lead to reduced adoption of Bitcoin or the migration of users and miners to other blockchain networks. Additionally, Layer 2 scaling solutions such as rollups, state channels, and sidechains could introduce coding defects, security vulnerabilities, or other technical risks that hinder their effectiveness. If these solutions fail to function as intended or suffer from operational disruptions, they could undermine Bitcoin's scalability efforts rather than
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improve them. Furthermore, Bitcoin core developers, who contribute to protocol upgrades and improvements, are generally not compensated for their work. This lack of financial incentive may lead developers to cease their contributions or migrate to other blockchain projects. Additionally, the absence of dedicated funding for addressing emerging technical issues may slow the resolution of network challenges, further delaying scalability and security improvements. Any of these factors could negatively impact the price of bitcoin and, in turn, the value of the Shares of the Trust.
Any name changes and any associated rebranding initiative by the core developers of bitcoin may not be favorably received by the digital asset community, which could negatively impact the value of bitcoin and the value of the Shares.
From time to time, digital assets undergo name changes and rebranding initiatives. For example, Bitcoin Cash ABC rebranded to eCash in July 2021 to differentiate itself from Bitcoin Cash (BCH) forks, and in August 2018, the team behind ZenCash rebranded to “Horizen” to reflect its expanded mission.
The Sponsor cannot predict the impact of any future name change and any associated rebranding initiative on bitcoin. After such changes, a digital asset may not be able to achieve or maintain the same level of brand recognition or status, potentially leading to reduced demand and market uncertainty. Inconsistent adoption of new names across exchanges, custodians, and data providers may further disrupt liquidity and price discovery. Additionally, rebranding efforts may draw regulatory scrutiny, especially if authorities view them as attempts to alter legal classifications, requiring updated disclosures or compliance measures. In some cases, rebranding has coincided with governance disputes that led to hard forks, forcing market participants to choose between competing versions of a digital asset, potentially increasing volatility and reducing liquidity. If rebranding initiatives do not succeed as intended, the anticipated benefits may not materialize, which could adversely affect the value of bitcoin and, in turn, negatively impact the value of the Shares.
If the Bitcoin network is used to facilitate illicit activities, businesses that facilitate bitcoin transactions could be at increased risk of criminal or civil liability, or of having services cut off, which could negatively affect the price of bitcoin and the value of the Shares.
Federal and state regulators including FinCEN and OFAC have been examining the operations of digital asset networks, digital asset users and the digital asset markets, with particular focus on the extent to which digital assets can be used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities, evade sanctions, or fund criminal or terrorist enterprises. For example, certain privacy-enhancing features have been, or are expected to be, introduced to a number of digital asset networks, and these features may provide law enforcement agencies with less visibility into transaction-level data. Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, released a report in October 2017 noting the increased use of privacy-enhancing digital assets like Zcash and Monero in criminal activity on the internet. In August 2022, OFAC banned all transactions by U.S. persons or in the U.S. involving Tornado Cash, a digital asset protocol designed to obfuscate blockchain transactions, by adding Tornado Cash and certain Ethereum wallet addresses associated with the protocol to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. A large portion of validators globally, as well as notable industry participants such as Centre, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, have reportedly complied with the sanctions and blacklisted the sanctioned addresses from interacting with their networks. In October 2023, FinCEN issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that identified CVC mixing as a class of transactions of primary money laundering concern and proposed requiring covered financial institutions to implement certain recordkeeping and reporting requirements on transactions that covered financial institutions know, suspect, or have reason to suspect involve CVC mixing within or involving jurisdictions outside the U.S. The DOJ has also arrested and charged the developers of certain digital asset networks and digital assets for crimes related to money laundering and other offenses.
If digital assets were used to facilitate illicit activities, businesses that facilitate transactions in such digital assets could be at increased risk of potential criminal or civil liability or lawsuits, or of having banking or other services cut off, and such digital assets could be removed from digital asset platforms. Any of the aforementioned occurrences could adversely affect the price of the relevant digital asset, the attractiveness of the respective blockchain network and an investment in the Shares. If the Trust or the Sponsor were to transact with a sanctioned entity, the Trust or the Sponsor would be at risk of potential criminal or civil lawsuits or liability.
The Trust takes measures with the objective of reducing illicit financing risks in connection with the Trust’s activities. However, illicit financing risks are present in the digital asset markets, including markets for bitcoin. There can be no assurance that the measures employed by the Trust will prove successful in reducing illicit financing risks, and the Trust is subject to the complex illicit financing risks and vulnerabilities present in the digital asset markets. If such risks materialize, the Trust, the Sponsor or their respective affiliates could face civil or criminal liability, fines, penalties, or other punishments; be subject to investigation, have their assets frozen, lose access to banking services or services provided by other service
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providers; or suffer disruptions to their operations, any of which could negatively affect the Trust’s ability to operate or could cause losses in value of the Shares.
The Trust and the Sponsor have adopted and implemented policies and procedures that are designed to comply with applicable anti-money laundering laws and sanctions laws and regulations, including applicable know-your-customer (“KYC”) laws and regulations. The Sponsor and the Trust will only interact with known third-party service providers with respect to whom the Sponsor or its affiliates have engaged in a thorough due diligence process and/or a thorough KYC process, such as the Authorized Participants, Bitcoin Trading Counterparties, Prime Execution Agent and Bitcoin Custodian. The Prime Execution Agent and Bitcoin Custodian must undergo counterparty due diligence by the Sponsor. Each Authorized Participant must undergo onboarding by the Sponsor prior to placing creation or redemption orders with respect to the Trust.
Furthermore, Authorized Participants, as broker-dealers, and the Prime Execution Agent and Bitcoin Custodian, as entities licensed to conduct virtual currency business activity by the New York Department of Financial Services and as limited-purpose trust companies subject to New York Banking Law, respectively, are “financial institutions” subject to the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, and U.S. economic sanctions laws. The Trust will only accept creation and redemption requests from Authorized Participants who have represented to the Trust that they have implemented compliance programs that are designed to ensure compliance with applicable sanctions and anti-money laundering laws. The Trust will not hold any bitcoin except that which has been delivered by approved Bitcoin Trading Counterparties or by execution through the Prime Execution Agent, in connection with Authorized Participant creation requests. Moreover, the Prime Execution Agent has represented to the Trust that it has implemented and will maintain and follow compliance programs that are designed to comply with applicable sanctions and anti-money laundering laws and that it performs both initial and ongoing due diligence on each of its customers as well as ongoing transaction monitoring that is designed to identify and report suspicious activity conducted through customer accounts, including those opened by the Authorized Participants or their agents/partners for purposes of facilitating bitcoin deposits to, and withdrawals from, the Trust’s Trading Balance, as required by law.
The Prime Execution Agent and Bitcoin Custodian have adopted and implemented anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs, that provide additional protections to ensure that the Sponsor and the Trust do not transact with a sanctioned party. Notably, the Prime Execution Agent and Bitcoin Custodian perform screening using blockchain analytics to identify, detect, and mitigate the risk of transacting with a sanctioned or other unlawful actor. Pursuant to the Bitcoin Custodian’s and Prime Execution Agent’s blockchain analytics screening programs, any bitcoin that is delivered to the Trust Bitcoin Account or the Trust’s Trading Balance will undergo screening designed to assess whether the origins of that bitcoin are illicit.
The Prime Execution Agreement provides, among other things, that if the Prime Execution Agent conducts blockchain analytics screening on a bitcoin transaction deposited by an Authorized Participant and such screening results in the bitcoin transaction being suspected or determined to be in violation of certain applicable sanctions laws, the Prime Execution Agent and its affiliates, including the Bitcoin Custodian, will (i) block or reject the deposit of such bitcoin into the Trust’s Trading Account, where required by applicable sanctions laws, and (ii) agree to promptly inform the Trust if any fund movement between an Authorized Participant’s account at the Prime Execution Agent and the Trust’s account(s) involves such bitcoin, so long as permitted by applicable law. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will always prove to be effective or that the Prime Execution Agent and its affiliates will always perform their obligations. Such screening may also result in the bitcoin identified by such screening being blocked or frozen by the Prime Execution Agent, and thus made unavailable to the Trust.
Moreover, the Prime Execution Agreement and Bitcoin Custody Agreement require the Trust to attest that it has performed its own due diligence on the Bitcoin Trading Counterparties it has contracted with to source bitcoin from and has confirmed that the Bitcoin Trading Counterparties have implemented policies, procedures and controls designed to comply with applicable anti-money laundering and applicable sanctions laws. Although the Sponsor arranges for such diligence to be performed, including by the Trust’s service providers, there is no guarantee such diligence will prove effective in identifying all possible sources of illicit financing risks. Bitcoin Trading Counterparties represent to the Sponsor that they conduct due diligence on their own counterparties from whom they source the bitcoin they deposit with the Trust, and that they have formed a reasonable belief that such bitcoin being transferred by the Bitcoin Trading Counterparty to the Trust was not derived from, or associated with, unlawful or criminal activity. However, there is the risk that Bitcoin Trading Counterparties may not conduct sufficient due diligence processes on the sources of their bitcoin or that their representations to the Sponsor may turn out to be inaccurate, which could cause the Trust to suffer a loss. If the Authorized Participants or Bitcoin Trading Counterparties have inadequate policies, procedures and controls for complying with applicable anti-money laundering and applicable sanctions laws or the Trust’s procedures or diligence prove to be ineffective, violations of such laws could result, which could result in regulatory liability for the Trust or the Sponsor under such laws, including governmental fines, penalties,
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and other punishments, as well as potential liability to or cessation of services by the Prime Execution Agent and its affiliates, including the Bitcoin Custodian, under the Prime Execution Agreement and Bitcoin Custody Agreement. Any of the foregoing could result in losses to the Shareholders or negatively affect the Trust’s ability to operate.
A temporary or permanent “fork” of the Bitcoin blockchain could adversely affect the value of the Shares.
The Bitcoin network operates using open-source protocols, meaning any user can become a node by downloading Bitcoin Core, the reference implementation of the Bitcoin software, which provides the de facto standard for the Bitcoin protocol. Users can modify the software and propose changes to the network, but for these modifications to be adopted, a significant portion of the network’s users and miners must agree to implement them. Unlike centralized software systems where updates are “pushed” by a development company, Bitcoin software updates are voluntary and user-driven; updates are adopted only when a majority of users choose to install them. When a proposed change modifies the Bitcoin protocol and a substantial majority of users and miners agree to it, the change is implemented without interruption to the network. However, if a proposed change does not gain consensus and is adopted by only a portion of the users or miners, and if the new software is not backward-compatible with the previous version, the result is a “fork” of the network. A fork splits the blockchain into two separate versions: one running the old protocol and another running the modified one. In the event of a hard fork, users who held bitcoin before the fork would own an equivalent amount of both bitcoin on the original chain and the new digital asset (a “Forked Asset”) on the modified chain. These assets are typically not interchangeable, and each blockchain continues operating separately.
Forks have already occurred in the Bitcoin network, including a significant fork in August 2017 after a lengthy debate about scaling Bitcoin and increasing transaction capacity. This disagreement resulted in the creation of Bitcoin Cash (“BCH”), which introduced larger block sizes to allow for more transactions per second. BCH represents an intentional fork designed to create a network with distinct features, providing an alternative to Bitcoin. As these forked assets, like BCH, compete with Bitcoin, they can reduce demand for Bitcoin and potentially negatively impact the value of the Shares. The announcement of a hard fork can also drive up demand for the pre-fork asset, as holders anticipate receiving new digital assets after the fork. This anticipation may temporarily raise the price of the original asset. However, following the hard fork, the aggregate value of both resulting assets may be less than the price of the original asset immediately prior to the fork. This pattern was observed during the 2017 BCH fork, where the combined value of Bitcoin and BCH was initially lower than Bitcoin’s pre-fork value.
Forks could occur as a response to security breaches or other critical incidents. While bitcoin itself has not undergone a major fork due to a hack or security breach, the network has been proactive in addressing vulnerabilities to prevent such situations. However, unintentional forks have occurred due to software bugs or compatibility issues between different versions of Bitcoin software. For example, in March 2013, a software bug temporarily caused the Bitcoin blockchain to split into two incompatible chains, creating confusion among users and miners. The issue was resolved quickly, but it highlights how software flaws can unintentionally lead to forks. In cases of unforeseen software flaws, a fork could cause some users and miners to abandon the flawed network, while others may adopt an incompatible version, resulting in a permanent fork. Such a scenario could fragment the network, potentially affecting the security and value of both the original and Forked Assets. A hard fork can also introduce new security risks. For example, during the split between BCH and Bitcoin Satoshi’s Vision in November 2018, concerns about replay attacks emerged. Replay attacks occur when transactions from one network are maliciously or fraudulently repeated on another network. Another risk associated with hard forks is a decrease in overall security, as the fracturing of the network could make it easier for a single miner to gain more than 50% control of the validating power on a smaller or less secure blockchain, making that blockchain more vulnerable to attacks.
The Trust has adopted procedures to address situations involving a fork that result in the creation of Forked Assets that the Trust has a right to claim. Typically, the holder of bitcoin has no discretion with respect to a hard fork; it merely has the right to claim the Forked Asset on a pro rata basis while it continues to hold the same number of bitcoin. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement and Sponsor Agreement, Forked Assets and other Incidental Rights and IR Assets do not constitute property of the Trust, as the Trust has disclaimed ownership of such assets in favor of the Sponsor. Accordingly, the Trust will take no affirmative action to claim the Forked Asset. The Trust Agreement stipulates that, if the Trust nonetheless comes into possession of a Forked Asset, the Sponsor will promptly make a good faith determination (i) as to which digital asset network is regarded by the community as the Bitcoin network and which is the “forked” network and (ii) that the Trust shall as soon as practicable, and, if possible, immediately, distribute such assets to the Sponsor. See the risk factor entitled “Shareholders may not receive the benefits of any forks or “airdrops” below for more details. The Sponsor will base its determination on a variety of then-relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the Sponsor’s beliefs regarding expectations of the core developers of bitcoin, users, services, businesses, miners and other constituencies, as well as the actual continued acceptance of the network, mining power on, the Bitcoin network, along with market capitalization and trading activity. While the Sponsor will determine which network is considered the Bitcoin network for the Trust’s purposes, there is no guarantee that
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the chosen network will end up being the most valuable, and the Sponsor’s decision may adversely affect the value of the Shares as a result. The Sponsor may also disagree with Shareholders, the Bitcoin Custodian, security vendors and the Benchmark Provider on what is generally accepted as bitcoin and should therefore be considered “bitcoin” for the Trust’s purposes, which may also adversely affect the value of the Shares as a result.
Before the Trust claims any digital asset resulting from a fork in the Bitcoin network or an airdrop (other than bitcoin), the Trust would need to seek and obtain certain regulatory approvals, including an amendment to the Trust’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-260235), which was declared effective by the SEC on January 10, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”), as amended, and approval of an application by the Exchange to amend its listing rules. If such approvals are not obtained, the Sponsor will cause the Trust to irrevocably abandon such digital asset.
A clone of the Bitcoin network could adversely affect the value of the Shares.
Bitcoin’s protocols may also be cloned. Unlike a hard fork, which modifies an existing blockchain and results in two networks with the same genesis block, a clone is a copy of a protocol’s codebase that results in an entirely new blockchain with a new genesis block. Tokens are created solely from the new “clone” network, and, unlike with hard forks, holders of tokens from the original network do not automatically receive tokens from the cloned network. A clone creates a competing network with characteristics substantially similar to the original network but with modifications introduced by the developers of the clone. This competition may affect the market dynamics of the original network. For example, while the Bitcoin network has not experienced major direct cloning, projects like Bitcoin Private (“BTCP”) illustrate how a cloned protocol can affect the price of the original asset. BTCP was created in February 2018 as a merge fork of bitcoin and Zclassic, a substantially identical version of the Zcash Network. This resulted in price volatility for both bitcoin and Zclassic at the time, as market participants speculated on the new asset. Although bitcoin itself has not been directly cloned on a large scale like Zcash was with Zclassic, the potential for such clones to emerge could affect bitcoin’s market value, especially if the cloned network gains traction. If a cloned network were to gain widespread adoption, it could compete with Bitcoin, potentially affecting its demand and, in turn, the value of the Shares.
In the event of a hard fork of the Bitcoin network, the Bitcoin Custodian’s operations may be interrupted or subject to additional security risks that could disrupt the Trust’s ability to process creations and redemptions of Shares or otherwise threaten the security of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings.
In the event of a hard fork of the Bitcoin network, the Bitcoin Custodian may temporarily halt the ability of customers (including the Trust) to deposit, withdraw, or transfer bitcoin on the Bitcoin Custodian’s platform. Such a delay may be intended to permit the Bitcoin Custodian to assess the resulting versions of the Bitcoin network, to determine how best to securely “split” the bitcoin from the Forked Asset, and to prevent malicious users from conducting “replay attacks” (i.e., broadcasting transactions on both versions of the forked networks to put Bitcoin Custodian assets at risk). As a result, the Trust is likely to suspend creations and redemptions during a period in which the Bitcoin Custodian’s operations are halted.
In addition, any losses experienced by the Bitcoin Custodian due to a hard fork, including resulting from replay attacks or technological errors in assessing the fork could have a materially adverse impact on an investment in the Shares.
Shareholders may not receive the benefits of any forks or “airdrops.”
In addition to forks, a digital asset, including bitcoin, may become subject to a similar occurrence known as an “airdrop.” In an airdrop, the promoters of a new digital asset announce to holders of another digital asset that such holders will be entitled to claim a certain amount of the new digital asset for free, based on the fact that they hold such other digital asset. Such airdrops are common on various blockchain networks, but have also occurred (and may continue to occur) on the Bitcoin network. Airdrops may be conducted by sending a token to the holders of set amounts of bitcoin or to particular public addresses on the Bitcoin network. Airdrops may involve a user being entitled to claim tokens on a decentralized application, second-layer network or entirely separate digital asset network. A user entitled to receive airdrops may be required to take minimal or significant actions in order to receive such airdropped tokens. Shareholders may not receive the benefits of any forks; the Trust may not choose, or be able, to participate in an airdrop, and the timing of receiving any benefits from a fork, airdrop or similar event is uncertain.
A right to receive any such benefit of a fork or airdrop is referred to as an “Incidental Right” and any digital asset acquired through an Incidental Right is known as an “IR Asset.” Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust has explicitly disclaimed all Incidental Rights and IR Assets. Such assets are not considered assets of the Trust at any point in time and will not be taken into account for purposes of determining the Trust’s NAV and the NAV per Share.
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Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, to the extent that the Trust involuntarily receives such assets in a Trust wallet, it will, as soon as practicable, and, if possible, immediately, distribute such assets to the Sponsor. Once such assets have been acquired, the Sponsor may take any lawful action necessary or desirable in connection with its acquisition thereof. In the event that the Sponsor decides to sell the Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s), it will seek to do so for cash. This may be a sale of the Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s) directly in exchange for cash, or in exchange for another digital asset that may subsequently be exchanged for cash. The Sponsor would then contribute that cash back to the Trust, which in turn would distribute the cash to the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to be distributed to Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares owned.
Although the Sponsor intends, if possible, to arrange for the sale of any Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s) it receives from the Trust and subsequently contribute such cash proceeds back to the Trust, it is under no obligation to do so. There are likely to be operational, tax, securities law, regulatory, legal and practical issues that significantly limit, or prevent entirely, the Sponsor’s ability to realize a benefit from any such Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s). The Sponsor may choose to evaluate any such fork, airdrop or similar occurrence on a case-by-case basis in consultation with its legal advisers, tax consultants and custodian. In determining whether to attempt to acquire and/or retain any Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s), the Sponsor expects to take into consideration whatever factors it deems relevant in its discretion, including, without limitation:
The Sponsor is under no obligation to realize any economic benefit from any Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s) it receives from the Trust. The Sponsor may instead determine, in its sole discretion, to abandon such Incidental Rights or IR Assets permanently and irrevocably for no consideration. Before the Trust claims any Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s) resulting from a fork or airdrop in the Bitcoin network (other than bitcoin), the Trust would need to seek and obtain certain regulatory approvals, including an amendment to the Trust’s Registration Statement and approval of an application by the Exchange to amend its listing rules.
The prevailing level of transaction fees may adversely affect the usage of the Bitcoin network.
Bitcoin miners collect fees for each transaction they confirm. Miners validate unconfirmed transactions by adding them to new blocks in the Bitcoin blockchain. Miners are not obligated to confirm any specific transaction, but they are economically incentivized to confirm valid transactions to collect fees. Miners have historically accepted relatively low transaction confirmation fees, because miners have a very low marginal cost of validating unconfirmed transactions. In addition, most iterations of mining software prioritize transactions based on (i) thresholds selected by the user, (ii) the transaction fee paid with the transaction, (iii) the value attached to the transaction and (iv) the time the transaction was received by the mining software.
Transaction fees on the Bitcoin network have fluctuated over time. On April 20, 2024, the average transaction fee reached a record high of approximately $128.45, driven by the introduction of the Runes protocol and the Bitcoin halving event. However, these fees quickly decreased to $34.86 the following day. Over the past decade, fees have ranged from as low as around $0.02 to these historical highs, with notable volatility during periods of network congestion. Prolonged periods of elevated transaction fees may discourage users from utilizing the Bitcoin network, potentially reducing demand for Bitcoin and adversely affecting an investment in the Shares.
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If miners collude in an anticompetitive manner to exclude transactions that pay low transaction fees, then bitcoin users would have to wait for their transaction to be included in a block by a miner not requiring such transaction fees. This scenario would require that users pay higher fees to ensure their transactions are recorded promptly, thus reducing the attractiveness of the bitcoin network. Bitcoin mining occurs globally and making it challenging for authorities to apply antitrust regulations across multiple jurisdictions. Any collusion among miners may adversely impact an investment in the Shares or the ability of the Trust to operate.
If the number of outstanding transactions yet to be recorded in the Bitcoin blockchain (commonly referred to as “transactions in the mempool”) significantly exceed the capacity of a single block, miners are likely to prioritize transactions that pay higher fees. This would result in transactions with low or no fees remaining in the mempool for extended periods. Users would then need to pay higher fees to ensure their transactions are recorded promptly, thus reducing the attractiveness of the Bitcoin network. An extended period of large numbers of transaction in the mempool could result from high levels of Bitcoin network usage or from a malicious spam attack intended to increase the transactions in the mempool. Any extended period with large numbers of transaction in the mempool may adversely impact an investment in the Shares or the ability of the Trust to operate.
Additionally, the reward for successfully mining transactions (called the “block reward” or “coinbase”) will decrease over time. In April 2024, the block reward was further reduced from 6.25 bitcoin to 3.125 bitcoin. This halving process occurs approximately every four years and will continue until all 21 million bitcoin are mined. As the block reward continues to decrease over time, the mining incentive structure may transition to a higher reliance on transaction confirmation fees to incentivize miners to continue dedicating processing power to the blockchain. If transaction confirmation fees become too high, the marketplace may be reluctant to use bitcoin. Conversely, if the combination of the block reward and transaction fees are too low, miners may not be incentivized to expend processing power to solve blocks and confirmations of transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain could be temporarily slowed. A reduction in the processing power expended by miners on the Bitcoin network could increase the likelihood of a malicious actor or botnet obtaining control. Any reduction in infrastructure security may reduce confidence in the Bitcoin network or expose it to a malicious actor or botnet obtaining a majority of processing power on the network, reducing confidence in and security of the Bitcoin blockchain. Decreased demand for bitcoin or reduced security on the Bitcoin network may adversely impact an investment in the Shares.
If a malicious actor or botnet obtains control of more than 50% of the processing power on the Bitcoin network, or otherwise obtains control over the Bitcoin network through its influence over core developers or otherwise, such an actor or botnet could manipulate how data is recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain, potentially adversely affecting the value of the Shares or the ability of the Trust to operate.
If a malicious actor or botnet (a volunteer or hacked collection of computers controlled by networked software coordinating the actions of the computers) obtains a majority of the processing power dedicated to mining on the Bitcoin network, it may be able to alter the Bitcoin blockchain on which transactions in bitcoin rely by constructing fraudulent blocks or preventing certain transactions from completing in a timely manner, or at all. The malicious actor or botnet could also control, exclude or modify the ordering of transactions. Although the malicious actor or botnet would not be able to generate new tokens or transactions using such control, it could “double-spend” its own tokens (i.e., spend the same tokens in more than one (1) transaction) and prevent the confirmation of other users’ transactions for as long as it maintains control. To the extent that such malicious actor or botnet did not yield its control of the processing power on the Bitcoin network or the Bitcoin community did not reject the fraudulent blocks as malicious, reversing any changes made to the Bitcoin blockchain may not be possible. Further, a malicious actor or botnet could create a flood of transactions in order to slow down the Bitcoin network or cause an increase in the transaction fees paid by users to confirm transactions.
Although there have been no known reports of malicious activity on or control of the Bitcoin network, certain mining pools have, at times, temporarily approached or exceeded the 50% threshold of total network hash power. For example, in June 2014, the mining pool GHash.io briefly controlled over 50% of the network’s hash rate, sparking concerns about centralization and the risk of a 51% attack. While these events have not led to network manipulation, the possible crossing of the 50% threshold indicates a greater risk that a single mining pool could exert authority over the validation of Bitcoin transactions. If network participants, including the core developers and the administrators of mining pools, do not act to ensure greater decentralization of bitcoin mining processing power, the feasibility of a malicious actor obtaining control of the processing power on the Bitcoin network will increase, which may adversely affect the value of the Shares.
A malicious actor may also obtain control over the Bitcoin network through its influence over core developers by gaining direct control over a core developer or another influential programmer. To the extent that the bitcoin ecosystem does not grow, the possibility that a malicious actor may be able to obtain control of the processing power on the Bitcoin network in this manner will remain heightened. Additionally, some academics and market participants believe the applicable threshold
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required to exert authority over the Bitcoin network could be less than 50%, which would increase the chances of a malicious actor exerting authority over the Bitcoin network.
The digital asset trading platforms on which bitcoin trades are relatively new, may be non-compliant with applicable regulations, and could negatively impact the value of bitcoin and the value of the Shares.
Digital asset markets, including spot markets for bitcoin, are growing rapidly. The digital asset trading platforms through which bitcoin and other digital assets trade are relatively new and operate in a developing regulatory environment compared to traditional securities or other markets. These platforms operate in a developing regulatory environment, with different jurisdictions imposing varying levels of oversight. To the extent that such digital asset trading platforms are regulated, such platforms may not be in compliance with applicable regulations. These markets are local, national and international and include a broadening range of digital assets and participants. Significant trading may occur on systems and platforms with minimal predictability. Spot markets for bitcoin may impose daily, weekly, or monthly transaction or withdrawal limits, or in some cases, even customer-specific restrictions. These limits can make it difficult, or at times impossible, to exchange bitcoin for fiat currency, particularly during periods of high market volatility. In some cases, platforms may suspend withdrawals entirely, which can leave users unable to access their funds. Additionally, participating in these markets requires users to assume credit risk by transferring bitcoin from their personal accounts to third-party accounts on the platform. This process introduces the risk of platform insolvency, hacking, or other operational issues, which could result in the loss of funds.
Digital asset trading platforms may not be subject to, or may not comply with, regulation in a manner similar to other regulated trading platforms, such as national securities exchanges or designated contract markets. Many digital asset trading platforms are unlicensed, unregulated, operate without extensive supervision by governmental authorities, and do not provide the public with significant information regarding their ownership structure, management team, corporate practices, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. In particular, those located outside the U.S. may be subject to significantly less stringent regulatory and compliance requirements in their local jurisdictions. Many of these platforms operate in environments where oversight and enforcement are minimal, increasing the risks of fraud, manipulation, or non-compliance. Even where regulations exist, there is no guarantee that these platforms fully comply with applicable laws, exposing users to potential operational risks and legal uncertainties. As a result, trading activity on or reported by these digital asset trading platforms is generally significantly less regulated than trading in regulated U.S. securities and commodities markets and may reflect behavior that would be prohibited in regulated U.S. trading venues. Furthermore, many digital asset trading platforms lack certain safeguards put in place by more traditional exchanges to enhance the stability of trading on the platform and prevent flash crashes, such as limit-down circuit breakers.
As a result, the prices of digital assets such as bitcoin on digital asset trading platforms may be subject to larger and/or more frequent sudden declines than assets traded on more traditional exchanges. Tools to detect and deter fraudulent or manipulative trading activities (such as market manipulation, front-running of trades, and wash-trading) may not be available to or employed by digital asset trading platforms, or may not exist at all. Consequently, the marketplace may lose confidence in, or may experience problems relating to, these venues.
Negative perception, a lack of stability in the digital asset trading platforms, manipulation of bitcoin trading platforms by customers and/or the closure or temporary shutdown of such trading platforms due to fraud, business failure, hackers or malware, or government-mandated regulation may reduce confidence in bitcoin generally, slow down the mass adoption of bitcoin and result in greater volatility in the market price of bitcoin and the Shares of the Trust. Furthermore, digital asset trading platform failures or the failure of any other major component of the overall Bitcoin ecosystem may impact the Trust’s ability to determine the value of its bitcoin holdings or the ability of the Trust’s Authorized Participants to effectively arbitrage the Shares.
The digital asset trading platforms on which bitcoin trades may be exposed to fraud and market manipulation, which could negatively impact the value of bitcoin and the value of the Shares.
The blockchain infrastructure could be used by certain market participants to exploit arbitrage opportunities through schemes such as front-running, spoofing, pump-and-dump and fraud across different systems, platforms or geographic locations. As a result of reduced oversight, these schemes may be more prevalent in digital asset markets than in the general market for financial products.
The SEC has identified possible sources of fraud and manipulation in the cryptocurrency markets generally, including bitcoin, such as (i) “wash trading”; (ii) persons with a dominant position in one type of digital assets manipulating its pricing; (iii)
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hacking of the digital asset network and trading platforms; (iv) malicious control of the digital asset network; (v) trading based on material, non-public information (for example, plans of market participants to significantly increase or decrease their holdings in a digital asset, new sources of demand for such digital asset, etc.) or based on the dissemination of false and misleading information; (vi) manipulative activity involving purported “stablecoins,” including Tether; and (vii) fraud and manipulation at the trading platforms of such digital asset.
Wash Trading
Digital asset trading platforms on which bitcoin trades may be susceptible to wash trading, where offsetting trades are entered for non-bona fide reasons, such as the desire to inflate reported trading volumes. This manipulation may be driven by non-economic reasons, such as a desire for increased visibility on popular websites that monitor markets for digital assets so as to improve their attractiveness to investors who look for maximum liquidity, or it may be motivated by the ability to attract listing fees from token issuers who seek the most liquid and high-volume exchanges on which to list their coins. Results of wash trading may include unexpected obstacles to trade and erroneous investment decisions based on false information. Even in the U.S., there have been allegations of wash trading even on regulated trading venues. Any actual or perceived false trading in the digital asset trading venue market, and any other fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices, could adversely affect the value of bitcoin and/or negatively affect the market perception of bitcoin.
Cyberattacks and Security Breaches of the Bitcoin Trading Platforms
The nature of the assets held at bitcoin trading platforms makes them appealing targets for hackers and a number of bitcoin trading platforms have been victims of cyberattacks and security breaches. Over the past several years, some digital asset trading platforms have been forced to shut down due to cyberattacks and security breaches, often resulting in significant financial losses for their users. In many of these instances, the customers of such digital asset trading platforms were not compensated or made whole for the partial or complete losses of their account balances in such digital asset trading platforms. While, generally speaking, smaller digital asset trading platforms are less likely to have the infrastructure and capitalization that make larger digital asset trading platforms more stable, larger digital asset trading platforms are more likely to be appealing targets for hackers and malware. For example, the collapse of Mt. Gox, which filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan in late February 2014 after suffering one of the largest security breaches in digital asset history, demonstrated that even the largest digital asset trading platforms could be subject to abrupt failure with consequences both for users of digital asset trading platforms and for the digital asset industry as a whole.
In particular, in the two weeks that followed the February 7, 2014, halt of bitcoin withdrawals from Mt. Gox, the price of bitcoin fell on other exchanges from around $795 on February 6, 2014, to $578 on February 20, 2014. Additionally, in January 2015, Bitstamp announced that approximately 19,000 bitcoin had been stolen from its operational or “hot” wallets. In August 2016, it was reported that almost 120,000 bitcoin, valued at around $72 million at the time, were stolen from Bitfinex, a large digital asset exchange. The value of bitcoin and other digital assets immediately decreased by more than 10% following reports of the theft at Bitfinex. Following the theft at Bitfinex, the value of bitcoin and other digital assets decreased by more than 10%. In July 2017, FinCEN assessed a $110 million fine against BTC-e, a now-defunct digital asset exchange, for facilitating crimes such as drug sales and ransomware attacks. In December 2017, Yapian, the operator of Seoul-based cryptocurrency exchange Youbit, suspended digital asset trading and filed for bankruptcy following a hack that resulted in a loss of 17% of its assets. Following the hack, Youbit users were allowed to withdraw approximately 75% of the digital assets in their exchange accounts, with any potential further distributions to be made following Yapian’s pending bankruptcy proceedings. In January 2018, the Japanese digital asset trading platform Coincheck was hacked, resulting in losses of approximately $535 million in digital assets. The following month, the Italian digital asset trading platform Bitgrail was hacked, resulting in approximately $170 million in losses. In May 2019, one of the world’s largest digital asset trading platforms, Binance, was hacked, resulting in losses of approximately $40 million worth of bitcoin. In 2021, hackers stole $613 million in various cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, from Poly Network by exploiting a vulnerability in its smart contract used for cross-chain token transfers. In 2022, $615 million was stolen from Ronin Network which powers the mobile game Axie Infinity due to weakened security measures. The Poly Network and Ronin Network hacks remain two of the biggest cryptocurrency hacks in history.
Front-Running
Digital asset trading platforms may also be vulnerable to front-running, where individuals use technological or market advantages to gain prior knowledge of upcoming transactions. This is often achieved through bots that manipulate gas prices or timestamps to exploit price movements before other market participants. Front-running allows bad actors to profit at the expense of legitimate traders, which can undermine investor confidence in the fairness of digital asset exchanges.
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Fraud and Manipulation
Many bitcoin trading platforms are vulnerable to fraud and market manipulation. The lack of regulatory oversight and transparency creates opportunities for bad actors to exploit the system through practices like insider trading, wash trading, and misappropriation of customer funds. These practices not only harm investors but also undermine confidence in the broader digital asset market, leading to price volatility and financial losses. A prime example of such vulnerability was the collapse of FTX in November 2022, one of the largest digital asset trading platforms at the time. FTX halted customer withdrawals amid growing concerns about its liquidity and impending insolvency, which were soon confirmed by its CEO. Shortly after, FTX’s CEO resigned, and the platform, along with its affiliates, filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Other affiliates initiated insolvency or liquidation proceedings globally. In addition, the DOJ, SEC, and CFTC brought fraud and securities charges against senior FTX executives, accusing them of misusing billions in customer funds and misleading investors about the company’s financial health. During this time, reports emerged that $300 to $600 million in digital assets were suspiciously removed from FTX accounts, although the full nature of these removals remains unclear, raising concerns about possible theft or insider misconduct. The misappropriation of customer funds and lack of transparency led to significant market-wide effects, including a sharp decline in bitcoin’s value.
The potential consequences of a digital asset trading platform’s failure to prevent market fraud and manipulation could lead to negative perceptions about the integrity of bitcoin markets, adversely impacting pricing trends in bitcoin and, in turn, the value of the Shares.
The value of bitcoin may be subject to momentum pricing and may impact the value of an investment in the Shares.
The market value of bitcoin is not based on any kind of claim, nor is it backed by any physical asset. Instead, the market value is primarily driven by supply and demand dynamics, investor sentiment, the expectation of being usable in future transactions and the broader adoption of the Bitcoin network. This reliance on market participants’ expectations and confidence contributes to bitcoin’s significant volatility. Furthermore, speculative interest may exacerbate volatility and lead to momentum pricing, where price movements are driven by market trends rather than intrinsic value considerations.
Momentum pricing typically is associated with growth stocks and other assets whose valuation, as determined by the investing public, is impacted by appreciation in value. Momentum pricing may result in speculation regarding future appreciation in the value of digital assets, which inflates prices and leads to increased volatility. As a result, bitcoin may be more likely to fluctuate in value due to changing investor confidence in future appreciation or depreciation in prices, which could adversely affect the price of bitcoin, and, in turn, an investment in the Shares.
The value of bitcoin as represented by the BRRNY may also be subject to momentum pricing due to speculation regarding future appreciation in value, leading to greater volatility that could adversely affect the value of the Shares. Momentum pricing of bitcoin has previously resulted, and may continue to result, in speculation regarding future appreciation or depreciation in the value of bitcoin, further contributing to volatility and potentially inflating prices at any given time. These dynamics may impact the value of an investment in the Shares.
Some market observers have asserted that in time, the value of bitcoin will fall to a fraction of its current value, or even to zero. Bitcoin has not been in existence long enough for market participants to assess these predictions with any precision, but if these observers are even partially correct, an investment in the Shares may turn out to be substantially worthless.
Political or economic crises may motivate large-scale sales of bitcoin, which could result in a reduction in the price of bitcoin and adversely affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
As an alternative to fiat currencies that are backed by central governments, bitcoin is subject to supply and demand forces based upon the desirability of an alternative, decentralized means of buying and selling goods and services, and it is unclear how such supply and demand will be impacted by geopolitical events. Nevertheless, political or economic crises may motivate large-scale acquisitions or sales of bitcoin, either globally or locally. Large-scale sales of bitcoin would result in a reduction in its price and adversely affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
Ownership of bitcoin is pseudonymous, and the supply of accessible bitcoin is unknown. Entities with substantial holdings in bitcoin may engage in large-scale sales or distributions, either on nonmarket terms or in the ordinary course, which could result in a reduction in the price of bitcoin and adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
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There is no registry showing which individuals or entities own bitcoin or the quantity of bitcoin that is owned by any particular person or entity. It is possible, and in fact, reasonably likely, that a small group of early bitcoin adopters hold a significant proportion of the bitcoin that has been created to date. These significant holders of bitcoin are commonly known as “whales.” There are no regulations in place that would prevent a large holder of bitcoin from selling bitcoin it holds. To the extent such large holders of bitcoin engage in large-scale sales or distributions, either on nonmarket terms or in the ordinary course, it could result in a reduction in the price of bitcoin and adversely affect an investment in the Shares. For example, in March 2023, the U.S. government sold nearly 10,000 bitcoin in a single operation. Following this, there were irregular sales ranging from 10 to 8,200 bitcoin throughout the year, which has contributed to fluctuations in the market, with noticeable impacts on bitcoin’s price each time significant amounts were sold. Additionally, in June 2024, the German government intensified its divestment of seized Bitcoin, selling over $200 million worth of bitcoin in just a week, which added considerable selling pressure to the market, causing further price volatility.
A significant quantity of bitcoin remain in the hands of large entities such as governments and corporations such as MicroStrategy and Tesla, and the process for selling these holdings is often not transparent. Further large-scale sales or distributions by such entities could exert downward pressure on bitcoin’s price, thereby adversely affecting an investment in the Shares.
Irrevocable nature of Bitcoin blockchain-recorded transactions.
Bitcoin transactions recorded on the Bitcoin network are not, from an administrative perspective, reversible without the consent and active participation of the recipient of the transaction or, in theory, control or consent of a majority of the Bitcoin network’s aggregate hash rate. Once a transaction has been verified and recorded in a block that is added to the Bitcoin network, an incorrect transfer of bitcoin or a theft of bitcoin generally will not be reversible, and the Trust may not be capable of seeking compensation for any such transfer or theft. It is possible that, through computer or human error, or through theft or criminal action, the Trust’s bitcoin could be transferred from custody accounts in incorrect quantities or to unauthorized third parties. To the extent that the Trust is unable to seek a corrective transaction with such third party or is incapable of identifying the third party that has received the Trust’s bitcoin through error or theft, the Trust will be unable to revert or otherwise recover incorrectly transferred bitcoin. To the extent that the Trust is unable to seek redress for such error or theft, such loss could adversely affect the value of the Shares.
The Shareholders are solely responsible for providing the Trust or its agent with accurate information with respect to its bitcoin wallet and sending and ensuring that their contributions are sent to the correct bitcoin wallet address of the Trust. If a Shareholder’s contributions are sent to the wrong wallet address or are not delivered to the Trust, the Trust will have no liability to the Shareholder. If information provided by a Shareholder proves incorrect, and as a result, bitcoin is not delivered to the Trust, the Trust will have no liability to the Shareholder for the Trust’s good faith reliance on such misinformation.
The loss or destruction of a private key required to access bitcoin may be irreversible. The Bitcoin Custodian’s loss of access to a private key associated with the Trust’s bitcoin could adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
Transfers of bitcoin among users are accomplished via bitcoin transactions (i.e., sending bitcoin from one user to another). The creation of a bitcoin transaction requires the use of a unique numerical code known as a “private key.” In the absence of the correct private key corresponding to a holder’s particular bitcoin, the bitcoin is inaccessible. The custody of the Trust’s bitcoin is handled by the Bitcoin Custodian, and the transfer of bitcoin to and from Authorized Participants is directed by the Sponsor. The Sponsor has reviewed and evaluated the procedures and internal controls of the Trust’s Bitcoin Custodian to safeguard the Trust’s bitcoin holdings. If the Bitcoin Custodian’s internal procedures and controls are inadequate to safeguard the Trust’s bitcoin holdings, and the Trust’s private keys are lost, destroyed or otherwise compromised and no accessible backup exists, the Trust will be unable to access its bitcoin, which could result in a partial or total loss of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings, leading to an adverse impact on the value of an investment in the Shares.
Cybersecurity threats, hacking incidents, and insider fraud also pose significant risks, as malicious actors may attempt to gain control of these private keys, resulting in theft of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings. Any such misappropriation would severely impact the Trust’s financial position, potentially causing the Trust to lose some or all of its bitcoin. The use of third-party service providers, including the Bitcoin Custodian and other intermediaries involved in the Trust’s bitcoin transactions, may also introduce additional risks related to operational failures, insolvency, or negligence, which could lead to a loss of bitcoin holdings and adversely affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
A disruption of the internet may affect Bitcoin network operations, which may adversely affect the bitcoin industry and the value of an investment in the Shares.
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The Bitcoin network relies on the internet. A significant disruption of internet connectivity, whether regional or global, could halt or delay transaction processing and consensus operations on the Bitcoin network until such disruptions are resolved. In the past, variants of digital assets have experienced denial-of-service (“DoS”) attacks, leading to temporary delays in block creation and asset transfers. While the Bitcoin network has implemented protections against such attacks, the risk of temporary service disruptions remains.
Digital assets are also susceptible to border gateway protocol hijacking (“BGP hijacking”). Such an attack can be a very effective way for an attacker to intercept traffic en route to a legitimate destination. BGP hijacking impacts the way different nodes and miners are connected to one another by isolating portions of them from the remainder of the network, which could lead to a risk of the network allowing double-spending and other security issues. If BGP hijacking occurs on the Bitcoin network, participants may lose faith in the security of Bitcoin, which could affect bitcoin’s value and consequently the value of the Shares.
Any internet failures, connectivity-related attacks, or other operational disruptions that impact the ability to transfer bitcoin could have a material adverse effect on the price of bitcoin and the value of an investment in the Shares.
Decentralized governance of the Bitcoin network and potential amendments to the Bitcoin network’s protocols and software could, if accepted and authorized by the Bitcoin network community, have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust.
Governance of decentralized networks, such as the Bitcoin network, is achieved through voluntary consensus and open competition among participants. While this promotes decentralization, it can lead to challenges in reaching consensus or responding quickly to issues, potentially hindering such network’s utility and ability to grow and face challenges. Potential amendments to the Bitcoin network’s protocols and software could, if accepted and authorized by the Bitcoin network community, may also introduce risks that adversely affect the Bitcoin network.
The Bitcoin network is maintained by an informal group of core developers who propose amendments to its open-source code. While these developers can suggest changes, any modifications require consensus from the network’s participants—miners, node operators, and users—to be implemented, reflecting the decentralized nature of Bitcoin. Historically, flaws in the source code of digital asset networks have been discovered and exploited, leading to disabled functionality for users, exposure of personal information, or theft of digital assets. For instance, in 2010, a vulnerability in the Bitcoin network allowed an attacker to generate an excessive number of bitcoins, which was promptly rectified by the community through software updates. The cryptography underlying Bitcoin is currently considered secure, but it could potentially be compromised by future advancements in mathematics or technology, such as developments in quantum computing. In such circumstances, malicious actors might be able to steal bitcoins held by others, adversely impacting the demand for bitcoin and thus decreasing its price and the value of the Shares. Even if a digital asset other than Bitcoin were affected by similar issues, any reduction in confidence in the source code or cryptography underlying digital assets generally could negatively affect the demand for all digital assets, including Bitcoin, and therefore adversely impact the value of the Shares.
Amendments to the Bitcoin network’s source code proposed by core developers, if accepted by a significant majority of participants and stakeholders, could alter the protocols and software of the Bitcoin network, potentially affecting the properties of bitcoin. Such changes may have unpredictable effects on the value of bitcoin, depending on the community’s reception. These alterations occur through software updates and could impact features such as transaction speed, fee structures, or introduce new functionalities. While fundamental changes like altering the total supply of bitcoin or reversing transaction irreversibility are theoretically possible, they are highly unlikely due to the decentralized consensus mechanism and the community’s strong commitment to Bitcoin’s core principles. Alternatively, software upgrades and other changes to the Bitcoin network’s protocols could fail to work as intended or introduce bugs, coding defects, or security vulnerabilities. Such issues could adversely affect the speed, security, usability, or value of the Bitcoin network and bitcoin itself. As a result, future changes to the Bitcoin network’s protocols and software may adversely affect an investment in the Trust.
Membership in the community of core developers evolves over time, largely based on self-determined participation in the resource section dedicated to Bitcoin on GitHub.com. These developers gain influence through their ongoing contributions but are constrained by the decentralized nature of the network. In other words, the Bitcoin network has no central decision-making body or clear manner in which participants can come to an agreement other than through overwhelming consensus. The lack of clarity on governance may adversely affect bitcoin’s utility and ability to grow and face challenges, both of which may require solutions and directed effort to overcome problems, especially long-term problems. For example, in 2023, a vulnerability known as the “replacement cycling attack” was discovered in the Bitcoin Lightning Network, threatening the security of off-chain transactions by allowing attackers to steal funds through manipulation of transaction processing.
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Although patches were quickly released, concerns about the effectiveness of these solutions remain, underscoring the governance challenges in resolving security risks. To the extent lack of clarity in corporate governance of the Bitcoin network leads to ineffective decision-making that slows development and growth, the value of the Shares may be adversely affected.
New competing digital assets may pose a challenge to bitcoin’s current market dominance, resulting in a reduction in demand for bitcoin, which negatively impact its price and may have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust.
Bitcoin faces significant competition from other digital assets, as well as from other technologies or payment forms, such as Swift, ACH, remittance networks, credit cards and cash. There is no guarantee that bitcoin will become a dominant form of payments, store of value or method of exchange.
Bitcoin, as the first decentralized digital asset, holds a first-to-market advantage over other digital assets, which has contributed to its broad adoption and strong market position. The Bitcoin network benefits from the largest user base, and the aggregate value of existing Bitcoin exceeds that of any other digital asset. Furthermore, Bitcoin enjoys the most mining power, making its blockchain more secure compared to other digital asset networks. This security provides users with greater confidence in the network’s stability and longevity, fostering a network effect, where more users and miners enhance security, making Bitcoin more attractive to new participants. This effect potentially strengthens Bitcoin’s first-mover advantage. However, despite its advantages, Bitcoin faces risks from real or perceived shortcomings. Technological, regulatory, or other developments could reduce its popularity, causing other digital assets to overtake Bitcoin in acceptance and usage. For instance, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) may appeal to users because of their perceived stability, trustworthiness, and available federal backing or insurance, which could reduce Bitcoin’s attractiveness. See the risk factor entitled “Competition from CBDCs and emerging payments initiatives involving financial institutions could adversely affect the value of bitcoin and the value of an investment in the Shares” for more details.
The Bitcoin network also relies on a decentralized group of core developers to propose updates to its protocols. Changes that require significant network upgrades, such as those leading to a hard fork, need overwhelming consensus to be adopted. Consequently, changes to Bitcoin’s software are often conservative and slow. For example, delays in protocol upgrades to enable more complex smart contracts led some developers to create the Ethereum network in 2015, which offers more advanced smart contract capabilities. Similarly, disagreements over scaling solutions, such as increasing block sizes, resulted in hard forks like BCH in 2017. While projects like Rootstock and Blockstream have introduced Layer 2 and sidechain solutions to extend Bitcoin’s functionality, networks offering differentiated features may continue to attract developers, investors, and users. This competitive landscape could negatively impact Bitcoin’s dominance and, consequently, investments tied to its success, including an investment in the Shares.
Competition from CBDCs and emerging payments initiatives involving financial institutions could adversely affect the value of bitcoin and the value of an investment in the Shares.
Central banks in various countries are actively developing digital forms of legal tender, known as CBDCs. For example, China’s CBDC project, known as Digital Currency Electronic Payment, has reportedly been tested in live pilot programs across multiple cities. As of December 2024, central banks representing at least 134 countries have published work on retail or wholesale CBDCs, ranging from initial research to advanced pilot projects. Whether or not CBDCs incorporate blockchain or similar technologies, they hold certain competitive advantages over cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, particularly because they are legal tender within their issuing jurisdictions. CBDCs could potentially replace or compete with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a medium of exchange or store of value. Central banks and other governmental entities have also launched cooperative initiatives and consortia with private sector entities, aiming to leverage blockchain and other technologies to reduce friction in cross-border and interbank payments and settlement processes, and commercial banks and other financial institutions have also announced a number of initiatives of their own to incorporate new technologies, including blockchain and similar technologies, into their payments and settlement activities. These efforts aim to reduce friction and improve efficiency in financial transactions, which could lessen demand for Bitcoin as an alternative payment method. As CBDCs and similar technologies gain traction, the demand for Bitcoin may decline, leading to a potential decrease in its value. This decline could adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
The price of bitcoin may be affected due to stablecoins (including Tether and USD Coin, or USDC), the activities of stablecoin issuers and their regulatory treatment.
While the Trust does not invest in stablecoins, it may nonetheless be exposed to risks that stablecoins pose for the bitcoin market and other digital asset markets. Stablecoins are digital assets designed to have a stable value over time compared to typically volatile digital assets, and are typically marketed as being pegged to a fiat currency, such as the U.S. dollar, at a
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certain value. Although the prices of stablecoins are intended to be stable, their market value may fluctuate. This volatility has in the past apparently impacted the price of bitcoin. Stablecoins are a relatively new phenomenon, and it is impossible to know all of the risks that they could pose to participants in the bitcoin market. In addition, stablecoins are subject to evolving regulatory requirements in the U.S. For example, on July 18, 2025, President Trump signed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act of 2025 (the “GENIUS Act”) into law, establishing a federal framework for certain “payment stablecoins,” and U.S. regulators have begun related implementation efforts (including requests for comment and other actions). The GENIUS Act includes provisions addressing the regulatory treatment of certain “payment stablecoins,” including provisions that may affect whether certain payment stablecoins are treated as “securities” under the federal securities laws. However, the scope and interpretation of these provisions and their application to particular stablecoin structures may evolve and may not cover all stablecoin products, programs, or arrangements. In addition, some regulators have argued that certain stablecoins, particularly Tether, are improperly issued without sufficient backing which, when the stablecoin is used to pay for bitcoin, could cause artificial rather than genuine demand for bitcoin, artificially inflating the price of bitcoin. There are also allegations that those associated with certain stablecoins may be involved in laundering money or evading sanctions. On February 23, 2021, the New York Attorney General announced a settlement with Tether’s operators, requiring them to cease any further trading activity with New York persons and pay $18.5 million in penalties for false and misleading statements made regarding the assets backing Tether. On October 15, 2021, the CFTC announced a settlement with Tether’s operators in which they agreed to pay $42.5 million in fines to settle charges that, among others, Tether’s claims of maintaining sufficient U.S. dollar reserves to back every Tether stablecoin in circulation with the “equivalent amount of corresponding fiat currency” held by Tether were untrue. In addition, in June 2025 the DOJ announced an action to recover approximately $225.3 million in USDT linked to alleged cryptocurrency investment scams, and in January 2026 the DOJ announced charges alleging that USDT and other crypto assets were used to launder proceeds of corruption. These and similar regulatory, supervisory, and law-enforcement actions may result in the freezing, seizure, delisting, or reduced utility of particular stablecoins, which could reduce liquidity in bitcoin markets and adversely affect the price of bitcoin and, in turn, the value of the Shares.
USDC is a reserve-backed stablecoin issued by Circle Internet Financial that is commonly used as a method of payment in digital asset markets, including the bitcoin market. An affiliate of the Sponsor acts as investment manager to a money market fund, the Circle Reserve Fund, which the issuer of USDC uses to hold cash, U.S. Treasury bills, notes and other obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Treasury Department, and repurchase agreements secured by such obligations or cash, which serve as reserves backing USDC stablecoins. While USDC is designed to maintain a stable value at $1.00, on March 10, 2023, the value of USDC fell below $1.00 for multiple days after Circle Internet Financial disclosed that $3.3 billion of the USDC reserves were held at Silicon Valley Bank, which had entered FDIC receivership earlier that day. Since then, USDC has generally traded near its intended $1.00 value. but it has experienced fluctuations. Stablecoins are reliant on the U.S. banking system and U.S. treasuries, and the failure of either to function normally could affect stablecoin operations and adversely affect the value of the Shares. In addition, implementation of the GENIUS Act and evolving U.S. stablecoin regulation could require stablecoin issuers and market participants to obtain licenses or approvals, satisfy reserve and disclosure requirements, or restrict certain activities, any of which could affect stablecoin availability and liquidity. An affiliate of the Sponsor also has a minority equity interest in the issuer of USDC.
Some stablecoins have been alleged to be securities under the federal securities laws and the regulatory status of stablecoins remains in flux. For example, on June 5, 2023, the SEC alleged in a complaint that the stablecoin BUSD, a U.S. dollar stablecoin associated with the Binance ecosystem, was a “crypto asset security” and that Binance “offered and sold to U.S. investors as part of a profit-earning scheme within the Binance ecosystem.” However, on June 28, 2024, a federal judge dismissed the SEC's claim that BUSD was a security, stating that the SEC failed to credibly establish that BUSD was offered or sold as such. On May 29, 2025, the SEC filed a joint stipulation to dismiss, with prejudice, the civil enforcement action against Binance entities and founder Changpeng Zhao, and stated that the dismissal decision did not necessarily reflect the Commission’s position on other litigation or proceedings. In another example, in November 2023, the financial technology company PayPal disclosed in a filing that it had received a subpoena from the SEC relating to the PayPal USD stablecoin that requested the production of documents. PayPal later disclosed that, in February 2025, the SEC communicated it was closing this inquiry without enforcement action.
More recently, in April 2025, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance staff issued a statement regarding “Covered Stablecoins,” expressing the staff view that the offer and sale of Covered Stablecoins does not involve the offer and sale of securities and that persons participating in the “minting” and redemption of Covered Stablecoins do not need to register such transactions with the Commission under the 1933 Act. This staff statement is not a rule, does not bind the SEC or courts, and may be modified or withdrawn, and it does not address all stablecoin structures (including stablecoins offered with yield, profit-sharing, governance rights, or other investment-like features).
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If a widely used stablecoin were determined not to qualify for (or otherwise to fall outside) the statutory and staff positions described above, or a stablecoin-related product or program were legally determined to be a security, this could trigger mass redemptions and broader instability in the digital asset market, negatively impacting the value of the Shares.
Given the foundational role that stablecoins play in global digital asset markets, their fundamental liquidity and actual stability can have a significant impact on the broader digital asset market, including the market for bitcoin. Because a large portion of the digital asset market still depends on stablecoins such as Tether and USDC, there is a risk that a disorderly de-pegging or a run on Tether or USDC could lead to significant market volatility in digital assets more broadly. Volatility in stablecoins, operational issues with stablecoins (for example, technical issues that prevent settlement), concerns about the sufficiency of any reserves that support stablecoins or potential manipulative activity when unbacked stablecoins are used to pay for other digital assets (including bitcoin), regulatory changes affecting stablecoin issuers or intermediaries, such as exchanges, that support stablecoins, and enforcement actions or sanctions targeting stablecoin-related activity could impact individuals’ willingness to trade on venues that rely on stablecoins, reduce liquidity in the bitcoin market, and affect the value of bitcoin, and in turn impact an investment in the Shares.
Congestion or delays in the Bitcoin network may delay purchases or sales of bitcoin by the Trust.
The Bitcoin network’s transaction capacity is currently limited, and its transaction rate remains significantly lower than that of centralized systems. Although solutions like Segregated Witness (SegWit) and the Lightning Network have been implemented to improve scalability and reduce congestion, increased transaction volume can still result in delays in recording transactions due to network congestion. Moreover, unforeseen system failures, disruptions in operations, or poor connectivity may also lead to delays in the recording of transactions on the Bitcoin network.
Any delay in the Bitcoin network could affect an Authorized Participant’s ability to buy or sell bitcoin at advantageous prices, potentially resulting in decreased confidence in the Bitcoin network. Over the longer term, persistent delays in confirming transactions could reduce bitcoin’s attractiveness to merchants and other commercial parties as a means of payment. As a result, the Bitcoin network and the value of the Trust could be adversely affected.
The scheduled creation of newly mined bitcoin and their subsequent sale may cause the price of bitcoin to decline, which could negatively affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
Newly created bitcoin (“newly mined bitcoin”) are generated through a process referred to as “mining.” As of December 2024, the Bitcoin network creates 3.125 bitcoin with each block added to the Bitcoin blockchain; these newly mined bitcoins are awarded to the bitcoin miner that successfully adds a block to the Bitcoin blockchain, which occurs on average every 10 minutes. However, following the halving event expected in mid-2028, the block reward will be reduced from 3.125 bitcoin to 1.5625 bitcoin. When miners make newly mined bitcoin available for sale, it can introduce downward pressure on the price of bitcoin as this new supply enters the market. Bitcoin mining operations, particularly those operating with narrow profit margins, may be more inclined to sell a larger portion of their newly mined bitcoin rapidly to cover operational costs, thus exerting additional downward pressure on the price. Lower bitcoin prices can further tighten profit margins for miners, leading to increased selling pressure as profitability decreases. This cycle of diminishing profit margins and increased sales of newly mined bitcoin could further reduce bitcoin prices, potentially adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Shares.
In addition, bitcoin mining is highly sensitive to energy prices and bitcoin market prices. To mine bitcoin, a bitcoin miner acquires specialized computers that consume significant amounts of energy. As energy prices fluctuate, the marginal cost of bitcoin mining increases and decreases. Conversely, the price of bitcoin and amount of “hashrate” being expended by other bitcoin miners will impact the profitability and likelihood of solving a block and receiving newly mined bitcoin. If the marginal cost of bitcoin mining exceeds the expected profit, miners may cease to expend energy to mine bitcoin. See the risk factor entitled “The prevailing level of transaction fees may adversely affect the usage of the Bitcoin network” for more details. If a material number of miners turn off their mining hardware, the speed of transaction processing on the Bitcoin network may experience a temporary slowdown and the overall security of the Bitcoin network against a 51% attack may be reduced. Furthermore, federal or state governments in key jurisdictions, including the U.S., are considering regulations targeting bitcoin mining’s energy consumption, which could further increase operational costs or restrict miner activity.
Over the past several years, bitcoin mining operations have evolved from individual users mining with computer processors, graphics processing units and first-generation application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) machines to “professionalized” mining operations using proprietary hardware or sophisticated machines. Mining requires an investment of significant capital and expertise to acquire this hardware, the leasing of operating space (often in data centers or warehousing facilities), incurring of electricity costs and the employment of technicians to operate the mining farms. As a result, professionalized
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mining operations are of a greater scale than prior Bitcoin network miners and have more defined, regular expenses and liabilities. These regular expenses and liabilities may require professionalized mining operations to more immediately sell bitcoin earned from mining operations on one of the various bitcoin exchanges, whereas it is believed that individual miners in past years were more likely to hold newly mined bitcoin for more extended periods. The immediate selling of newly mined bitcoin may increase the supply of bitcoin on bitcoin exchange markets in a material way, potentially creating downward pressure on the price of bitcoin, which could negatively affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
Risks Associated with the BRRNY, BRR and CME Bitcoin Real Time Price
The limited history and methodological risks of the BRRNY, BRR, and CME Bitcoin Real Time Price could cause inaccuracies in bitcoin prices, potentially undermining investor confidence in the Trust’s ability to accurately track bitcoin prices, which could negatively affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
The BRRNY, which was introduced on February 28, 2022, is based on materially the same methodology (except calculation time) as the BRR, which was first introduced on November 14, 2016, and is the rate on which bitcoin futures contracts are cash-settled in U.S. dollars at the CME. The BRRNY and the BRR have a limited history and their value is an average composite reference rate calculated using volume-weighted trading price data from the Constituent Platforms. A longer history of actual performance through various economic and market conditions would provide greater and more reliable information for an investor to assess BRRNY’s performance. The Benchmark Provider has substantial discretion at any time to change the methodology used to calculate the BRRNY, including the Constituent Platforms. The Benchmark Provider does not have any obligation to take into consideration the needs of the Trust, the Shareholders, or anyone else in connection with such changes. There is no guarantee that the methodology currently used in calculating the BRRNY will appropriately track the price of bitcoin in the future. Neither the CME Group nor the Benchmark Provider has any obligation to take into consideration the needs of the Trust or the Shareholders in determining, composing, or calculating the BRRNY or in the selection of the Constituent Platforms used. The Constituent Platforms are chosen by the Benchmark Provider, under the oversight of the CME CF Oversight Committee.
Although the BRRNY is intended to accurately capture the market price of bitcoin, third parties may be able to purchase and sell bitcoin on public or private markets not included among the Constituent Platforms, and such transactions may take place at prices materially higher or lower than the BRRNY price. Moreover, there may be variances in the prices of bitcoin on the various Constituent Platforms, including as a result of differences in fee structures or administrative procedures on different Constituent Platforms. While the BRRNY provides a U.S. dollar-denominated price of bitcoin based on the volume-weighted price of bitcoin on certain Constituent Platforms, at any given time, the prices on each such Constituent Platform may not be equal to the value of bitcoin as represented by the BRRNY. It is possible that the price of bitcoin on the Constituent Platforms could be materially higher or lower than the BRRNY price.
The Constituent Platforms used by the BRRNY as pricing sources are major bitcoin trading venues that facilitate the buying and selling of bitcoin and other digital assets. Neither the CME Group nor the Benchmark Provider guarantees the validity of any of these inputs, which may be subject to technological error, manipulative activity, or fraudulent reporting from their initial source. While many pricing sources refer to themselves as “exchanges,” they are not registered with, or supervised by, the SEC or CFTC and do not meet the regulatory standards of a national securities exchange or designated contract market. The Bridging Regulation and Innovation for Digital Global and Electronic Digital Assets Act (the "BRIDGE Digital Assets Act"), introduced in September 2024, remains under active consideration in the U.S. Congress. The BRIDGE Digital Assets Act seeks to address some of these concerns by establishing a Joint Advisory Committee on Digital Assets comprising members from both the SEC and CFTC to help shape clearer regulations for digital assets. In January 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order, “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” signaling the administration’s intent to promote responsible innovation in the digital asset space. In February 2025, the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence held a hearing titled “A Golden Age of Digital Assets: Charting a Path Forward,” emphasizing the need for clearer rules to support industry growth while ensuring consumer protection. These initiatives suggest creating a defined regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency markets, which could enhance market stability and provide greater clarity for exchanges operating within the U.S. However, until such a regulatory framework is implemented, exchanges will remain largely unregulated. For these reasons, among others, purchases and sales of bitcoin may be subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets and government regulation and intervention. These circumstances could affect the price of bitcoin used in BRRNY calculations and, therefore, could adversely affect the bitcoin price as reflected by the BRRNY.
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The Constituent Platforms have changed over time. For example, effective April 2017, Bitfinex and OKcoin were removed from the BRR due to trading restrictions. On January 25, 2019, ItBit was suspended from the BRR due to data quality issues, which suspension was lifted on February 1, 2019 after the Benchmark Provider confirmed that data quality assurance measures were in place to identify the errors that the ItBit data contained through a full match of parameters. On August 30, 2019, Gemini was added to the BRR followed by LMAX Digital in April 2023. The Benchmark Provider, under the oversight of the CME CF Oversight Committee, may remove or add Constituent Platforms in the future at its discretion. For more information on the inclusion criteria for Constituent Platforms in the BRRNY, see the section entitled “CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate – New York Variant (BRRNY)” under Item 1 - Business of this Annual Report.
The Trust utilizes the BRRNY to establish its NAV and NAV per Share. To the extent the BRRNY price differs materially from the actual prices available on a Constituent Platform or the global market price of bitcoin, or if the BRRNY experiences changes in its calculation methodology, this could lead to a misalignment between the Share price and the global market price of bitcoin. Such discrepancies could undermine investor confidence in the Shares’ ability to track the market price of bitcoin. To the extent such prices differ materially from the BRRNY price, investors may lose confidence in the Shares’ ability to track the market price of bitcoin, which could adversely affect the value of the Shares.
The CME Bitcoin Real Time Price also has a limited history and shares some of the same structural and methodological features and risks as the BRRNY. The Trust utilizes the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price to establish its ITV. While investors are capable of assessing the intra-day movement of the price of the Shares and the bitcoin market price of bitcoin, Shareholders may use the ITV as a data point in their assessment of the value of the Shares. In the event that the CME Bitcoin Real Time Price is incorrectly calculated, is not timely calculated or changes its calculation methodology in the future, such an occurrence may adversely impact the utility of the ITV to Shareholders.
Systems failures or errors by the Benchmark Provider could lead to inaccurate BRRNY calculations, potentially resulting in misalignment of the Trust’s NAV and share price with the global market price of bitcoin, which could negatively affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
If the computers or other facilities of the Benchmark Provider, data providers and/or relevant stock exchange malfunction for any reason, calculation and dissemination of the BRRNY may be delayed. Such malfunctions could cause errors in BRRNY data or in the computation and construction of the BRRNY. These errors might not be identified or corrected promptly, or potentially not at all, which could adversely impact the Trust and its Shareholders.
The Trust utilizes the BRRNY to establish its NAV and NAV per Share. Any errors or delays in the BRRNY could lead to inaccuracies in the NAV and NAV per Share, resulting in a different investment outcome for the Trust and its Shareholders than if these events had not occurred. Losses or costs associated with such errors or other risks would generally be borne by the Trust and its Shareholders. Neither the Sponsor nor its affiliates or agents provide any guarantees regarding the accuracy or timeliness of the BRRNY.
If the BRRNY is not available, or if the Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the BRRNY does not reflect an accurate bitcoin price, the Trust’s holdings may be “fair valued” in accordance with the valuation policies approved by the Sponsor. Those valuation policies stipulate that when determining the fair value of bitcoin, the Sponsor may consider all relevant factors available at the time of valuation, and may be based on analytical values determined by the Sponsor using third-party valuation models. In accordance with its valuation policies, the Sponsor expects to utilize a volume-weighted average price or volume-weighted median price of bitcoin provided by a secondary pricing source (the “Secondary Source”). If a Secondary Source is not available or the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines the Secondary Sources are unreliable, the price set by the Trust’s principal market as of 4:00 p.m. EST on the valuation date would be considered for utilization. In the event the principal market price is not available or the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines the principal market valuation is unreliable, the Sponsor will use its best judgment to determine a good faith estimate of fair value based upon all available factors. The Sponsor does not anticipate that the need to “fair value” bitcoin will be a common occurrence.
To the extent the valuation determined in accordance with the policy approved by the Sponsor differs materially from the actual market price of bitcoin, this could lead to a misalignment between the Share price and the global market price of bitcoin. Such discrepancies could undermine investor confidence in the Shares’ ability to track the market price of bitcoin. To the extent such prices differ materially from the market price for bitcoin, investors may lose confidence in the Shares’ ability to track the market price of bitcoin, which could adversely affect the value of the Shares.
The Sponsor can discontinue using the BRRNY and use a different pricing or valuation methodology, which could negatively affect the Trust’s performance and the value of an investment in the Shares.
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The Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may cause the Trust to price its portfolio based upon an index, benchmark or standard other than the BRRNY at any time, with prior notice to the Shareholders, if investment conditions change or the Sponsor believes that another index, benchmark or standard better aligns with the Trust’s investment objective and strategy. The Sponsor may make this decision for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, a determination that the BRRNY price of bitcoin differs materially from the global market price of bitcoin and/or that third parties are able to purchase and sell bitcoin on public or private markets not included among the Constituent Platforms, and such transactions may take place at prices materially higher or lower than the BRRNY price. The Sponsor, however, is under no obligation whatsoever to make such changes in any circumstance. In the event that the Sponsor intends to establish the Trust’s NAV by reference to an index, benchmark or standard other than the BRRNY, it will provide Shareholders with notice through a current report on Form 8-K or in the Trust’s annual or quarterly reports. The adoption of a new pricing methodology could affect the Trust’s NAV calculations and may negatively affect the Trust’s performance and the value of an investment in the Shares.
The BRRNY price used to calculate the value of the Trust’s bitcoin may be volatile, adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Shares.
The price of bitcoin on public digital asset trading platforms has historically been highly volatile, influenced by various factors such as market demand, regulatory developments, and operational interruptions. While the BRRNY is designed to mitigate exposure to interruptions on individual digital asset trading platforms, it still reflects the inherent volatility of the broader digital asset markets. Such volatility could adversely impact the value of the Shares.
Additionally, the number of liquid and credible digital asset trading platforms is limited, which constrains the composition of the BRRNY. If a Constituent Platform faces regulatory scrutiny, extreme price fluctuations, or other market disruptions, the Benchmark Provider has limited options to promptly remove such a platform from the BRRNY. This could distort the price of bitcoin as represented by the BRRNY, potentially affecting the accuracy of the Trust’s NAV and, consequently, the value of the Shares. Trading occurring on a limited number of platforms may also result in less favorable pricing and decreased liquidity for bitcoin, further contributing to market volatility and potentially having an adverse effect on the value of the Shares.
The BRRNY price used to determine the Trust’s NAV may not align with GAAP, potentially leading to significant discrepancies in the Trust’s financial statements, which could impact investors’ perception of the value of an investment in the Shares.
The Trust determines the NAV of the Trust on each business day based on the value of bitcoin as reflected by the BRRNY. However, the methodology used to calculate the BRRNY price may not be consistent with GAAP. In cases where the BRRNY is deemed inconsistent with GAAP, the Trust would be required to use an alternative pricing source that aligns with GAAP for its periodic financial statements. As a result, the NAV reported in the Trust’s periodic financial statements, which is based on this GAAP-consistent pricing source, may differ—sometimes significantly—from the NAV determined using the BRRNY pricing. This discrepancy arises because the price of bitcoin in U.S. dollars or other currencies available from various data sources may not match the prices used in the BRRNY calculation. Additionally, the creation and redemption of Baskets, the Sponsor Fee, and other expenses borne by the Trust are determined using the daily NAV based on the BRRNY. Any discrepancies between the BRRNY-based NAV and the GAAP-compliant NAV reported in financial statements could impact investors’ perception of the Trust’s valuation, potentially adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Shares.
Non-concurrent trading hours between the Exchange and digital asset trading platforms, including the Constituent Platforms of the BRRNY, may cause the Shares to trade at a discount or premium relative to the NAV, leading to potential gaps in trading price of the Shares on the Exchange.
The value of a Share may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the Exchange and various digital asset trading platforms, including the Constituent Platforms of the BRRNY. While U.S. equity markets are open for trading in the Shares for a limited period each day, the bitcoin market is a 24-hour marketplace. However, trading volume and liquidity on the bitcoin market are not consistent throughout the day and digital asset trading platforms, including the larger-volume markets, have been known to shut down temporarily or permanently due to security concerns, directed denial-of-service attacks and other reasons.
During times when U.S. equity markets are open but large portions of the bitcoin market are either lightly traded or are closed, trading spreads and the resulting premium or discount on the Shares may widen. This can result in the Shares trading at a significant premium or discount relative to their NAV, potentially affecting an investment in the Shares if they are bought or sold during such periods. Conversely, when U.S. equity markets are closed but digital asset trading platforms are open,
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significant changes in the price of bitcoin could result in a difference in performance between the price of bitcoin and the most recent Share price. If the price of bitcoin drops substantially during these hours, the trading price of the Shares may “gap” down to reflect this change when U.S. markets reopen. Investors may not be able to sell their Shares during this period to mitigate losses, which could have an adverse effect on the value of their investment.
The non-concurrent trading hours between the Exchange and digital asset trading platforms create the risk of misalignment between the NAV and the trading price of the Shares, exposing investors to potential pricing discrepancies, potentially adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Shares.
Risks Associated with Investing in the Trust
Investing in bitcoin through the Trust is speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of the entire investment.
Investing in bitcoin and, consequently, the Trust, is speculative. The price of bitcoin is volatile, and predicting market movements is challenging due to rapidly changing supply and demand dynamics. Factors such as regulatory changes, interest rates, credit availability, credit defaults, inflation, and general economic uncertainty can significantly impact bitcoin’s market price. As a result, all investments made by the Trust carry the risk of capital loss.
In addition, the value of the Shares may be influenced, either directly or indirectly, by a variety of factors unrelated to the price of bitcoin. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
Furthermore, the Trust’s performance will not directly reflect the returns an investor would realize by holding or purchasing bitcoin directly. The differences in performance may be due to factors such as fees and transaction costs. Investors will also forgo certain rights conferred by owning bitcoin directly, such as the right to claim airdrops. See the risk factor entitled “Shareholders may not receive the benefits of any forks or “airdrops"” above for more details. The Trust is a passive investment vehicle, meaning the Sponsor does not actively manage the bitcoin holdings. There is no buying or selling of bitcoin in response to price changes, nor the use of hedging techniques to mitigate losses from price decreases.
Investing in the Shares involves a high degree of risk, including the possibility of losing the entire investment. There is no guarantee or representation that the Trust’s investment program will be successful, achieve its investment objective or return the invested capital to investors, and investment results may vary.
Limited history and potential illiquidity in bitcoin markets may exacerbate losses and increase variability between the Trust’s NAV and bitcoin’s market price
Bitcoin is a relatively novel asset with a limited trading history compared to more established financial instruments. This limited history, combined with its volatility, means that the markets for bitcoin may be less liquid and more susceptible to
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price swings. Unlike traditional commodities or securities markets, the bitcoin market can experience wide fluctuations due to the relatively small volume of buy and sell orders, particularly during periods of market stress or low liquidity. This lack of liquidity can make it challenging to execute trades at specific prices, increasing the difficulty of liquidating positions or finding suitable counterparties at reasonable costs during market disruptions.
Furthermore, the Trust’s large bitcoin positions may exacerbate these liquidity issues. Should the Trust need to sell significant portions of its holdings, the size of the position could magnify the illiquidity risks, leading to further losses as the Trust may struggle to find buyers without driving prices down. This situation is worsened by the concentration of the Trust’s investments in bitcoin, a single, highly volatile asset.
Additionally, the limited historical performance of bitcoin as an asset means that investors have less information to assess potential risks and rewards. Although bitcoin has shown both periods of significant growth and significant drawdowns, its short-term volatility remains a concern. Investors in bitcoin or related products like the Trust may encounter sharp market corrections that could take years to recover from, as seen in past market cycles. While bitcoin’s volatility has decreased over time, it still poses significant risks, especially in less liquid markets. These factors could cause greater variability between the Trust’s NAV and its market price, potentially leading to losses for investors during times of market disruption.
The Trust may create or redeem Baskets at a value that differs from the market price of the Shares due to discrepancies between the NAV, as determined by the BRRNY, and the actual market price of bitcoin.
The Trust utilizes the BRRNY to establish its NAV, which will change as fluctuations occur in the market price of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings. However, the public trading price per Share may be different from the NAV for a number of reasons, including bitcoin price volatility; trading activity in the Shares; and potential disruptions in digital asset trading platforms due to fraud, failure, and security breaches. Additionally, supply and demand forces in the secondary trading market for Shares are related, but not identical, to those influencing the market price of bitcoin. See the section entitled “Risks Associated with the BRRNY, BRR and CME Bitcoin Real Time Price” under Item 1A – Risk Factors of this Annual Report for more details.
An Authorized Participant may be able to purchase or redeem a Basket at a discount or a premium to the public trading price per Share, which may cause discrepancies in the Trust’s exposure to bitcoin. The size of the Trust in terms of total bitcoin held may also change substantially over time and as Baskets are created and redeemed. In the event that the value of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings or bitcoin holdings per Share is incorrectly calculated, neither the Sponsor nor the Administrator will be liable for any error and such misreporting of valuation data could adversely affect the value of the Shares.
In addition, the use of cash creations and redemptions may cause Shares to trade in the market at greater bid-ask spreads or greater premiums or discounts to their NAV per Share. Currently, the Trust only creates and redeems Shares for cash, which introduces the possibility of “slippage”—where the Trust might pay a higher price for bitcoin than the value indicated by the BRRNY. While transactions in any asset are subject to the risk of slippage, it is possible that transactions in digital assets may be more susceptible. The Trust seeks to minimize the risk of slippage by basing the amount of cash an Authorized Participant is required to deposit to consummate a creation order for Baskets on the price the Trust actually paid for the bitcoin rather than on the value of bitcoin ascribed by the BRRNY. Nonetheless, there can be no guarantee that the Trust will not be adversely affected by slippage from time to time. This use of cash for creations and redemptions also limits the tax efficiency of the Trust and incurs transaction costs it would not otherwise have incurred if it received and distributed bitcoin in-kind and was not required to purchase and sell bitcoin in connection with creation and redemption orders.
If the Trust were to transition to creating and redeeming Shares in exchange for bitcoin, it would first need to seek certain regulatory approvals, including an amendment to the Exchange’s listing rules and an amendment to the Trust’s Registration Statement. There can be no guarantee that the Trust will be successful in obtaining such regulatory approvals, and the timing of any such approvals is unknown. If the Trust is successful in obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to allow for creations and redemptions in kind, the Trust will notify Shareholders through a current report on Form 8-K or in its annual or quarterly reports.
Buying and selling activity from Basket purchases and redemptions, along with potential suspension or rejection of purchase or redemption orders, may adversely affect the liquidity and the value of an investment in the Shares.
The Trust’s activities related to the purchase and redemption of Baskets may significantly impact the market price of bitcoin and, consequently, the value of the Shares. There is no limit on the number of bitcoin the Trust may acquire other than the overall limit on the number of bitcoin in existence established by the original bitcoin protocol and any limitations on the number of Shares registered by the Trust. The Sponsor’s purchase of bitcoin in connection with Basket creation and purchase
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orders may cause the price of bitcoin to increase, which will result in higher prices for the Shares. Increases in the bitcoin prices may also occur as a result of bitcoin purchases by other market participants who attempt to benefit from an increase in the market price of bitcoin when Baskets are created, potentially causing the market price of bitcoin to decline immediately after Baskets are created.
Conversely, when the Sponsor sells bitcoin in connection with Basket redemption orders, this activity may decrease the bitcoin prices, which will result in lower prices for the Shares. This selling pressure could be amplified by other market participants selling bitcoin, further impacting its price. In addition, other exchange-traded products or large private investment vehicles with similar investment objectives, if developed, could represent a substantial portion of demand for bitcoin at any given time. The sales and purchases by such investment vehicles may impact the price of bitcoin. Any decline in the price of bitcoin due to these market dynamics will generally result in a corresponding decline in the trading price of the Shares and adversely affect an overall return on the Shares.
Investors may also be adversely affected if purchase or redemption orders are postponed, suspended, or rejected under certain circumstances. The Trust may, in its discretion, suspend the right to purchase or redeem or postpone settlement dates in specific situations, such as (i) when the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted, (ii) during emergencies that make fulfillment of a purchase order or the redemption distribution impracticable (e.g., as a result of an interruption in services or availability of the Prime Execution Agent, Bitcoin Custodian, Cash Custodian, Administrator, or other service providers to the Trust, act of God, catastrophe, civil disturbance, government prohibition, war, terrorism, strike or other labor dispute, fire, force majeure, interruption in telecommunications, internet services, or network provider services, unavailability of Fedwire, SWIFT or banks’ payment processes, significant technical failure, bug, error, disruption or fork of the Bitcoin network, hacking, cybersecurity breach, Bitcoin network outage, or similar event), or (iii) when necessary to protect Shareholders (e.g., where acceptance of the U.S. dollars needed to create each Basket would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Trust or its Shareholders). In addition, the Trust may reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Authorized Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order might be unlawful.
Any such postponement, suspension or rejection could adversely impact a redeeming Authorized Participant and affect how the Shares are traded and arbitraged in the secondary market, which could cause Shares to trade at premiums or discounts that are materially different from the value of their underlying bitcoin. This could adversely affect the liquidity of Shares and the value of an investment in the Shares.
Arbitrage transactions intended to align the price of Shares with the actual price of bitcoin may be disrupted if the process for the creation, purchase and redemption of Baskets encounters difficulties, which may adversely affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
Arbitrage transactions are designed to keep the price of the Shares closely aligned with the price of bitcoin. However, if the processes of creation and redemption of Shares, which depend on timely transfers of bitcoin to and by the Bitcoin Custodian, encounter any unanticipated difficulties, it could adversely affect these arbitrage opportunities. Such difficulties may arise due to factors such as the price volatility of bitcoin, the insolvency, business failure or interruption, default, failure to perform, security breach, or other problems affecting the Prime Execution Agent or Bitcoin Custodian, the closure of bitcoin trading platforms due to fraud, failures, or security breaches.
Additionally, network outages or congestion, spikes in transaction fees demanded by miners, or other problems or disruptions affecting the Bitcoin network, could impede the processing of transactions. This may prevent Bitcoin Trading Counterparties from depositing or withdrawing bitcoin from their custody accounts, subsequently impacting the creation or redemption of Baskets. If these processes are disrupted, potential market participants, such as the Authorized Participants and their customers, may be deterred from engaging in arbitrage transactions due to the risk that they may not realize their expected profits.
In cases where the Bitcoin network encounters outages or other issuers, the liquidity of the Shares may decline and the price of the Shares may fluctuate independently of the price of bitcoin. This could result in the Shares trading at a premium or discount to their NAV. Furthermore, in the event that the market for bitcoin becomes relatively illiquid and thereby materially limiting opportunities for arbitraging by delivering bitcoin in return for Baskets, the price of Shares may diverge from the value of underlying bitcoin, potentially leading to adverse effects on an investment in the Shares.
Shareholders do not have statutory shareholder rights, and amendments to the Trust Agreement or Sponsor Agreement may occur without shareholder consent, potentially imposing new fees or altering shareholder rights.
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Shareholders are not entitled to the statutory rights typically associated with ownership of corporate shares. By acquiring Shares, investors take no part in the management or control of the Trust and have no voice in its operations or business, except as required under applicable federal law or the rules and regulations of the Exchange. Investors do not have the right to elect directors, receive dividends, vote on matters related to the issuance of Shares, or participate in other actions typically afforded to corporate shareholders. The Trust may conduct stock splits or reverse splits without shareholder approval and will not hold regular shareholder meetings. The shareholder rights are limited to those described under “A Description of Registrant's Securities” included as Exhibit 4.1 to this Annual Report.
Additionally, the Sponsor and the Trustee have the authority to amend the Trust Agreement or Sponsor Agreement without Shareholder consent. The Sponsor determines the method and content of any notice regarding such amendments, which may be provided on the Trust’s website, through a current report on Form 8-K and/or in the Trust’s annual or quarterly reports.
If an amendment to the Trust Agreement or Sponsor Agreement imposes new fees and charges or increases existing fees or charges, including the Sponsor Fee (except for taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees or other such expenses), or adversely affects a substantial right of Shareholders, it will become effective 30 days after notice of such amendment is provided to registered owners of outstanding Shares. Since most Shareholders are not registered owners, they may not receive specific notice of fee increases other than through information available on the Trust’s website or the SEC filings made by the Trust.
By continuing to hold Shares after an amendment becomes effective, Shareholders are deemed to agree to and be bound by the Trust Agreement and Sponsor Agreement as amended, regardless of whether they have explicitly agreed to the changes. These limitations on Shareholder rights and the ability of the Sponsor and Trustee to modify agreements without direct consent could result in changes to the Trust that impose additional fees or impact the investment in ways that Shareholders may not anticipate.
The Trust may face challenges in consistently achieving its investment objective due to various factors including operational limitations, management experience, and asset concentration risks.
There is no guarantee that the Trust will consistently achieve its investment objective. Several factors could impede its ability to meet this objective, including:
Additionally, the Sponsor and its management have limited experience in managing a bitcoin exchange-traded product, a novel type of investment vehicle. The Sponsor is not registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or as a commodity pool operator or commodity trading adviser under the Commodity Exchange Act. This lack of a track record may impact the Sponsor’s ability to effectively manage the Trust, potentially leading to operational issues.
Furthermore, the Trust’s investment strategy is highly concentrated in a single asset class: bitcoin. Unlike diversified funds, this concentration increases the Trust’s exposure to market risks associated with bitcoin. As a result, any decline in the value of bitcoin is expected to directly reduce the value of the Trust without the benefit of diversification to offset potential losses.
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Given these factors, the Trust may encounter difficulties in consistently achieving its investment objective, which could adversely affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
The Trust’s operations rely heavily on the Sponsor, whose limited staffing, potential discontinuance, and conflicts of interest could adversely impact the Trust’s management and stability and the value of the Shares.
The Trust relies heavily on the Sponsor’s management and key personnel for its operations. As the Sponsor is leanly staffed, any departure or unavailability of key personnel could significantly disrupt the Trust’s operations and adversely affect the Sponsor’s ability to effectively manage the Trust. These key individuals allocate their time and resources across multiple responsibilities, and if their attention is diverted or if they are unable to perform their duties, the overall management of the Trust could be adversely affected. Furthermore, investors cannot be assured that the Sponsor will be able to continue servicing the Trust indefinitely. If the Sponsor discontinues its services, whether due to unwillingness or inability, the Trust could be negatively impacted. In such an event, a substitute Sponsor may be appointed; however, there is no guarantee that a replacement will ensure the continued smooth operation of the Trust. Even if a new Sponsor is found, it may not prove beneficial to the Trust or an investment in the Shares, potentially leading to the termination of the Trust.
Additionally, conflicts of interest may arise between the Sponsor, its affiliates, and the Trust. In resolving conflicts of interest, the Sponsor is allowed to take into account the interests of other parties. Conflicts of interest may arise as a result of:
By investing in the Shares, investors agree and consent to the provisions set forth in the Trust Agreement. For a further discussion of the conflicts of interest among the Sponsor, the Trust and others, see Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence of this Annual Report.
Given the integral role of the Sponsor, any change in its personnel, service capabilities, or willingness to continue as sponsor could have material adverse effects on the Trust’s operations, potentially leading to its liquidation and the subsequent decline in the value of the Shares.
The market for the Shares relies heavily on active participation from Authorized Participants, and any reduction or disruption in their activities could adversely affect the liquidity and price of the Shares.
The Trust’s reliance on a limited number of Authorized Participants to facilitate the creation and redemption of Shares is critical to maintaining an active and efficient trading market. If one (1) or more Authorized Participants or market makers with significant interests in the Shares reduce or withdraw their participation, it could diminish the liquidity of the Shares and potentially result in a decline in their market price, leading to a divergence from the NAV and causing investors to incur losses.
The inherent volatility of bitcoin and the stability of the underlying digital asset trading platforms further complicate this dynamic. Bitcoin trades on multiple digital asset platforms that are not regulated like traditional exchanges, which may experience frequent technical disruptions, security incidents, or regulatory actions. Such issues could impair the ability of Authorized Participants to engage in arbitrage and manage liquidity effectively. In a highly volatile market or in the event of
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platform disruptions, maintaining continuous liquidity could become particularly challenging for Authorized Participants, causing trading in the Shares to deviate significantly from their NAV.
Additionally, many of the Trust’s Authorized Participants are involved in competing exchange-traded bitcoin products. This overlapping involvement may lead to reduced focus or conflicts of interest, making it more difficult for the Trust to retain or engage these critical market participants. Because Authorized Participants are not contractually obligated to create or redeem Shares, a decision by multiple Authorized Participants to limit or cease their activities could lead to a material reduction in the liquidity of the Shares. Consequently, trading in the Shares could occur at sustained premiums or discounts relative to the NAV, potentially resulting in unfavorable pricing and increased volatility for investors.
Moreover, Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants must buy or sell their Shares in secondary markets, where prices may be significantly impacted by the limited participation of Authorized Participants. If secondary market conditions are adversely affected by a lack of Authorized Participant involvement, it could further impair the value of the Shares and hinder investors’ ability to transact at prices that reflect the true value of the underlying bitcoin holdings. Thus, disruptions or limitations in Authorized Participants’ activities could have a broad and adverse effect on the Trust’s ability to achieve its investment objectives, resulting in a reduction in the value of the Shares.
The inability of Authorized Participants and market makers to hedge their bitcoin exposure may adversely affect the liquidity of Shares and the value of an investment in the Shares.
Authorized Participants and market makers generally want to hedge their exposure in connection with Basket purchase and redemption orders to manage risk. To the extent Authorized Participants and market makers are unable to efficiently hedge their exposure due to market conditions – such as insufficient bitcoin liquidity in the market, inability to locate an appropriate hedge counterparty, extreme volatility in the price of bitcoin, wide spreads across bitcoin trading platforms, or the closure of bitcoin trading platforms due to fraud, failures, security breaches or other failures - this could lead to a reduction in their ability to purchase or redeem Baskets. These conditions could also disrupt liquidity and adversely affect the trading price of the Shares.
In addition, the hedging mechanisms employed by Authorized Participants and market makers, such as futures contracts, to hedge their exposure to bitcoin may not always function as intended during periods of market stress. For example, the bitcoin futures market, although growing, has a limited history and may be less liquid, more volatile, and more susceptible to rapid market fluctuations compared to more established futures markets. Inability to hedge through futures due to liquidity constraints or regulatory changes may further impede the ability of Authorized Participants to manage their exposure, potentially reducing liquidity in the Shares and increasing price volatility.
The reduced ability of Authorized Participants to hedge may result in wider spreads and increased volatility in the price of the Shares, especially during periods of significant market disruption. This could lead to unfavorable execution prices, increasing the risk that investors may not be able to buy or sell Shares at desired prices, potentially causing financial losses. Given the interdependencies between bitcoin liquidity, market hedging strategies, and the ability of market participants to execute trades, disruptions in any part of the cryptocurrency ecosystem may increase risks for investors and adversely affect the liquidity of Shares and the value of an investment in the Shares.
Security threats and cyber-attacks could result in the halting of Trust operations, a loss of Trust assets or damage to the reputation of the Trust, each of which could result in a reduction in the price of the Shares.
Security breaches, cyber-attacks, and hacking have become persistent concerns in the realm of digital assets, particularly due to the pseudonymous nature of the Bitcoin blockchain, which can make thefts difficult to trace and recover. Bitcoin and other digital assets have been targets of numerous thefts in the past, making them attractive for malicious actors. Cybersecurity failures at any of the Trust’s service providers—including, but not limited to, the Transfer Agent, Marketing Agent, Administrator, Cash Custodian, and Bitcoin Custodian—could cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs.
The Trust’s reliance on internet-based technology and information systems, such as mobile devices and cloud-based services, exposes it to additional risks linked to cyber-security breaches of those technological or information systems. As the Trust’s assets grow, they are likely to become an increasingly appealing target for hackers and malware distributors. The Trust’s bitcoin held in its Bitcoin Custodian or Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent is particularly vulnerable to theft, damage, or destruction from such attacks. Although the Bitcoin Custodian and Prime Execution Agent use multiple means
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and layers of security, such as hardware redundancy, segregation and offline data storage (i.e., the maintenance of data on computers and/or storage media that is not directly connected to or accessible from the internet and/or networked with other computers, also known as “cold storage”) protocols, multiple encrypted private key “shards,” and other measures, to minimize the risk of loss, damage and theft, neither the Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent nor the Sponsor can guarantee that such security will prevent such loss, damage or theft, whether caused intentionally, accidentally or by act of God.
Despite continuous monitoring and efforts to enhance risk management procedures, the evolving and sophisticated nature of cybersecurity threats means that neither the Sponsor, Bitcoin Custodian, nor Prime Execution Agent can fully anticipate all potential risks. Technological changes, unforeseen software vulnerabilities, or natural disasters could lead to breaches, resulting in the unauthorized access to the Trust’s bitcoin holdings or sensitive information. In addition, the Sponsor does not control the Bitcoin Custodian’s or Prime Execution Agent’s operations or implementation of such security procedures and there can be no assurance that such security procedures will actually work as designed or prove to be successful in safeguarding the Trust’s assets against all possible sources of theft, loss or damage. Service providers may have limited indemnification obligations, further increasing the Trust’s vulnerability to such risks. Additionally, assets held in trading accounts rather than cold storage are particularly exposed, especially when those assets are pooled in omnibus accounts, including the Trust’s Trading Balance at the Prime Execution Agent, raising the risk of significant loss.
The security procedures and operational infrastructure may be breached due to the actions of outside parties, error or malfeasance of an employee of the Sponsor, Prime Execution Agent, Bitcoin Custodian, or otherwise, and, as a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to the Trust Bitcoin Account with the Bitcoin Custodian or the Trust’s Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent, the private keys (and therefore bitcoin) or other data of the Trust. Additionally, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees of the Sponsor, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent or the Trust’s other service providers to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to the Trust’s infrastructure. As the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently, or may be designed to remain dormant until a predetermined event and often are not recognized until launched against a target, the Sponsor, Bitcoin Custodian or Prime Execution Agent may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures.
Even with the Sponsor’s belief in the Trust’s security protocols, there remains no guarantee that these defenses can prevent every possible form of attack. Losses from security breaches or other cyberattacks could lead to a reduction in the Trust’s assets, impair its operations, and damage its reputation. Moreover, any actual or perceived breach of the Trust Bitcoin Account with the Bitcoin Custodian or the Trust’s Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent could diminish investor confidence, resulting in reduced demand for Shares, and thereby driving down their price. Should a security breach lead to the total or partial loss of the Trust’s bitcoin, the market value of the Shares could decline, potentially resulting in a significant devaluation of investor holdings. Additionally, if the Trust is forced to cease operations, the corresponding loss in value could further reduce the price of the Shares, amplifying investor losses.
If the Trust’s holdings of bitcoin are lost, stolen or destroyed under circumstances rendering a party liable to the Trust, the responsible party may not have the financial resources sufficient to satisfy the Trust’s claim. For example, as to a particular event of loss, the only source of recovery for the Trust may be limited to the relevant custodian or, to the extent identifiable, other responsible third parties (for example, a thief or terrorist), any of which may not have the financial resources (including liability insurance coverage) to satisfy a valid claim of the Trust. Similarly, the Bitcoin Custodian and Prime Execution Agent have limited liability to the Trust, which could adversely affect the Trust’s ability to seek recovery from them, leaving investors to bear the brunt of any financial damages, even when the Bitcoin Custodian’s or Prime Execution Agent’s actions or failure to act are the cause of the Trust’s loss. Furthermore, the Trust may not be able to secure insurance policies that would cover such losses due to either the lack of availability or the prohibitive cost. If an uninsured loss occurs or a loss exceeds policy limits, the Trust could lose all of its assets, causing a substantial reduction in the value of the Shares.
Competitive pressures on the development and commercialization of the Trust could adversely affect the liquidity, pricing, and overall value of an investment in the Shares.
The Trust and the Sponsor face competition with respect to the creation of competing exchange-traded bitcoin products. The SEC has approved several bitcoin futures-based ETFs and spot bitcoin ETFs, including the Trust. The Sponsor’s competitors may have greater financial, technical and human resources than the Sponsor. These competitors may also compete with the Sponsor in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be effective competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. The Trust’s competitors may also charge a substantially lower fee than the Sponsor’s Fee to achieve initial market acceptance and scale. Accordingly, the Sponsor’s competitors may commercialize a competing product more rapidly or effectively than the Sponsor is able to,
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which could adversely affect the Sponsor’s competitive position, reduce demand for the Shares, and impact the Trust’s ability to sustain operations. If the Trust fails to achieve sufficient scale due to competition, the Sponsor may have difficulty raising sufficient revenue to cover the costs associated with launching and maintaining the Trust, which could impact the Sponsor’s ability to continue investing in effective ongoing operations and risk controls to minimize the potential operating failures, errors, or losses for Shareholders. The Trust may also fail to attract adequate liquidity in the secondary market due to such competition, resulting in a low number of Authorized Participants willing to make a market in the Shares. This could lead to significant premiums or discounts in the Shares for extended periods and cause the Trust to fail to reflect the performance of the price of bitcoin.
In addition, investors may invest in bitcoin through means other than the Trust, including through direct investments in bitcoin and other potential financial vehicles, possibly including securities backed by or linked to bitcoin, digital asset financial vehicles similar to the Trust, or bitcoin futures-based products. Market and financial conditions, as well as increased competition from alternative investment vehicles and other conditions beyond the Sponsor’s control, may make it more attractive to invest in other financial vehicles or to invest in bitcoin directly, which could limit the market for and reduce the liquidity of the Shares. In addition, to the extent digital asset financial vehicles other than the Trust tracking the price of bitcoin are formed and represent a significant proportion of the demand for bitcoin, large purchases or redemptions of the securities of these digital asset financial vehicles, or private funds holding bitcoin, could negatively affect the BRRNY, the Trust’s bitcoin holdings, the price of the Shares, and the NAV of the Trust.
To the extent that the Trust incurs transaction expenses in connection with the creation and redemption process, litigation expenses, indemnification obligations under the Trust’s service provider agreements and other extraordinary expenses that are not borne by the Sponsor, such expenses will be borne by the Trust. To the extent that the Trust fails to attract a sufficiently large amount of investors, the effect of such expenses on the value of the Shares may be significantly greater than would be the case if the Trust had attracted more assets.
The lack of active trading markets for the Shares may result in losses on investors’ investments at the time of disposition of Shares.
Although Shares are publicly listed and traded on the Exchange, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market for the Trust will develop or be maintained. This lack of liquidity can pose a significant risk to investors and delay the execution of trades, particularly during market volatility or when trading volumes are low. If investors need to sell their Shares at a time when no active market for them exists, they might have to do so at a lower price than they would in a more liquid market. The inability to quickly and efficiently sell Shares can lead to greater losses, especially during periods of market stress when price fluctuations are more pronounced.
If the Trust fails to achieve sufficient scale, the Sponsor may have difficulty raising sufficient revenue to cover the costs associated with launching and maintaining the Trust, and such shortfalls could impact the Sponsor’s ability to properly invest in robust ongoing operations and controls of the Trust to minimize the risk of operating events, errors, or other forms of losses to the Shareholders.
Additionally, the Trust can face liquidity issues on both the secondary market, where investors trade the Shares, and the primary market, where Authorized Participants create and redeem Baskets. A sub-standard number of Authorized Participants willing to make a market in the Shares could result in a significant premium or discount to NAV, preventing the Shares from accurately reflecting the price performance of bitcoin. The liquidity of bitcoin as the underlying asset also affects the overall liquidity of the Shares. If bitcoin itself experiences low liquidity or market disruptions, it could make it more difficult to execute trades at desirable prices, further impacting the value of the Shares.
These potential liquidity challenges, combined with the inherent volatility of bitcoin and its limited trading history compared to traditional financial assets, could make it difficult for investors to fully realize the value of their investments in the Trust at the time of disposition.
Gradual decline in bitcoin holdings per Share over time may lead to divergence from bitcoin’s market price and lower returns on investment in the Trust.
The amount of bitcoin represented by a Share will continue to be reduced during the life of the Trust due to the transfer of the Trust’s bitcoin to pay the Sponsor Fee and to pay for extraordinary, non-recurring expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. This reduction will occur irrespective of whether the trading price of the Shares rises or falls, as it is an inherent feature of the Trust’s structure. In the very rare event that Trade Credits are utilized in connection with the payment of Trust
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expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, any interest payable on the Trade Credits will be borne by the Trust, further diminishing the bitcoin holdings.
Each outstanding Share represents a unit of undivided beneficial ownership of the Trust, which does not generate any income. Since the Trust regularly transfers bitcoin to pay the Sponsor Fee and extraordinary, non-recurring expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, the amount of bitcoin represented by each Share will gradually decline over time. This decrease happens even with Shares issued in exchange for additional deposits of bitcoin or cash used to acquire bitcoin over time, as the amount of bitcoin required to create Share will be adjusted to match the current proportion of bitcoin per Share outstanding.
This gradual reduction in bitcoin per Share can lead to a divergence between the price of the Shares and the actual market price of bitcoin, potentially adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Shares. In the long term, the compounded effect of reduced bitcoin holdings per Share could result in the Shares underperforming relative to direct bitcoin investments. Furthermore, this effect could be exacerbated by the additional transaction costs and network fees that may be incurred when managing the Trust’s bitcoin holdings.
Therefore, holding Shares in the Trust may not perfectly track the performance of bitcoin itself, and over time, the diminishing bitcoin per Share is likely to erode the value of the Shares relative to direct bitcoin holdings, which would adversely affect the overall return on an investment in the Trust.
Extraordinary expenses resulting from unanticipated events may become payable by the Trust, potentially reducing the NAV and adversely affecting an investment in the Shares.
The Sponsor agrees to pay the Trust’s normal operating expenses in exchange for the Sponsor Fee, which include the Trustee’s monthly fee, service provider fees, Exchange listing fees, tax reporting fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees, and up to $500,000 per annum in ordinary legal fees and expenses. The Sponsor may choose to assume legal fees exceeding this amount at its discretion and will also cover the Trust’s organizational costs. See the section entitled “Fees and Expenses” under Item 1 – Business of this Annual Report for more details.
The Trust may also incur extraordinary, non-recurring expenses that are not assumed by the Sponsor, including but not limited to, taxes and governmental charges, any applicable brokerage commissions, financing fees, Bitcoin network fees and similar transaction fees, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Sponsor (or any other service provider) on behalf of the Trust to protect the Trust or the Shareholders (including, for example, in connection with any fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, any Incidental Rights and any IR Asset), and extraordinary legal fees and expenses, such as those arising from litigation, regulatory enforcement or investigation matters. Under the Trust Agreement and agreements with service providers, including the Trustee, Administrator, Transfer Agent, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, Cash Custodian, and Sponsor, these parties have a right to be indemnified by the Trust for any liability or expense it incurs, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part, which could necessitate the sale of Trust assets to cover these costs.
The incurrence of such extraordinary expenses would reduce the net assets of the Trust and its NAV, potentially adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Shares. This reduction could diminish the returns for Shareholders and lead to a lower trading price for the Shares.
The Trust’s operations and value of the Shares could be adversely affected by the reliance on the security, stability, and performance of service providers, which may be subject to operational failures, conflicts of interest, and regulatory actions, leading to potential losses of the Shareholders.
The Trust relies heavily on critical service providers such as the Bitcoin Custodian, Cash Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, and other intermediaries, whose stability and effective operations are essential to the Trust’s functionality and the safekeeping of its assets. The Trust’s reliance on Coinbase Custody for the custody of its bitcoin and on BNY Mellon as the Cash Custodian for cash holdings exposes it to unique risks related to digital asset security, operational disruptions, and the potential insolvency or business failure of these providers. As of the date hereof, Coinbase Global, Inc. (“Coinbase Global”), the parent company of both the Bitcoin Custodian and Prime Execution Agent, is the largest publicly traded digital asset company in the world by market capitalization and is also the largest digital asset custodian in the world by assets under custody. By virtue of its leading market position and capabilities, and the relatively limited number of institutionally capable providers of digital asset brokerage and custody services, the Bitcoin Custodian serves as the bitcoin custodian and the Prime Execution Agent serves as the prime broker for several competing exchange-traded bitcoin products. Given Coinbase Global’s considerable size and market share, a failure to adequately allocate resources to support all such products that use its services, including the Trust, could create operational disruptions and potential conflicts of interest. For example, if the
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Trust needed to utilize the Agent Execution Model to buy or sell bitcoin because no Bitcoin Trading Counterparties were willing or able to effectuate the Trust’s transactions, and the Prime Execution Agent were to favor the interests of certain products over others, it could result in inadequate attention or comparatively unfavorable commercial terms to less favored products, which could adversely affect the Trust’s operations and ultimately the value of the Shares.
On March 22, 2023, the Prime Execution Agent and Coinbase Global (collectively, the “Relevant Coinbase Entities”), received a “Wells Notice” from the SEC, indicating a preliminary determination to pursue enforcement action for alleged violations of federal securities laws. On June 6, 2023, the SEC filed a complaint in federal court against the Relevant Coinbase Entities, alleging violations under the 1934 Act and the 1933 Act. Since then, the legal battle has intensified, with both parties making arguments in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. As of February 2025, the SEC has formally dismissed its lawsuit against the Relevant Coinbase Entities following its establishment of a Crypto Task Force in January 2025 aimed at developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. The dismissal marks a shift in the SEC’s enforcement approach, moving toward a more structured and transparent regulatory policy. While the litigation previously created uncertainty regarding the regulatory treatment of digital asset platforms, its resolution reduces immediate legal risks for the Relevant Coinbase Entities and the broader industry. While the Bitcoin Custodian has not been directly named in the litigation, the resolution of this litigation mitigates potential uncertainties regarding the Trust’s operational stability and its ability to maintain its assets. However, the evolving regulatory landscape for digital assets remains subject to change, and any future enforcement actions or regulatory developments could impact the Trust’s ability to operate effectively and maintain its assets, which would adversely affect the value of an investment in the Shares.
Moreover, the complex nature of transferring the Trust’s assets to a new custodian or prime broker in the event of insolvency, business failure, or interruption, default, failure to perform, security breach or other problems of the Bitcoin Custodian or Cash Custodian would present significant challenges. The Sponsor could decide to replace Coinbase Custody pursuant to the Bitcoin Custody Agreement. Similarly, Coinbase Custody or Coinbase Inc. could terminate services under the Bitcoin Custody Agreement or the Prime Execution Agreement respectively upon providing the applicable notice to the Trust for any reason, or immediately for Cause (as defined in the applicable agreement). During any such transfer, the Trust’s bitcoin and cash could be at risk of loss or mismanagement, negatively affecting the Trust’s performance and potentially resulting in the loss of a substantial portion of the Trust’s assets. In addition, Coinbase Inc. does not guarantee uninterrupted access to its trading platform or the services it provides to the Trust as Prime Execution Agent. Under certain circumstances, Coinbase Inc. is permitted to halt or suspend trading on its trading platform, or impose limits on the amount or size of, or reject, the Trust’s orders, including in the event of, among others, (i) delays, suspension of operations, failure in performance, or interruption of service that are directly due to a cause or condition beyond the reasonable control of Coinbase Inc, (ii) the Trust has engaged in unlawful or abusive activities or fraud, (iii) the acceptance of the Trust’s order would cause the amount of Trade Credits extended to exceed the maximum amount of Trade Credit that the Trust’s agreement with the Trade Credit Lender permits to be outstanding at any one time, or (iv) a security or technology issue occurred and is continuing that results in Coinbase Inc. being unable to provide trading services or accept the Trust’s order, in each case, subject to certain protections for the Trust. Additionally, any delays in locating a suitable replacement for the Bitcoin Custodian or Cash Custodian, as applicable, could force the Sponsor to terminate the Trust and liquidate its bitcoin holdings, which would disrupt operations and harm Shareholders. Even if a new custodian is found, the need to negotiate new bitcoin custody agreement or cash custody agreement could result in higher operational costs, which would reduce the NAV of the Trust and adversely affect the value of the Shares.
The Trust’s dependency on the Bitcoin Custodian is compounded by the inherent and unique risks associated with digital asset custody, such as exposure to cyber threats, loss, theft, and the potential for significant delays in accessing assets in the event of an insolvency. Because the Bitcoin Custodian is not a depository institution and is not insured by the FDIC, its insolvency or that of any broker, custodian bank or clearing corporation it uses could result in the loss of all or a substantial portion of the Trust’s assets or in a significant delay in the Trust having access to those assets.
The lack of strong indemnification obligations from service providers, combined with the vulnerabilities in digital asset custody and the possibility of operational failures, could lead to severe losses for the Trust. If the security procedures of the Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, or Cash Custodian are breached or prove inadequate, the Trust’s bitcoin or cash could be exposed to loss, damage, or theft. Furthermore, because assets held in a trading account are pooled on an omnibus basis rather than segregated, they are more susceptible to security breaches and may not receive the same level of protection as assets held in cold storage, increasing the risk of loss. Should any of these risks materialize, it could reduce demand for the Shares, harm the Trust’s reputation, and result in a significant decline in the value of the Shares.
The Trust may be required, or the Sponsor may deem it appropriate, to terminate and liquidate at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders.
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If the Trust is required to terminate and liquidate, or the Sponsor determines in accordance with the Trust Agreement that it’s appropriate to terminate and liquidate the Trust, such termination and liquidation could occur at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders, such as when the price of bitcoin is lower than it was at the time when Shareholders purchased their Shares. In such a case, when the Trust’s bitcoin is sold as part of the Trust’s liquidation, the resulting proceeds distributed to Shareholders will be less than if the price of bitcoin were higher at the time of sale. Investors may be adversely affected by redemption or creation orders that are subject to postponement, suspension or rejection under certain circumstances.
Regulatory Risk
As a public company, the Trust’s compliance with public reporting obligations and exchange listing standards imposes significant costs and operational challenges, and failure to meet these standards could adversely affect the market price and liquidity of the Shares.
As a public company, the Trust incurs significant legal, accounting, and other expenses. The Trust is subject to reporting requirements of the 1934 Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, the rules and regulations of the listing standards of the Exchange and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Stockholder activism, the current political and social environment, and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which will likely result in additional compliance costs and could impact the manner in which the Trust operates its business in ways it cannot currently anticipate.
Compliance with these rules and regulations may demand significant time and effort from the Sponsor’s management and personnel, potentially diverting attention away from day-to-day operational activities. This increased focus on compliance could also place considerable strain on the Trust’s financial and management systems, internal controls, and workforce. If the Trust fails to comply with these regulatory requirements or meet the Exchange's continued listing standards, which include maintaining a minimum per-share bid price, market capitalization, net tangible assets, and public float, the Shares may no longer be permitted to trade on the Exchange, resulting in adverse consequences for the Shareholders, including limited availability of market quotations and reduced liquidity for the Shares.
The Trust is not a registered investment company and is not subject to the Commodity Exchange Act, which limits Shareholder protections and may increase the Trust’s exposure to unregulated risks.
The Trust is not a registered investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”). Consequently, Shareholders of the Trust do not have the regulatory protections provided to Shareholders in registered and regulated investment companies, which, for example, require investment companies to have a certain percentage of disinterested directors and regulate the relationship between the investment company and certain of its affiliates. Further, the Trust will not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts regulated by the Commodity Exchange Act, as administered by the CFTC. The Trust will not engage in “retail commodity transactions” — any bitcoin transaction entered into on a leveraged, margined or financed basis. Such transactions are deemed to be commodity futures under the Commodity Exchange Act and subject to CFTC jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Sponsor believes that the Trust is not a commodity pool for purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act. Consequently, Shareholders will not have the regulatory protections provided to Shareholders in Commodity Exchange Act-regulated instruments or commodity pools.
Trading on digital asset trading platforms outside the U.S. may be less reliable than U.S. trading platforms and expose investors to higher risks, which may adversely affect the performance of the Trust and the value of Shares.
To the extent any of the Trust’s trading is conducted on digital asset trading platforms outside the U.S., such trading is not regulated by any U.S. governmental agency and may involve unique risks that are not present on U.S. trading platforms. Foreign digital asset markets are often subject to weaker oversight, lack comprehensive investor protection frameworks, and may be more susceptible to sudden regulatory changes, manipulation, and operational disruptions. Global regulatory bodies like the European Union and Asian regulators have been tightening their rules, but enforcement and compliance standards still vary widely across jurisdictions, adding to the risk of trading on these platforms. Additionally, regulatory frameworks in foreign countries may differ significantly from U.S. standards, offering fewer investor protections and making it more difficult to resolve disputes or recover assets in the event of market failures. Exchange closures, hacking incidents, or changes in foreign regulations could adversely impact the Trust’s ability to trade or safeguard its assets. These factors could negatively affect the performance of the Trust and the value of the Shares.
As bitcoin and the digital asset ecosystem have expanded, they have attracted increasing regulatory attention from U.S. regulators, and evolving regulatory frameworks may impact bitcoin’s classification and treatment. These developments
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could significantly influence the Trust’s compliance requirements, valuation strategies, result in extraordinary expenses, and substantially impact the value of the Shares.
The regulatory landscape for digital assets in the U.S. is complex and evolving, with multiple federal and state agencies actively overseeing various aspects of their use, trading, and compliance obligations. These agencies include, but are not limited to, the SEC, the CFTC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board, the U.S. Treasury Department, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, the DOJ and various state financial regulators and state Attorneys General.
The jurisdiction of federal and state regulators over bitcoin depends on its classification. Bitcoin may be deemed “securities,” “commodities,” “virtual currencies,” or another asset type. Each classification can trigger different regulatory frameworks and oversight responsibilities. Bitcoin could be classified by the SEC as a “security” under U.S. federal securities laws, depending on its use and the circumstances surrounding specific transactions. Bitcoin may also be classified by the CFTC as a “commodity interest” under the Commodity Exchange Act, or by state regulators as a form of virtual currency subject to state money transmission laws. Although U.S. courts have ruled in some circumstances that Bitcoin is a commodity, no comprehensive federal court ruling conclusively establishes that bitcoin or any other digital asset is a security, commodity, or other form of asset under all circumstances.
In recent years, the SEC has increased enforcement actions and investigations in the crypto sector, targeting entities it deems in violation of securities laws. This includes actions against platforms such as Kraken for offering unregistered securities and staking services, as well as investigations into certain digital asset platforms and service providers. In 2025, the SEC dismissed a number of pending civil enforcement actions involving major crypto market participants, including Coinbase. The SEC also proposed, adopted, or withdrew several rules and issued multiple staff statements and other staff guidance in 2025 that could significantly impact the digital asset industry. The SEC also raised concerns about compliance and market oversight of digital assets, and emphasized retail investor protection and market integrity as key priorities. These regulatory actions and heightened scrutiny extend to emerging areas such as DeFi protocols, creating additional legal challenges and market uncertainty.
However, recent SEC developments indicate possible shifts in its regulatory approach, although the SEC’s long-term direction remains uncertain. The SEC approved multiple spot Bitcoin ETFs for the first time in January 2024 followed by the approval of multiple spot Ethereum ETFs in July 2024, including the Bitwise trusts holding bitcoin and ether. These approvals do not constitute a binding determination of the legal classification of bitcoin or ether under the federal securities laws or the Commodity Exchange Act for all purposes. More recently, the SEC, among other things: (i) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 122 on January 23, 2025, which rescinded Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121; (ii) announced the formation of a Crypto Task Force on January 21, 2025; (iii) issued multiple staff statements in 2025 addressing, among other things, certain protocol staking activities and disclosure practices for crypto asset ETPs; and (iv) approved orders and exchange rule changes in 2025 affecting crypto asset ETP operations (including permitting in-kind creations and redemptions for certain bitcoin- and ether-based crypto asset ETPs and adopting generic listing standards for commodity-based trust shares). That said, any permanent regulatory shift remains uncertain at this time, and there is no assurance a more favorable U.S. regulatory environment will emerge at the federal or state levels. Any adverse regulatory developments or enforcement actions could negatively impact the value of these assets and related products, including the Trust.
The SEC has also regularly stated that certain digital assets may be considered “securities” under federal securities laws, and this classification can have significant implications for digital assets, including bitcoin. The legal test for determining whether any given crypto asset, product, or service is an investment contract security was set forth in the 1946 Supreme Court case SEC v. W.J. Howey Co. and whether any given crypto asset, product, or service is a note in the 1990 Supreme Court case Reves v. Ernst & Young. The legal tests for determining whether any given crypto asset, product, or service is a security requires a highly complex, fact-driven analysis. Accordingly, whether any given crypto asset, product or service would be ultimately deemed by a federal court to be a security is uncertain and difficult to predict notwithstanding the conclusions of the SEC or any conclusions the Trust may draw regarding the likelihood that a particular crypto asset, product or service could be deemed a “security” or “securities offering” under applicable laws. Certain statements by SEC officials have suggested that bitcoin does not meet the criteria of an investment contract under the federal securities laws. None of these statements are comprehensive or binding, and the SEC continues to scrutinize aspects of the digital asset space, including bitcoin.
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If bitcoin were determined to be a “security” under federal or state securities laws by the SEC or any U.S. authority, or in a proceeding in a court of law or otherwise, it may have material adverse consequences for bitcoin and the broader digital asset market. For example, it may become more difficult for bitcoin to be traded, cleared and custodied as compared to other digital assets that are not considered to be securities, which could in turn negatively affect the liquidity and general acceptance of bitcoin and cause users to migrate to other digital assets. Further, if any other digital asset with widespread markets is determined to be a “security,” it could also have material adverse consequences for bitcoin as a digital asset due to negative publicity or a decline in the general acceptance of digital assets. In addition, trading platforms that feature digital assets that are determined to be securities may face penalties or be required to shut down if they do not have the licenses required to facilitate electronic securities markets, which could result in a reduction of the liquidity of bitcoin markets. For example, the SEC’s increased enforcement activity over the last few years has highlighted the potential for stricter regulation across the broader digital asset industry, which could exacerbate negative market reactions. As such, any determination that bitcoin or any other digital asset with widespread market presence is a security under federal or state securities laws may adversely affect the value of bitcoin and, as a result, the value of the Shares.
To the extent that bitcoin is deemed to fall within the definition of a security under U.S. federal securities laws, the Trust and the Sponsor may be subject to additional requirements under the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act, and may also be required to register as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. Such additional registration may result in extraordinary, recurring and/or non-recurring expenses for the Trust, thereby materially and adversely impacting the Shares. Compliance could also necessitate fundamental changes to the Trust’s structure or operations, potentially making its current investment strategy unfeasible. If the Sponsor and/or the Trust determines to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, the Sponsor may decide to terminate the Trust. Any such termination could result in the liquidation of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings, which could occur at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders, leading to potential financial losses.
In addition, the CFTC has asserted regulatory jurisdiction over the bitcoin futures markets. As the CFTC has determined that bitcoin is a “commodity” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), it also has authority to prosecute fraud and manipulation in the cash, or spot, market for bitcoin. However, its oversight of cash or spot market exchanges is generally limited unless those transactions involve collateral, leverage, or financing. The National Futures Association serves as the self-regulatory organization for the U.S. futures industry, including bitcoin futures, but does not have authority over bitcoin’s cash or spot market. Recent enforcement actions by the CFTC underscore its heightened scrutiny of the digital asset markets. In 2023 and 2024, the CFTC launched 47 actions against crypto firms, targeting high-profile entities and executives, including FTX, Binance, and Coinbase, for violations such as illegal off-exchange commodity trading and inadequate AML programs. In September 2025, SEC and CFTC staff issued a joint statement regarding the trading of certain spot crypto asset products on CFTC-registered designated contract markets, and in December 2025 the CFTC announced the first-ever listed spot crypto contract and withdrew certain interpretive guidance relating to retail commodity transactions involving digital assets. These developments illustrate that the scope of CFTC oversight relating to digital assets and spot digital asset markets remains subject to change.
To the extent that bitcoin is deemed to fall within the definition of a “commodity interest” under the CEA, the Trust and the Sponsor may be subject to additional regulation under the CEA and CFTC regulations. These requirements may result in extraordinary, recurring and/or non-recurring compliance expenses of the Trust, which could materially and adversely impact the Shares. If the Sponsor and/or the Trust determines not to comply with such regulatory requirements, the Sponsor may terminate the Trust, the Trust may face termination, resulting in the forced liquidation of its bitcoin holdings, which could occur at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders, leading to potential financial losses. Moreover, the growing scope of the CFTC’s regulatory authority over digital assets, combined with potential regulatory overlap with the SEC, may create additional uncertainty and compliance costs. These developments could reduce the liquidity of bitcoin markets and create negative publicity, leading to decreased demand and ultimately a decline in the value of the Shares.
International regulatory divergence may affect the global acceptance and liquidity of digital assets, potentially impacting bitcoin’s market and the Trust’s value.
Bitcoin and other digital assets currently face an uncertain regulatory landscape in many foreign jurisdictions such as the European Union, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Israel, India and Canada. Cybersecurity attacks by state actors, particularly for the purpose of evading international economic sanctions, are likely to attract additional regulatory scrutiny to the acquisition, ownership, sale and use of digital assets, including bitcoin. Various foreign jurisdictions have adopted, and may continue to adopt in the near future, laws, regulations or directives that affect digital assets, particularly with respect to digital asset exchanges, trading venues and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions’ regulatory scope. Some countries have classified digital assets broadly as “securities,” while others, like Switzerland, Malta, and
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Singapore, have adopted a more nuanced approach. As a result, digital assets may be considered securities in one country but not in another. The European Union’s MiCA regulation seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for digital assets, including stablecoins and crypto-asset service providers. Beyond the EU, the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act expands the Financial Conduct Authority’s (“FCA”) oversight of crypto activities, enabling further regulation of stablecoins and other digital assets. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has also introduced stablecoin regulations under its Payment Services Act, and China has maintained strict scrutiny of digital assets following its 2021 prohibition of mining.
Laws and regulations in these and other regions may conflict with those in the U.S., negatively impacting the global acceptance of digital assets by users, merchants, and service providers. Such regulatory divergence may impede the growth and sustainability of the digital asset economy worldwide, potentially reducing the value of digital assets, including bitcoin, and thereby adversely affecting the value of the Shares.
In addition to regulatory divergence, the Trust may be subject to a variety of foreign laws and regulations concerning privacy, blockchain technology, data protection, and intellectual property, some of which may be more restrictive than U.S. regulations. The interpretation and enforcement of these laws are often uncertain, particularly in the rapidly evolving digital asset sector. As the Trust’s operations expand globally, the potential for violating foreign laws increases, particularly in jurisdictions where regulations conflict with U.S. law or lack formal guidance from regulatory authorities or courts.
Failure to comply with foreign regulations could result in significant legal and financial consequences, including penalties, civil and criminal fines, damages, and mandatory refunds. Such actions may also require the Trust to modify or cease operations in affected regions, leading to increased operating costs, delays in product development, and potential reputational harm. Additionally, any future regulatory changes—domestically or internationally—could materially and adversely affect the value of bitcoin and the Shares. The divergence in global regulations may further impede the acceptance and liquidity of digital assets, negatively impacting their value and hindering the growth of the digital asset economy. These risks underscore the complexities of navigating a fragmented regulatory environment and its potential to harm the Trust’s business, financial condition, and the value of the Shares.
Environmental concerns and regulatory pressures on bitcoin mining could raise operational costs and impact Bitcoin’s value and decentralization.
In addition to financial regulation, bitcoin mining is increasingly subject to regulatory scrutiny due to its substantial energy usage and environmental impact. As of November 2024, the Bitcoin network’s annualized energy consumption was estimated at approximately 176.62 terawatt-hours (“TWh”), which is higher than the annual energy usage of several nations, including Egypt, Malaysia, and Poland. Further, in addition to the direct energy costs of performing calculations on any given digital asset network, there are indirect costs that impact a network’s total energy consumption, including the costs of cooling the machines that perform these calculations. The high energy consumption has prompted regulators to evaluate policies aimed at curbing bitcoin mining activities and their environmental footprint. For instance, in the U.S., the Biden administration introduced the Digital Asset Mining Energy excise tax, aiming to curb energy consumption by imposing higher operational costs on miners. In March 2024, the administration revived the proposal in its budget for Fiscal Year 2025, suggesting the tax take effect after December 31, 2024. Other states like Montana have taken a more crypto-friendly approach by enacting laws that protect cryptocurrency mining, while Texas has introduced mixed legislation, offering tax exemptions for miners using certain types of energy while limiting participation in energy-saving demand-response programs. Globally, bitcoin mining is also facing legislative hurdles. The European Union has been actively developing measures to address the energy consumption of cryptocurrencies, particularly those utilizing PoW mechanisms like Bitcoin and plans to introduce an energy efficiency label for blockchains to promote more environmentally friendly crypto systems. In response, some miners are migrating to areas with lower energy costs and a higher percentage of renewable energy sources, such as hydro and wind power, to optimize operations and reduce their environmental footprint.
As regulatory pressure mounts, particularly concerning energy consumption, bitcoin mining may face heightened operational costs. This could result in a more concentrated hash rate among fewer miners, reducing decentralization and potentially destabilizing the network. These developments could negatively affect the price of bitcoin, and, in turn, the value of the Shares. Increased regulation and the corresponding compliance costs of these regulations could additionally result in higher barriers to entry for bitcoin miners, which could increase the concentration of the hash rate, potentially having a negative impact on the price of bitcoin.
Regulatory changes or actions by federal or state executives or legislators may affect the value of the Shares or restrict the use of bitcoin, its mining activity or the operation of its networks or the digital asset markets in a manner that adversely affects the value of the Shares.
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Uncertainty about the jurisdiction over digital assets by federal and state authorities has resulted in calls for comprehensive digital asset legislation, and the expansion of the digital asset market, along with significant industry developments in recent years, has led to increased scrutiny by consecutive U.S. Presidents and the U.S. Congress. On January 23, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14178, titled “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” which revoked President Biden’s March 2022 Executive Order 14067, “Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets.” Among other things, President Trump’s order establishes the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, tasked with proposing a federal regulatory framework for digital assets within 180 days. This working group is directed to focus on developing policy recommendations, including potential legislative and regulatory proposals relating to digital asset market structure and stablecoins. In July 2025, the White House released a report described as fulfilling the executive order’s 180-day report requirement. In addition, on March 6, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order establishing a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” and a “U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile,” which could affect digital asset markets and increase regulatory and public policy attention to digital assets.
President Trump’s executive order follows ongoing legislative efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. On May 22, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fit21, advancing efforts to establish a federal framework for digital assets. Fit21 seeks to clarify the SEC’s and CFTC’s jurisdiction, granting the CFTC primary oversight of digital commodities while preserving the SEC’s authority over securities. Alongside Fit21, other proposals aim to refine digital asset classifications, disclosure requirements, and tax treatment. However, the future of these regulatory efforts, and how regulatory authority may be divided among regulators, remains uncertain. For example, on July 17, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, and on July 18, 2025, the President signed the GENIUS Act into law establishing a federal framework for certain payment stablecoins. In addition, on April 10, 2025, the President signed legislation disapproving an IRS rule that would have expanded certain digital asset tax reporting requirements to certain DeFi participants. There can be no assurance whether, when, or in what form additional federal digital asset legislation will be enacted or how any such legislation will affect bitcoin, the Trust, or the Shares.
Traditional financial services competitors also have long-established relationships with policymakers and have cultivated lobbying efforts to advance their interests. While members of the cryptocurrency industry have begun engaging with policymakers and external advisors to advocate for balanced regulation, the relative infancy of these efforts compared to other industries leaves the cryptocurrency industry vulnerable to unfavorable regulatory outcomes. New laws, regulations, or interpretations of existing regulations may emerge in the U.S. and internationally that are detrimental to digital asset platforms, potentially disrupting the Trust's business operations, financial performance, or growth opportunities. Furthermore, political and advocacy activities from the Trust and the Sponsor aimed at influencing the regulatory environment may attract negative perceptions from investors and the public. Such perceptions could harm the Trust’s reputation and its overall market position, compounding the challenges posed by an increasingly complex and uncertain regulatory landscape.
It is difficult to predict whether, or when, any of these developments will lead to Congress granting additional authorities to the SEC or other regulators, what the nature of such additional authorities might be, how additional legislation and/or regulatory oversight might impact the ability of digital asset markets to function or how any new regulations or changes to existing regulations might impact the value of digital assets generally and those held by the Trust specifically. Any change in the classification of bitcoin may require substantial compliance steps resulting in extraordinary expenses to the Trust. If these developments significantly alter the regulatory landscape, the Sponsor may choose to terminate the Trust, potentially leading to liquidation at a time that could be disadvantageous for Shareholders and adversely impact the value of the Shares.
Regulatory changes could render bitcoin ownership illegal, forcing the Trust into involuntary termination and liquidation, which may adversely affect the value of the Shares.
Although currently bitcoin is not regulated or is lightly regulated in most countries, including the U.S., several countries have introduced or are considering new regulations that may severely restrict or outright ban the acquisition, ownership, sale, or use of bitcoin. For instance, in 2024, China continues to maintain a comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency transactions, reinforcing its 2021 stance that outlawed all crypto-related activities, including trading and mining. In India, the government is still in the process of considering a stricter framework for regulating cryptocurrency, with ongoing discussions about whether to impose outright bans on private digital currencies. Russia, in contrast, has imposed increasingly strict regulations, particularly in light of recent geopolitical tensions, with discussions around criminalizing unauthorized cryptocurrency transactions for cross-border use.
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These recent developments illustrate that the regulatory landscape remains volatile. If further restrictions or outright bans were introduced in major economies such as these, the ability to acquire, hold, or trade bitcoin could be severely compromised. Such restrictions may not only impact bitcoin transactions but could also extend to the ownership, holding or trading in the Shares. Any such restriction could result in the termination and liquidation of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings, which could occur at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders, leading to potential financial losses and adverse impact on the value of the Shares.
If regulators subject the Trust, Sponsor, or certain service providers to regulation as a money service business or money transmitter, this could result in extraordinary expenses to the Trust or the Sponsor and also result in decreased liquidity for the Shares.
The Sponsor and the Trust believe that the Trust is not a money transmitter or money services business. To the extent that the activities of the Trust cause it to be deemed a “money services business,” particularly a “money transmitter,” under the regulations promulgated by FinCEN under the authority of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, the Trust may be required to comply with FinCEN regulations, including those that would mandate the Trust register as a money services business, implement an anti-money laundering program, make certain reports to FinCEN, and maintain certain records. Additionally, certain states require a virtual currency business (or its equivalent) to register at the state level as a money transmitter (or its equivalent), and/or as a virtual currency business (or its equivalent). Similarly, the activities of the Trust or the Sponsor may require it to be licensed at the state level as a money transmitter (or its equivalent) and/or as a virtual currency business (or its equivalent), such as under New York’s Department of Financial Services’ BitLicense regulatory regime. Other states with pending or existing special licensing requirements for cryptocurrency companies include, but are not limited to, California, which is implementing its Digital Financial Assets Law, including certain provisions effective January 1, 2025 and a licensing regime currently scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
Such additional regulatory obligations may cause the Trust or the Sponsor to incur extraordinary expenses. If the Trust or the Sponsor decides to seek the required registration or licenses, there is no guarantee that they will timely receive them. The Sponsor may decide to terminate the Trust in response to the changed regulatory circumstances, and possibly at a time that is disadvantageous to the Shareholders. Additionally, to the extent the Trust or the Sponsor is found to have operated without appropriate state licenses or federal registration, it may be subject to investigation, administrative or court proceedings, and civil or criminal monetary fines and penalties, all of which would harm the reputation of the Trust or the Sponsor, decrease the liquidity, and have a material adverse effect on the price of, the Shares.
The Trust and the Sponsor must comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity, and may experience material negative effects to their business and financial condition if they do not comply.
Along with the Trust’s and Sponsor’s confidential data and information collected in the normal course of the Trust’s activities, the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, collects and retains certain types of data, including personally identifiable information, which is subject to certain laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity. The Trust and Sponsor must comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing the collection, retention, processing, storage, disclosure, access, use, security, and privacy of such information in addition to the Trust’s information security and privacy policies and other actual and asserted obligations, including contractual obligations and applicable industry standards. The legal, regulatory, and contractual environment surrounding the foregoing continues to evolve and may be challenging to comply with, and there has been an increasing amount of focus on privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity issues with the potential to affect the Trust’s activities. In 2024, the regulatory landscape became more complex. For example, a growing number of states have enacted privacy laws, with more set to take effect between now and 2026. This patchwork of state laws increases compliance costs and complexity. Additionally, the American Privacy Rights Act (“APRA”) was proposed in April 2024, aiming to establish federal data privacy standards. APRA has not yet been enacted, but if it were enacted, APRA would supersede state laws, further altering compliance requirements.
State privacy laws are also increasingly being used to regulate artificial intelligence (“AI”), particularly in areas involving automated decision-making. The California Privacy Rights Act and Colorado Privacy Act impose requirements on businesses using AI-driven profiling, including restrictions on data sharing when AI influences legal or significant consumer decisions. These and other emerging state laws reflect a broader trend of integrating AI governance within privacy frameworks.
These laws and regulations, contractual requirements, industry standards, and other actual and asserted obligations could increase the Trust’s cost of doing business, and any actual or alleged failure to comply with these laws, regulations, contractual requirements, and other obligations could result in government investigations, enforcement actions, and other proceedings (which could include civil or criminal penalties), private claims, demands, and litigation, damages and other liabilities, and/or adverse publicity.
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The Trust and Sponsor have incurred, and may continue to incur, significant expenses in an effort to comply with privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity standards and protocols imposed by law, regulation, industry standards, or contractual obligations. The various privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity legal obligations that apply to the Trust and Sponsor may evolve in a manner that impacts their policies or practices, and the Trust and Sponsor and the Trust and Sponsor may be required to take additional measures to comply with new and evolving obligations. Such efforts may not be successful or may have other negative consequences. For example, failure to comply with state or federal privacy laws may result in regulatory fines, class action lawsuits, and limitations on the Trust’s ability to process Shareholder data. Further, changes in cybersecurity standards may require the Trust and Sponsor to implement costly upgrades to their data infrastructure. In particular, with laws and regulations imposing new and increasingly burdensome obligations and with substantial uncertainty over the interpretation and application of these and other laws and regulations, the Trust and Sponsor may face challenges in maintaining their compliance and making necessary changes to applicable policies and practices and may incur significant costs and expenses in an effort to do so. Despite the efforts of the Trust and Sponsor to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other actual or asserted obligations relating to privacy, data protection and cybersecurity, it is possible that their interpretations of the law, practices, policies, or platform or other services or offerings could be inconsistent with, or fail or be alleged to fail to meet all requirements of, such laws, regulations, or obligations.
Any failure, or consequences associated with efforts to comply with applicable laws or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection, or cybersecurity, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access to, or use or other processing of individuals, any failures by the Trust’s third-party service providers, partners, or vendors to comply with applicable obligations, or the perception that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage the Trust’s and Sponsor’s reputation, and may subject the Trust and Sponsor to governmental fines, penalties, and other obligations and liabilities, individual and class action claims, damages and other liabilities, remediation expenses, and/or harm to reputation, and the Trust’s activities, reputation, returns, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Tax Risk
The IRS may disagree with or seek to challenge the Trust’s treatment as a grantor trust.
The Sponsor intends to take the position that the Trust is properly treated as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Assuming that the Trust is a grantor trust, the Trust will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. Rather, if the Trust is a grantor trust, each beneficial owner of Shares will be treated as directly owning its pro rata share of the Trust’s assets and a pro rata portion of the Trust’s income, gain, losses and deductions will “flow through” to each beneficial owner of Shares.
On November 10, 2025, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2025-31, providing formal guidance addressing how trusts that qualify as investment trusts under Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-4(c) and grantor trusts for Federal income tax purposes can engage in digital asset staking without jeopardizing their favorable tax treatment. The Revenue Procedure does not provide a substantive rule of law but does provide a safe harbor for grantor trust that include staking as a permitted activity. The Revenue Procedure provides that if the safe harbor is met, a trust’s authorization, pursuant to its trust agreement, to stake its digital assets and the resulting staking of the trust’s digital assets do not prevent the trust from qualifying for Federal income tax purposes as a trust classified as an investment trust under Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-4(c) and as a grantor trust. The Trust may not be able to satisfy all of the requirements of the safe harbor provided in the Revenue Procedure but intends to come as close as possible within the Trust’s organizational documents. The Trust is relying upon an opinion of tax counsel concluding that, without regard to the Revenue Procedure, the Trust should be classified as a grantor trust and an investment trust under Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-4(c).
Shareholders could incur a tax liability without an associated distribution of the Trust.
In the normal course of business, it is possible that the Trust could incur a taxable gain in connection with the sale of bitcoin (including deemed sales of bitcoin as a result of the Trust using bitcoin to pay its expenses, including the Sponsor Fee) that is otherwise not associated with a distribution to Shareholders, or in connection with the receipt cash from the Sponsor in connection with the Sponsor’s sale of Incidental Right(s) and/or IR Asset(s). Shareholders may be subject to tax due to the grantor trust status of the Trust even though there is not a corresponding distribution from the Trust.
The tax treatment of bitcoin and transactions involving bitcoin for U.S. federal income tax purposes may change.
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The tax treatment of digital assets is still evolving and subject to change. Current IRS guidance indicates that bitcoin is treated as property for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that transactions involving the exchange of bitcoin in return for goods and services are treated as barter exchanges. Such guidance allows transactions in bitcoin to qualify for beneficial capital gains treatment. However, because (i) bitcoin is a new technological innovation, (ii) IRS guidance has taken the form of administrative pronouncements that may be modified without prior notice and comment, and (iii) there is as yet little case law on the subject, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in bitcoin or in transactions relating to investments in bitcoin, including without limitation the tax treatment of a fork or airdrop, may evolve and change from those described in this Annual Report, possibly with retroactive effect. For example, current guidance indicates that digital asset currencies are neither collectibles nor currencies for the purposes of determining the applicable tax rate; however, the IRS has statutory authority to change its position. If the IRS were to determine that digital assets were collectibles or a currency, the tax rate incurred by investors would be higher. Additional disclosure requirements may also apply to an investment in digital assets. Investors should consult their individual tax advisers to determine if such disclosure requirements apply to them.
Any change in the U.S. federal income tax treatment of bitcoin may have a negative effect on the price of bitcoin and may adversely affect the value of the Shares. Moreover, future developments that may arise with respect to digital currencies may increase the uncertainty with respect to the treatment of digital currencies for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Whether any additional guidance will adversely affect the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in bitcoin or in transactions relating to investments in bitcoin is unknown. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not alter its position with respect to digital assets in the future or that a court would uphold the treatment set forth in the current guidance provided by the IRS. Investors should consult their personal tax advisors before making any decision to purchase the Shares of the Trust.
The tax treatment of bitcoin and transactions involving bitcoin for state and local tax purposes is not settled.
Because bitcoin is a new technological innovation, the tax treatment of bitcoin for state and local tax purposes, including without limitation state and local income and sales and use taxes, is not settled. It is uncertain what guidance, if any, on the treatment of bitcoin for state and local tax purposes may be issued in the future. A state or local government authority’s treatment of bitcoin may have negative consequences, including the imposition of a greater tax burden on investors in bitcoin or the imposition of a greater cost on the acquisition and disposition of bitcoin generally. Moreover, it is possible that the tax treatment by state and local tax authorities and courts could be interpreted differently or could be subject to changes in the future. Any such treatment may have a negative effect on the price of bitcoin and may adversely affect the value of the Shares.
The taxation of bitcoin can vary significantly by jurisdiction and is subject to risk of significant revision. Such revision, or the application of new tax schemes or taxation in additional jurisdictions, may adversely impact the Trust’s performance. Before making a decision to invest in the Trust, investors should consult their state and local tax advisor regarding the state and local taxation of bitcoin and state and local tax consequences of making an investment in the Trust.
A “fork” of the Bitcoin blockchain or an airdrop could result in Shareholders incurring a tax liability.
If a fork occurs in the Bitcoin blockchain, the Trust Agreement requires that the Sponsor analyze the transaction according to several criteria and promptly determine which digital asset network is generally accepted as the Bitcoin network and should therefore be considered the appropriate network for the Trust’s purposes. The Sponsor will base its determination on a variety of then-relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the Sponsor’s beliefs regarding expectations of the core developers of Bitcoin, users, services, businesses, miners and other constituencies, as well as the actual continued acceptance of the network, mining power on, and community engagement with, the Bitcoin network. The outcome of such determination shall determine which asset is “bitcoin” and which is the Forked Asset, an IR Asset. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust has explicitly disclaimed all Incidental Rights and IR Assets, including Forked Assets. Such assets are not considered assets of the Trust at any point in time. Once it has been determined by the Sponsor which asset is bitcoin and which is the Forked Asset, the Sponsor will, as soon as practicable, and, if possible, immediately, distribute the Forked Asset to the Sponsor. Once acquired, the Sponsor may take any lawful action necessary or desirable in connection with its acquisition of such asset. In the event that the Sponsor decides to sell the Forked Asset, it will seek to do so for cash. This may be a sale of the Forked Asset directly in exchange for cash, or in exchange for another digital asset which may subsequently be exchanged for cash. The Sponsor would then contribute that cash back to the Trust, which in turn would distribute the cash to DTC to be distributed to Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares owned. The receipt of cash in connection with this distribution may cause Shareholders to incur a U.S. federal, state, local, or foreign tax liability. In addition, the IRS may not accept the Trust’s position that disclaimed Incidental Rights or IR Assets do not represent a taxable incident. Any tax liability could adversely impact an investment in the Shares and may require Shareholders to prepare and file tax returns.
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Under the IRS guidance on digital assets, hard forks, airdrops and similar occurrences with respect to digital assets will under certain circumstances be treated as taxable events giving rise to ordinary income. Chief Counsel Memorandum 202316008 clarified that a taxpayer holding a digital asset does not have a realization event solely as the result of a protocol upgrade.
Non-U.S. Shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax on income derived from forks, airdrops and similar occurrences.
As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Shareholder” means a beneficial owner of a Share for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is not (i) a U.S. person (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), (ii) a nonresident alien who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in a taxable year, (iii) a former U.S. citizen or U.S. resident or an entity that has been expatriated from the U.S., (iv) a person whose income in respect of Shares is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S., or (v) an entity that is treated as a partnership (or similar pass-through entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Shareholders described in the preceding sentence should consult their advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning Shares.
IRS guidance on digital assets does not address whether income recognized by a Non-U.S. person as a result of a fork, airdrop or similar occurrence could be subject to the 30% withholding tax imposed on U.S.-source “fixed or determinable annual or periodical” income. Non-U.S. Shareholders should assume that, in the absence of guidance, a withholding agent (including the Sponsor) is likely to withhold 30% of any such income recognized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder in respect of its Shares, including by deducting such withheld amounts from proceeds that such Non-U.S. Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to receive in connection with a distribution of cash in connection with the Sponsor’s sale of an IR Right and/or IR Asset and contributing such cash back to the Trust. A Non-U.S. Shareholder that is a resident of a country that maintains an income tax treaty with the U.S. may be eligible to claim the benefits of that treaty to reduce or eliminate, or to obtain a partial or full refund, of the 30% withholding tax on its share of any such income.
Other Risks
The Exchange on which the Shares are listed may halt trading in the Shares, which would adversely impact an investor’s ability to sell Shares.
The Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange under the market symbol “BITB.” Trading in Shares may be halted due to market conditions or, in light of the Exchange's rules and procedures, for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules that require trading to be halted for a specified period based on a specified market decline.
Additionally, there can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. If the Trust fails to meet these evolving listing requirements, the Shares could be delisted, further limiting liquidity and investors’ ability to trade. Any such halts or de-listings could adversely affect the Shares’ market price, reduce their liquidity, and negatively impact investor returns.
Shareholders may be adversely affected by the lack of independent advisers representing investors in the Trust.
The Sponsor has consulted with counsel, accountants and other advisers regarding the formation and operation of the Trust. The Trust does not have counsel separate and independent from counsel to the Sponsor. No independent counsel has been retained to represent Shareholders in connection with the formation of the Trust or the establishment of the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Shares. Moreover, no counsel has been appointed to represent an investor in connection with the offering of the Shares. Accordingly, investors should consult their own legal, tax and financial advisers regarding the desirability of the value of the Shares. Lack of such consultation may lead to an undesirable investment decision with respect to investment in the Shares.
Shareholders’ limited rights of legal recourse against the Trust, the Sponsor, Administrator, Transfer Agent, Cash Custodian, Prime Execution Agent and Bitcoin Custodian and the Trust’s lack of direct insurance protection expose the Trust and its Shareholders to the risk of loss of the Trust’s bitcoin for which no person is liable.
The Trust is not a banking institution and is not a member of the FDIC or Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) and, therefore, investments in the Trust are not subject to the protections enjoyed by depositors with FDIC or SIPC member institutions. Likewise, the Bitcoin Custodian is not a depository institution and is not a member of the FDIC or SIPC and, therefore, the Trust’s assets held with the Bitcoin Custodian are not subject to FDIC or SIPC insurance coverage. In addition,
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neither the Trust nor the Sponsor insure the Trust’s bitcoin. The Bitcoin Custodian’s parent, Coinbase Global, maintains a commercial crime insurance policy of up to $320 million, which is intended to cover the loss of client assets held by Coinbase Global and all of its subsidiaries, including the Bitcoin Custodian and the Prime Execution Agent (collectively, Coinbase Global and its subsidiaries are referred to as the “Coinbase Insureds”), including from employee collusion or fraud, physical loss including theft, damage of key material, security breach or hack, and fraudulent transfer. The insurance maintained by Coinbase Global is shared among all of its customers, is not specific to the Trust or to customers holding bitcoin with the Bitcoin Custodian or Prime Execution Agent, and may not be available or sufficient to protect the Trust from all possible losses or sources of losses. Also, Coinbase Global’s insurance may not cover the type of losses experienced by the Trust. Alternatively, the Trust may be forced to share such insurance proceeds with other clients or customers of the Coinbase Insureds, which could reduce the amount of such proceeds that are available to the Trust. In addition, the bitcoin insurance market is limited, and the level of insurance maintained by Coinbase Global may be substantially lower than the assets of the Trust. While the Bitcoin Custodian maintains certain capital reserve requirements depending on the assets under custody, and such capital reserves may provide additional means to cover client asset losses, the Trust cannot be assured that the Bitcoin Custodian will maintain capital reserves sufficient to cover actual or potential losses with respect to the Trust’s digital assets.
Furthermore, under the Bitcoin Custody Agreement and the Prime Execution Agreement, the liability of both the Bitcoin Custodian and the Prime Execution Agent, excluding instances involving fraud, willful misconduct, or specific indemnification obligations, is capped at the greater of $5 million or the fees paid by the Trust in the prior 12 months, or the value of the affected bitcoin or cash giving rise to the Bitcoin Custodian’s liability. For indemnification obligations related to gross negligence, data protection violations, or legal compliance breaches, their liability is capped at the greater of $5 million or the fees paid by the Trust in the previous 12 months. Additionally, both the Bitcoin Custodian and the Prime Execution Agent are not liable for any indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential losses, even if aware of the potential for such losses. Bitcoin Custodian’s liability for any single cold storage address is capped at $100 million. In general, both the Bitcoin Custodian and the Prime Execution Agent are not liable under the Bitcoin Custody Agreement or the Prime Execution Agreement except in the event of their negligence, fraud, material violation of applicable law or willful misconduct. They are not liable for delays, suspension of operations, failure in performance, or interruption of service to the extent it is directly due to a cause or condition beyond their reasonable control. In the event of potential losses incurred by the Trust as a result of the Bitcoin Custodian losing control of the Trust’s bitcoin or failing to properly execute instructions on behalf of the Trust, the Bitcoin Custodian’s liability with respect to the Trust will be subject to certain limitations which may allow it to avoid liability for potential losses or may be insufficient to cover the value of such potential losses, even if the Bitcoin Custodian directly caused such losses. Similarly, the Prime Execution Agent’s liability is also subject to limitations, which may allow it to avoid liability for potential losses or may be insufficient to cover the value of such potential losses, even if the Prime Execution Agent directly caused such losses. For more details, see the section entitled “Custody of the Trust’s Holdings” under Item 1 - Business of this Annual Report.
Moreover, in the event of an insolvency or bankruptcy of the Bitcoin Custodian (in the case of the Trust Bitcoin Account) or the Prime Execution Agent (in the case of the Trading Balance) in the future, given that the contractual protections and legal rights of customers with respect to digital assets held on their behalf by third parties are relatively untested in a bankruptcy of an entity such as the Bitcoin Custodian or Prime Execution Agent in the virtual currency industry, there is a risk that customers’ assets, including the Trust’s assets, may be considered the property of the bankruptcy estate of the Prime Execution Agent (in the case of the Trading Balance) or the Bitcoin Custodian (in the case of the Trust Bitcoin Account), and the Trust may be at risk of being treated as general unsecured creditors of such entities and subject to the risk of total loss or markdowns on the value of such assets.
The Bitcoin Custody Agreement contains an agreement by the parties to treat the bitcoin credited to the Trust Bitcoin Account as financial assets under Article 8 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (“Article 8”), in addition to stating that the Bitcoin Custodian will serve as fiduciary and custodian on the Trust’s behalf. Coinbase Global has stated in its most recent public securities filings that in light of the inclusion in its custody agreements of provisions relating to Article 8, it believes that a court would not treat custodied digital assets as part of its general estate in the event the Bitcoin Custodian were to experience insolvency. However, due to the novelty of digital asset custodial arrangements, courts have not yet considered this type of treatment for custodied digital assets and it is not possible to predict with certainty how they would rule in such a scenario. If the Bitcoin Custodian became subject to insolvency proceedings and a court were to rule that the custodied bitcoin were part of the Bitcoin Custodian’s general estate and not the property of the Trust, then the Trust would be treated as a general unsecured creditor in the Bitcoin Custodian’s insolvency proceedings and the Trust could be subject to the loss of all or a significant portion of its assets. Moreover, in the event of the bankruptcy of the Bitcoin Custodian, an automatic stay could go into effect and protracted litigation could be required in order to recover the assets held with the Bitcoin Custodian, all of which could significantly and negatively impact the Trust’s operations and the value of the Shares.
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With respect to the Prime Execution Agreement, there is a risk that the Trading Balance, in which the Trust’s bitcoin and cash is held in omnibus accounts by the Prime Execution Agent (in the latter case, see the risk factor entitled “Loss of a critical banking relationship for, or the failure of a bank used by, the Prime Execution Agent could adversely impact the Trust’s ability to create or redeem Baskets, or could cause losses to the Trust, in the limited circumstances when the Trust utilizes the Agent Execution Model”), could be considered part of the Prime Execution Agent’s bankruptcy estate in the event of the Prime Execution Agent’s bankruptcy. The Prime Execution Agreement contains an Article 8 opt-in clause with respect to the Trust’s assets held in the Trading Balance. In addition, the Prime Execution Agent is not required to hold any of the bitcoin or cash in the Trust’s Trading Balance in a segregated account. Within the Trading Balance, the Prime Execution Agreement provides that the Trust does not have an identifiable claim to any particular bitcoin or cash. Instead, the Trust’s Trading Balance represents an entitlement to a pro rata share of the bitcoin and cash the Prime Execution Agent has allocated to the omnibus wallets the Prime Execution Agent holds, as well as the accounts in the Prime Execution Agent’s name that the Prime Execution Agent maintains at Connected Trading Venues (the “Connected Trading Venues”) (which are typically held on an omnibus, rather than segregated, basis). If the Prime Execution Agent suffers an insolvency event, there is a risk that the Trust’s assets held in the Trading Balance could be considered part of the Prime Execution Agent’s bankruptcy estate and the Trust could be treated as a general unsecured creditor of the Prime Execution Agent, which could result in losses for the Trust and Shareholders. Moreover, in the event of the bankruptcy of the Prime Execution Agent, an automatic stay could go into effect and protracted litigation could be required in order to recover the assets held with the Prime Execution Agent, all of which could significantly and negatively impact the Trust’s operations and the value of the Shares.
Under the Trust Agreement, the Sponsor will not be liable for any liability or expense incurred, including, without limitation, as a result of any loss of bitcoin by the Bitcoin Custodian or Prime Execution Agent, absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Sponsor. As a result, the Shareholders’ recourse against the Sponsor and the Trust’s other service providers for the services they provide to the Trust, including, without limitation, those relating to the holding of bitcoin or the provision of instructions relating to the movement of bitcoin, is limited. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Sponsor, the Trustee, nor any of their affiliates, nor any other party has guaranteed the assets or liabilities, or otherwise assumed the liabilities, of the Trust, or the obligations or liabilities of any service provider to the Trust, including, without limitation, the Bitcoin Custodian and Prime Execution Agent. The Prime Execution Agreement and Bitcoin Custody Agreement provide that neither the Sponsor nor its affiliates shall have any obligation of any kind or nature whatsoever, by guaranty, enforcement or otherwise, with respect to the performance of any of the Trust’s obligations, agreements, representations or warranties under the Prime Execution Agreement or Bitcoin Custody Agreement or any transaction thereunder. Consequently, a loss may be suffered with respect to the Trust’s bitcoin that is not covered by Coinbase Global’s insurance and for which no person is liable in damages. As a result, the recourse of the Trust or the Shareholders, under applicable law, is limited.
The use of Trade Credits under the Agent Execution Model presents risks of delayed transactions and potential liquidation of Trust assets, which could adversely impact Shareholders.
During the rare and limited circumstances when the Trust employs the Agent Execution Model, it may rely on Trade Credits to facilitate short-term purchases and sales of bitcoin. To avoid having to pre-fund purchases or sales of bitcoin, the Trust may borrow bitcoin or cash as Trade Credit from the Trade Credit Lender on a short-term basis pursuant to the Trade Financing Agreement. These Trade Credits are secured by the Trust’s assets, including any cash and bitcoin held in the Trading Balance with the Prime Execution Agent and the Trust Bitcoin Account with the Bitcoin Custodian. If Trade Credits are not available or become exhausted, the Trust may experience delays in executing bitcoin transactions related to creations and redemptions or paying expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. Such delays could cause the Trust’s assets to remain in the Trading Balance for an extended period, exposing Shareholders to price fluctuations that may result in transaction prices deviating significantly from the BRRNY, the reference rate used to determine the Trust’s NAV.
Furthermore, the Sponsor’s decision to use Trade Credits involves the risk that the Trust may not repay its Trade Credit obligations in full by the specified deadline—generally 6:00 p.m. EST on the calendar day immediately following the day the Trade Credit was extended (or, if such day is not a business day, on the next business day). If the Trust fails to repay these obligations, the Trade Credit Lender has a security interest and lien on the Trust’s assets, including its Trading Balance and Bitcoin Account. In such scenarios, the Trade Credit Lender may direct the Prime Execution Agent and the Bitcoin Custodian to liquidate these assets without further consent from the Trust in order to recover the outstanding debt. Any forced liquidation of the Trust’s bitcoin or cash reserves could adversely affect the Trust’s NAV and the value of the Shares, ultimately impacting Shareholders.
Additionally, the Trust’s reliance on these financing mechanisms and the corresponding security arrangements with its service providers may introduce additional complexities and risks. The Bitcoin Custodian and Prime Execution Agent, under the
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terms of the Trade Financing Agreement, have limited indemnification obligations to the Trust. The Trust has also granted a security interest, lien on, and right of set off against all of the Trust’s right, title and interest, in the Trust’s Trading Balance and Trust Bitcoin Account established pursuant to the Prime Execution Agreement and Bitcoin Custody Agreement, in order to secure the repayment by the Trust of the Trade Credits and financing fees to the Trade Credit Lender. If there is a Termination for Cause, as defined in the Prime Execution Agreement—such as a failure by the Trust to pay and settle in full its obligations to the Trade Credit Lender in respect of the financing it provides to the Trust in the form of Trade Credits —the Trade Credit Lender may enforce its right to seize and liquidate Trust assets to cover the debt, which could result in significant financial losses for Shareholders.
Given these risks, the Sponsor’s management of Trade Credit arrangements, combined with the security interests held by the Trade Credit Lender, could lead to adverse impacts on the Trust’s ability to efficiently manage its assets, resulting in increased volatility and potential reductions in the value of the Shares.
Loss of a critical banking relationship for, or the failure of a bank used by, the Prime Execution Agent could adversely impact the Trust’s ability to create or redeem Baskets, or could cause losses to the Trust, in the limited circumstances when the Trust utilizes the Agent Execution Model.
The Prime Execution Agent relies on bank accounts to provide its trading platform services, including temporarily holding any cash related to a customer’s purchase or sale of bitcoin. In particular, the Prime Execution Agent has disclosed that customer cash held by the Prime Execution Agent, including the cash associated with the Trust’s Trading Balance, is held in one (1) or more bank accounts for the benefit of the Prime Execution Agent’s customers, or in money market funds in compliance with Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and rated “AAA” by S&P (or the equivalent from any eligible rating service), provided that such investments are held in accounts in Coinbase’s name for the benefit of customers and are permitted and held in accordance with state money transmitter laws (“Money Market Funds”).
The Prime Execution Agent has represented to the Sponsor that it has implemented the following policy with respect to the cash associated with the Trust’s Trading Balance. First any cash related to the Trust’s purchase or sale of bitcoin will be held in an omnibus account in the Prime Execution Agent’s name for the benefit of (“FBO”) its customers at each of multiple FDIC-insured banks (an “FBO Account”), or in a Money Market Fund. The amount of Trust cash held at each FBO Account shall be in an amount at each bank that is the lower of (i) the FDIC insurance limit for deposit insurance and (ii) any bank-specific limit set by the Prime Execution Agent for the applicable bank. Deposit insurance does not apply to cash held in a Money Market Fund. The Prime Execution Agent has agreed to title the accounts in a manner designed to enable receipt of FDIC deposit insurance where applicable on a pass-through basis, but does not guarantee that pass-through insurance will apply since such insurance is dependent on the compliance of the bank. Second, to the extent the Trust’s cash in the Trading Balance in aggregate exceeds the amounts that can be maintained at the banks on the foregoing basis, the Prime Execution Agent has represented that it currently conducts an overnight sweep of the excess into U.S. government money market funds. The Sponsor has not independently verified the Prime Execution Agent’s representations. To the extent that the Prime Execution Agent faces difficulty establishing or maintaining banking relationships, the loss of the Prime Execution Agent’s banking partners or the imposition of operational restrictions by these banking partners and the inability of the Prime Execution Agent to utilize other financial institutions may result in a disruption of creation and redemption activity of the Trust, or cause other operational disruptions or adverse effects for the Trust. In the future, it is possible that the Prime Execution Agent could be unable to establish accounts at new banking partners or establish new banking relationships, or that the banks with which the Prime Execution Agent is able to establish relationships may not be as large or well-capitalized or subject to the same degree of prudential supervision as the existing providers.
The Trust could also suffer losses in the event that a bank in which the Prime Execution Agent holds customer cash, including the cash associated with the Trust’s Trading Balance (which is used by the Prime Execution Agent to move cash flows associated with the Trust’s orders to sell bitcoin in connection with payment of Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor), fails, becomes insolvent, enters receivership, is taken over by regulators, enters financial distress, or otherwise suffers adverse effects to its financial condition or operational status. Recently, some banks have experienced financial distress. For example, on March 8, 2023, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI”) announced that Silvergate Bank had entered voluntary liquidation, and on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) was closed by the DFPI, which appointed the FDIC as receiver. Similarly, on March 12, 2023, the New York Department of Financial Services took possession of Signature Bank and appointed the FDIC as receiver. A joint statement by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC on March 12, 2023, stated that depositors in Signature Bank and SVB would have access to all of their funds, including funds held in deposit accounts, in excess of the insured amount. On May 1, 2023, First Republic Bank was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the FDIC as receiver. Following a bidding process, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with JPMorgan Chase
67
Bank, N.A., to acquire the substantial majority of the assets and assume certain liabilities of First Republic Bank from the FDIC. In August 2023, federal agencies introduced new rules that would require large banks with assets over $100 billion to issue long-term debt sufficient to recapitalize the bank in case of a resolution.
The Prime Execution Agent has historically maintained banking relationships with Silvergate Bank and Signature Bank. While the Sponsor does not believe there is a direct risk to the Trust’s assets from the failures of Silvergate Bank or Signature Bank, changing circumstances and market conditions, some of which may be beyond the Trust’s or the Sponsor’s control, could impair the Trust’s ability to access the Trust’s cash held with the Prime Execution Agent in the Trust’s Trading Balance or associated with the Trust’s orders to sell bitcoin in connection with payment of Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. Reports have also suggested that U.S. regulatory agencies, including the Department of the Treasury, may have advised financial institutions to approach crypto-related clients with caution. While some policymakers and industry participants have argued that this activity constituted a coordinated effort to limit banking access to crypto companies (sometimes referred to as “Operation Choke Point 2.0”), regulators have not publicly confirmed such an initiative. Congressional hearings continue to explore the extent to which government influence may have contributed to banking challenges for crypto businesses. Separately, the SEC’s now-rescinded Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (“SAB 121”) previously required banks and other public companies to record digital assets held in custody as liabilities on their balance sheets, imposing significant regulatory and capital burdens. Some industry participants characterized this accounting treatment as discouraging banks from offering custody solutions for digital assets. In early 2025, the SEC formally repealed SAB 121, potentially easing some barriers to crypto custody services. However, despite this repeal, broader regulatory uncertainty and continued scrutiny may still deter banks from engaging with the digital asset industry.
While recent regulatory developments may suggest a more measured approach to crypto-related banking services, there is no guarantee that measures similar to those discussed above will not be reintroduced in the future. If the Prime Execution Agent were to experience financial distress or its financial condition is otherwise affected by the failure of its banking partners, the Prime Execution Agent’s ability to provide services to the Trust could be affected. Moreover, the future failure of a bank at which the Prime Execution Agent maintains customer cash, including cash held in the Trust’s Trading Balance, could result in losses to the Trust, to the extent the balances are not subject to deposit insurance, notwithstanding the regulatory requirements applicable to the Prime Execution Agent or other potential protections. Similarly, if banking restrictions tighten due to a shift in U.S. regulatory priorities, the digital asset ecosystem could face challenges in securing banking relationships, which could impact digital asset liquidity, market stability, operational security, and institutional adoption, all of which could negatively affect the digital asset, including bitcoin, and, consequently, an investment in the Shares. Although the Prime Execution Agent has made certain representations to the Sponsor regarding the Prime Execution Agent’s maintenance of records in a manner reasonably designed to qualify for FDIC insurance on a pass-through basis in connection with the accounts in which the Prime Execution Agent maintains cash on behalf of its customers (including the Trust), there can be no assurance that such pass-through insurance will ultimately be made available. In addition, the Trust may maintain cash balances with the Prime Execution Agent that are not insured or are in excess of the FDIC’s insurance limits, or which are maintained by the Prime Execution Agent at Money Market Funds and subject to the associated risks, including the fund “breaking the buck” during periods of financial instability, which could result in the Trust incurring losses. If such extraordinary circumstances occur, the Trust may be unable to recover all or part of its cash holdings, thereby adversely impacting its financial stability and ability to support the creation and redemption of Shares. As a result, the Trust’s exposure to uninsured or inadequately insured cash balances could lead to financial losses, thereby reducing the net assets of the Trust and ultimately decreasing the value of the Shares.
The Prime Execution Agent routes orders through Connected Trading Venues in connection with trading services under the Prime Execution Agreement. The loss or failure of any such Connected Trading Venues may adversely affect the Prime Execution Agent’s business and cause losses for the Trust.
In connection with trading services under the Prime Execution Agreement, the Prime Execution Agent routinely routes customer orders to Connected Trading Venues, which are third-party platforms or other trading venues (including the trading venue operated by the Prime Execution Agent). In connection with these activities, the Prime Execution Agent may hold bitcoin with such Connected Trading Venues in order to effect customer orders, including the Trust’s orders. However, the Prime Execution Agent has represented to the Sponsor that no customer cash is held at Connected Trading Venues. If the Prime Execution Agent were to experience a disruption in the Prime Execution Agent’s access to these Connected Trading Venues, the Prime Execution Agent’s trading services under the Prime Execution Agreement could be adversely affected to the extent that the Prime Execution Agent is limited in its ability to execute order flow for its customers, including the Trust. In addition, while the Prime Execution Agent has policies and procedures to help mitigate the Prime Execution Agent’s risks related to routing orders through third-party trading venues, if any of these third-party trading venues experience any technical, legal, regulatory or other adverse events, such as shutdowns, delays, system failures, suspension of withdrawals,
68
illiquidity, insolvency, or loss of customer assets, the Prime Execution Agent might not be able to fully recover the customer’s bitcoin that the Prime Execution Agent has deposited with these third parties. As a result, the Prime Execution Agent’s business, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected, potentially resulting in its failure to provide services to the Trust or perform its obligations under the Prime Execution Agreement, and the Trust could suffer resulting losses or disruptions to its operations. The failure of a Connected Trading Venue at which the Prime Execution Agent maintains customer bitcoin, including bitcoin associated with the Trust, could result in losses to the Trust, notwithstanding the regulatory requirements to which the Prime Execution Agent is subject or other potential protections.
Third parties may infringe upon or otherwise violate intellectual property rights or assert that the Sponsor has infringed or otherwise violated their intellectual property rights, which may result in significant costs and diverted attention.
It is possible that third parties might utilize the Trust’s intellectual property or technology, including the use of its business methods and trademarks, without permission. However, the Trust may not have adequate resources to implement procedures for monitoring unauthorized uses of its trademarks, proprietary software and other technology. Also, third parties may independently develop business methods, trademarks or proprietary software and other technology similar to that of the Trust or claim that the Trust has violated their intellectual property rights, including copyrights, trademark rights, trade names, trade secrets and patent rights. As a result, the Trust may have to litigate in the future to protect its trade secrets, determine the validity and scope of other parties’ proprietary rights, defend itself against claims that it has infringed or otherwise violated other parties’ rights, or defend itself against claims that its rights are invalid. Any litigation of this type, even if the Trust is successful and regardless of the merits, may result in significant costs, divert its resources from its operations, or require it to change its proprietary software and other technology or enter into royalty or licensing agreements.
The Trust faces risks related to pandemics, epidemics and other natural and man-made disasters, which could negatively impact the value of the Trust’s holdings and significantly disrupt its operations.
Pandemics, epidemics and other natural and man-made disasters may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of any such events, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries or regions, the financial performance of individual companies, sectors and industries, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Shares.
For example, an outbreak of a respiratory disease designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, including increased volatility and uncertainty in crypto markets, which have caused losses for investors. The emergence of new COVID-19 variants or other infectious diseases could result in a substantial economic downturn or recession.
In addition, the operations of the Trust, the Sponsor and other service providers may be significantly impacted, or even temporarily or permanently halted, as a result of government quarantine measures, voluntary and precautionary restrictions on travel or meetings and other factors related to a public health emergency, including its potential adverse impact on the health of any such entity’s personnel. Any disruption of operations could adversely impact the price and liquidity of the Shares, including, without limitation, the Trust’s ability to process orders for Baskets.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Risk Management and Strategy
The Trust’s cybersecurity risk management is established and governed by the Sponsor. The Sponsor determines and implements appropriate
69
annual basis. In addition, all officers of the Sponsor and all employees of Bitwise Asset Management, Inc. (“BAM”), the parent of the Sponsor, receive annual compliance training and annual cybersecurity training. Attendance at the annual cybersecurity training and the annual compliance training is tracked and recorded.
The Sponsor
While neither the Sponsor nor the Trust has experienced a material cybersecurity incident during the year ended December 31, 2025,
Governance
The Trust does not have any directors, officers or employees. Under the Trust Agreement, all management functions of the Trust have been delegated to and are conducted by the Sponsor, its agents and its affiliates.
BAM's cybersecurity program is managed through a combination of internal leadership and specialized third-party support. BAM employs experienced internal cybersecurity personnel, including a Head of Security and a Senior IT & Security Engineer, who are responsible for cybersecurity strategy, risk management, incident response preparedness, and day-to-day security operations. This internal function is complemented by external cybersecurity firms that provide security advisory services, continuous endpoint detection and response monitoring, and threat intelligence. Senior management maintains oversight of cybersecurity risk through regular reporting, alerts generated by security tools deployed in BAM's information technology environment, and input from third-party security partners. This approach is designed to help BAM prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity risks in a manner appropriate to its size and risk profile. In addition,
Item 2. Properties.
The Trust is a passive entity with no operations, and the Sponsor administers and manages the Trust as described under “Item 1. Business—Description of the Trust Agreement.” The principal office of the Sponsor is located at 250 Montgomery Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94104. The lease expires on March 1, 2027.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
There are no current, past, pending or, to the Sponsor’s knowledge, threatened legal proceedings or administrative actions either by or against the Trust or the Sponsor that could have a material effect on the Trust’s or the Sponsor’s business, financial condition, or operations or any current, past or pending trading suspensions by a securities regulator.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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Part II.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
The Shares of the Trust that have commenced investment operations are listed in the accompanying table. The dates the Shares of the Trust began trading, their symbols and their primary listing exchange are indicated below:
Trust |
|
Commencement of Trading |
|
Ticker Symbol |
|
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF |
|
January 11, 2024 |
|
BITB |
|
NYSE Arca |
Holders
As of December 31, 2025, there was one (1) holder of record of the Trust. This includes Cede & Co. as nominee for DTC for the Shares traded on the Exchange, but not its direct participants. Therefore, this number does not include the individual holders who have bought Shares on the Exchange or transferred their eligible Shares to their brokerage accounts. Because all of the Trust's Shares are currently held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of Shareholders, the Trust is unable to estimate the total number of Shareholders represented by the record holder.
Dividends
The Trust made no cash dividends to Shareholders during the period ended December 31, 2025. The Trust has no obligation to make periodic distributions to Shareholders nor does it expect to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Shares and Use of Proceeds
There were no sales of unregistered securities during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Prior to the commencement of operations on January 10, 2024, on November 9, 2023, BAM purchased 4 Shares at a per-Share price of $50.00 for $200 in a transaction exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act (the “Seed Shares”). Delivery of the Seed Shares was made on November 9, 2023. On January 5, 2024, Bitwise Investment Manager, LLC (“BIM”), an affiliate of the Sponsor, purchased 10,010 Shares of the Trust at a per-Share price of $50.00 for $500,500. On January 10, 2024, BAM redeemed the entirety of its 4 Seed Shares for $200 and BIM redeemed the entirety of its 10,010 Shares for $500,500. Following the redemptions, on January 10, 2024, the Trust formally revised its NAV per Share from $50.00 per Share to $25.00 per Share. Additionally, on January 10, 2024, BIM purchased the initial 100,000 Shares of the Trust (the “Seed Baskets”) for $2,500,000, at $25.00 per Share. BIM acted as a statutory underwriter in connection with the initial purchase of the Seed Baskets. On January 11, 2024, BIM sold all of its 100,000 Shares of the Trust for cash.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuers and Affiliated Purchaser
There were no purchases during the year ended December 31, 2025.
The Trust does not purchase Shares directly from its Shareholders. In connection with its redemption of Baskets held by Authorized Participants, the Trust redeemed 1,101 Baskets (comprising 11,010,000 Shares) during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2025. The following table summarizes the redemptions by Authorized Participants during the period:
Period |
|
Total Shares Redeemed |
|
|
Average Price Per Share |
|
||
October 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025 |
|
|
4,160,000 |
|
|
$ |
61.16 |
|
November 1, 2025 – November 30, 2025 |
|
|
2,520,000 |
|
|
$ |
52.15 |
|
December 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025 |
|
|
4,330,000 |
|
|
$ |
47.40 |
|
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Item 6. [Reserved].
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of the Trust's financial condition and results of operations should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust's audited financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions the Trust believes to be reasonable. The Trust's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See “Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the Federal securities laws, the Trust and the Sponsor undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or the risks, uncertainties or other factors described in this Annual Report, as a result of new information, future events or changed circumstances or for any other reason after the date of this Annual Report.
Trust Overview
The Trust’s registration statement on Form S-1 relating to its continuous public offering of Shares was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 2024 and the Shares of the Trust were listed on the Exchange on January 11, 2024.
The business and operations of the Trust are described above under Part I, Item I under the heading “Business”, which is incorporated into this Item by reference.
Results of Operations
Financial Information for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the Period from January 10, 2024 (Commencement of Operations) to December 31, 2024
The following table sets forth statements of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024.
Statements of Operations
(Amounts in thousands)
72
|
|
For the year ended December 31, 2025 |
|
|
For the period |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Investment income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Investment income |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Sponsor Fee |
|
|
8,132 |
|
|
|
4,577 |
|
Total Expenses |
|
|
8,132 |
|
|
|
4,577 |
|
Less: Waivers and Reimbursement |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(906 |
) |
Net Expenses |
|
|
8,132 |
|
|
|
3,671 |
|
Net investment loss |
|
|
(8,132 |
) |
|
|
(3,671 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin transferred to pay Sponsor Fee |
|
|
5,019 |
|
|
|
1,288 |
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions |
|
|
(42,062 |
) |
|
|
(50,869 |
) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in bitcoin |
|
|
(299,207 |
) |
|
|
1,639,849 |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
(336,250 |
) |
|
|
1,590,268 |
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
|
$ |
(344,382 |
) |
|
$ |
1,586,597 |
|
Financial Information for the Year ended December 31, 2025 and the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024
The following provides a discussion of the material items that impacted the Trust’s financial condition during the applicable period:
Sponsor Fee^
The Trust pays a unitary Sponsor Fee of 0.20% per annum of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings. The Sponsor contractually waived the Sponsor Fee on the first $1 billion of the Trust assets through July 10, 2024, and has been accruing at an annual rate of 0.20% of the Trust’s net assets since then. The Sponsor Fee for the year ended December 31, 2025 was approximately $8,132, compared to the Sponsor Fee for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024 of approximately $4,577, of which $906 was contractually waived, resulting in a net Sponsor Fee of approximately $3,671. The increase in Sponsor Fee was primarily related to an increase in the Trust’s NAV due to an increase in the fair value of bitcoin held by the Trust and the expiration of the Sponsor Fee waiver as of July 11, 2024.
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from Bitcoin^
Net realized gain on the sale of bitcoin to pay the Sponsor Fee for the year ended December 31, 2025 was approximately $5,019, compared to net realized gain on the sale of bitcoin to pay the Sponsor Fee for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024 of approximately $1,288. This change was primarily due to the expiration of the Sponsor Fee waiver as of July 11, 2024 and an increase in the fair value of bitcoin held by the Trust.
Net realized loss on investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions for the year ended December 31, 2025 was approximately $42,062, compared to net realized loss on investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024 of approximately $50,869. This change was primarily due to the decrease in the fair value of bitcoin held by the Trust.
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) from Bitcoin^
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investment in bitcoin for the year ended December 31, 2025 was approximately $299,207, compared to net change in unrealized appreciation on investment in bitcoin for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024 of approximately $1,639,849. This change was primarily due to a decrease in the fair value of bitcoin held by the Trust.
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets resulting from Operations^
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Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 was approximately $344,382, compared to net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024 of approximately $1,586,597. This change was primarily due to an increase in net realized loss and a decrease in unrealized appreciation on investments in bitcoin, with a net realized and unrealized loss on investment in bitcoin of approximately $336,250, less the Sponsor Fee of $8,132, for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to a net realized and unrealized gain on investment in bitcoin of approximately $1,590,268 less the Sponsor Fee of $3,671, for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024.
The change in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) was primarily due to fluctuations in the bitcoin price during the respective period. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the net realized and unrealized loss on investment in bitcoin was driven by bitcoin BRRNY price depreciation from $93,730.35 per bitcoin as of December 31, 2024 to $87,315.53 per bitcoin as of December 31, 2025. For the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024, the net realized and unrealized gain on investment in bitcoin was driven by bitcoin BRRNY price appreciation from $45,852.66 per bitcoin as of January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to $93,730.35 per bitcoin as of December 31, 2024.
Net Assets^
As of December 31, 2025, the Trust held a net closing balance of 38,468.0468 bitcoin with a total market value of $3,358,858 based on the BRRNY price of $87,315.53 used to determine the Trust's NAV. The total market value of the Trust's bitcoin held was $3,367,647 based on the price of a bitcoin (Lukka Prime Rate) in the principal market (Crypto.com) of $87,544.00, used to determine the Trust's principal market NAV (“Principal Market NAV”).
Net assets decreased to approximately $3,367,050 at December 31, 2025, with a 6.45% decrease in Principal Market NAV per Share for the year ended December 31, 2025. The decrease in net assets primarily resulted from the aforementioned bitcoin price depreciation, the net decrease resulting from capital share transactions of approximately $50,607, and a net decrease resulting from operations of $344,382.
As of December 31, 2024, the Trust held a net closing balance of 40,289.1335 bitcoin with a total market value of $3,776,314,581 based on the BRRNY price of $93,730.35, used to determine the Trust's NAV. The total market value of the Trust's bitcoin held was $3,762,723,445 based on the price of bitcoin (Lukka Prime Rate) in the principal market (Crypto.com) of $93,393.01, used to determine the Trust's Principal Market NAV.
Net assets increased to approximately $3,762,039 at December 31, 2024, with a 103.4% increase in Principal Market NAV per Share for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024. The increase in net assets primarily resulted from the aforementioned bitcoin price appreciation, the net increase resulting from capital share transactions of approximately $2,175,442, and a net increase resulting from operations of $1,586,597.
^ Amounts displayed are in the ‘000s, except for per-Share/coin references
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Trust agreed to pay the unitary Sponsor Fee of 0.20% per annum of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings. The Sponsor contractually waived the Sponsor Fee on the first $1 billion of Trust assets through July 10, 2024, and has been accruing at an annual rate of 0.20% of the Trust’s net assets since then. As a result, the only ordinary expense of the Trust is expected to be the Sponsor Fee. In exchange for the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume and pay the normal operating expenses of the Trust, which include the Trustee’s monthly fee and out-of-pocket expenses, the fees of the Trust’s regular service providers (Cash Custodian, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, Marketing Agent, Transfer Agent and Administrator), exchange listing fees, tax reporting fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to $500,000 per annum in ordinary legal fees and expenses. The Sponsor may determine in its sole discretion to assume legal fees and expenses of the Trust in excess of $500,000 per annum. The Sponsor also agreed to pay the costs of the Trust’s organization.
The Trust may incur certain extraordinary, non-recurring expenses that are not assumed by the Sponsor, including but not limited to, taxes and governmental charges, any applicable brokerage commissions, financing fees, Bitcoin network fees and similar transaction fees, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Sponsor (or any other service provider) on behalf of the Trust to protect the Trust or the Shareholders (including, for example, in connection with any fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, any Incidental Rights and any IR Asset), any indemnification of the Cash Custodian, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, Transfer Agent, Administrator or other agents, service providers or counterparties of the Trust, and extraordinary legal fees and expenses, including any legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with litigation, regulatory enforcement or investigation matters.
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The Trust does not hold a cash balance except in connection with the creation and redemption of Baskets (blocks of 10,000 Shares) or to pay expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. To pay for expenses not assumed by the Sponsor that are denominated in U.S. dollars, the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, may sell the Trust’s bitcoin as necessary to pay such expenses. The cash proceeds of the sale are sent to the Sponsor to pay the expenses. Any remaining cash is distributed back to the Cash Custodian. The Sponsor expects that the Trust will have an immaterial amount of cash flow from its operations and that its cash balance will be insignificant at the end of each reporting period. The Trust’s only sources of cash are proceeds from the sale of Baskets and bitcoin. The Trust will not borrow to meet liquidity needs. See Part I, Item I under the heading “Business – Fees and Expenses” for an additional discussion of the Trust’s fees and expenses.
The Trust is not aware of any trends, demands, conditions or events that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to its liquidity needs.
As of December 31, 2025, the Trust has not used, nor does it expect to use in the future, special purpose entities to facilitate off‑balance sheet financing arrangements and have no loan guarantee arrangements or off‑balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of the Trust. While the Trust’s exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on the Trust’s financial position.
Sponsor Fee payments made to the Sponsor are calculated as a fixed percentage of the Trust’s NAV. As such, the Sponsor cannot anticipate the payment amounts that will be required under these arrangements for future periods as NAVs are not known until a future date.
No material changes have occurred during the year ended December 31, 2025 or for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024.
Critical Accounting Policies
Principal Market and Fair Value Determination
The Trust’s periodic financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC Topic 820”) and utilize an exchange-traded price from the Trust’s principal market for bitcoin on the Trust’s financial statement measurement date. The Sponsor determines in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust’s financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Trust has engaged a third-party vendor to obtain a price from a principal market for bitcoin, which will be either the market the Trust normally transacts in for bitcoin or, if the Trust does not normally transact in any market or such market suffers an operational interruption and is unavailable, determined and designated by such third-party vendor daily based on its consideration of several exchange characteristics, including oversight, and the volume and frequency of trades. Under U.S. GAAP, such a price is expected to be deemed a Level 1 input in accordance with ASC Topic 820 because it is expected to be a quoted price in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Investment Company Considerations
The Trust is an investment company for U.S. GAAP purposes and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. The Trust uses fair value as its method of accounting for bitcoin in accordance with its classification as an investment company for accounting purposes. The Trust is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and these differences could be material.
Please refer to Note 2 to the financial statements included in this Annual Report for further discussion of the Trust’s accounting policies.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.
The Trust Agreement does not authorize the Trust to borrow for payment of the Trust’s ordinary expenses. The Trust does not engage in transactions in foreign currencies which could expose the Trust or holders of Shares to any foreign currency related market risk. The Trust does not invest in derivative financial instruments and has no foreign operations or long-term debt instruments.
75
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
Page |
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID |
79 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 |
81 |
82 |
|
83 |
|
84 |
|
85 |
|
86 |
76
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Sponsor of
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Bitwise Bitcoin ETF’s (the Trust) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Trust maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the statements of assets and liabilities of the Trust as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, including the schedules of investment, the related statements of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements), and our report dated March 2, 2026 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Trust’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
77
New York, New York
March 2, 2026
78
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Sponsor of
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF:
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (the Trust), including the schedules of investment as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the related statements of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations, changes in its net assets, and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025, and for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 2, 2026 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Evaluation of the existence of and rights to Bitcoin
As discussed in Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements, the Trust accounts for its investment in bitcoin at fair value in accordance with its classification as an investment company for accounting purposes. As of December 31, 2025, the fair value of the Trust’s investment in bitcoin was $3.37 billion, with a cost basis of $2.03 billion. The Trust’s bitcoin exists and is stored on the Bitcoin blockchain. Private keys associated with the Trust’s bitcoin are secured by a third-party custodian and
79
stored in a segregated custody account. The custodial account uses offline storage, or cold storage, mechanisms to secure the majority of the Trust’s private keys.
We identified the evaluation of the existence of and the Trust’s rights to bitcoin, including the risk that the Trust may not have rights to or control over its investments in bitcoin, as a critical audit matter. A high degree of auditor judgment was involved in determining the nature and extent of the procedures performed and audit evidence obtained to assess the existence of and the Trust’s rights to its investment in bitcoin, as control over and access to bitcoin is provided through private keys stored using third-party custodial services.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the existence of and the Trust’s rights over its investment in bitcoin. We involved professionals with specialized skills and knowledge in blockchain technology, who assisted in evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the bitcoin performed at the third-party custodian, specifically related to the generation of the private keys, the storing of these keys, and the reconciliation of bitcoin per the custodial service ledgers to the public blockchain. We obtained confirmation of the Trust’s investment in bitcoin held with the third-party custodian as of December 31, 2025, and compared the results of the confirmation to the Trust’s records. We compared the Trust’s record for a selection of on blockchain bitcoin purchase and sale transactions to the records on the public blockchain using software audit tools. We also obtained and assessed evidence that transactions involving bitcoin were appropriately authorized and that the Trust controlled the bitcoin through the third-party custodian. We evaluated the reliability of audit evidence obtained from the public blockchain.
/s/
We have served as the Trust’s auditor since 2023.
March 2, 2026
80
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
(Amounts in thousands, except Share and per-Share amounts)
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December 31, 2025 |
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December 31, 2024 |
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Assets |
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Investment in bitcoin, at fair value (cost $ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Receivable for bitcoin sold |
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— |
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Receivable for creations |
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Total assets |
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Liabilities |
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Payable for bitcoin purchased |
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— |
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Payable for redemptions |
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— |
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Sponsor Fee payable |
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Total liabilities |
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Net Assets |
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$ |
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$ |
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Shares issued and outstanding, |
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Principal Market NAV per share |
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$ |
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$ |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
81
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF
Schedules of Investment
(Amounts in thousands, except quantity of bitcoin and percentages)
December 31, 2025
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Quantity |
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Percentage of |
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of bitcoin |
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Cost |
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Fair Value |
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Net Assets |
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Investment in bitcoin^ |
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$ |
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$ |
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% |
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Total Investment |
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$ |
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Liabilities in excess of other assets |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Net Assets |
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$ |
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% |
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December 31, 2024
|
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Quantity |
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Percentage of |
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of bitcoin |
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Cost |
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Fair Value |
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Net Assets |
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Investment in bitcoin^ |
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$ |
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$ |
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% |
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Total Investment |
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$ |
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Liabilities in excess of other assets |
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( |
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( |
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Net Assets |
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$ |
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% |
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^
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
82
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF
Statements of Operations
(Amounts in thousands)
|
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For the year ended December 31, 2025 |
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For the period |
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Investment income |
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Investment income |
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$ |
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$ |
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Expenses |
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Sponsor Fee |
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Total Expenses |
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Less: Waivers and Reimbursement |
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( |
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Net Expenses |
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Net investment loss |
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( |
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( |
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Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
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Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin transferred to pay Sponsor Fee |
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Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in bitcoin |
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( |
) |
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Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
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( |
) |
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Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
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|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
83
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
(Amounts in thousands, except change in Shares issued and redeemed)
|
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For the year ended December 31, 2025 |
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For the period |
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Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
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Net investment loss |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
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Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin transferred to pay Sponsor Fee |
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Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
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( |
) |
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Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
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( |
) |
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Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions |
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Creations for Shares issued |
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Redemptions for Shares redeemed |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions |
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( |
) |
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Total increase (decrease) in net assets from operations and capital share transactions |
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( |
) |
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Net assets |
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Beginning of period |
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(1) |
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End of period |
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$ |
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$ |
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Shares issued and redeemed |
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Shares issued |
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Shares redeemed |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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Net increase (decrease) in Shares issued and outstanding |
|
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( |
) |
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(1)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
84
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF
Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)
|
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For the year ended December 31, 2025 |
|
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For the period |
|
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||
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Cash flow from operating activities |
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Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
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Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|
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Purchases of bitcoin |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Proceeds from bitcoin sold |
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Transfer of bitcoin to pay for Sponsor Fee |
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Net realized (gain) loss from investment in bitcoin transferred to pay Sponsor Fee |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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Net realized (gain) loss from investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions |
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Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investment in bitcoin |
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( |
) |
|
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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||
Increase (Decrease) in Sponsor Fee payable |
|
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( |
) |
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Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
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( |
) |
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Cash flow from financing activities |
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Creations for Shares issued |
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Redemptions for Shares redeemed |
|
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
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( |
) |
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||
Net increase (decrease) in cash |
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||
Cash, beginning of period |
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(1) |
||
Cash, end of period |
|
$ |
|
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$ |
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||
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|
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|
||
Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities |
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In-kind creations of bitcoin |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
||
(1)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
85
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2025
1. Organization
Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (the “Trust”), formerly Bitwise Bitcoin ETP Trust, is an investment trust organized on August 29, 2019, under Delaware law pursuant to a Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust’s investment objective is to seek to provide exposure to the value of bitcoin held by the Trust, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations, generally just the Sponsor’s management fee. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Trust’s sole asset is bitcoin. The Trust is an Exchange Traded Product (“ETP”) that issues common shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) that are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) under the ticker symbol “BITB,” providing investors with an efficient means to obtain market exposure to the price of bitcoin.
Bitwise Investments Advisers, LLC (the “Sponsor”), a wholly owned subsidiary of BAM serves as the Sponsor for the Trust. The Sponsor arranged for the creation of the Trust and is responsible for the ongoing registration of the Shares for their public offering in the U.S. and the listing of Shares on the Exchange. The Sponsor develops a marketing plan for the Trust, prepares marketing materials regarding the Shares, and operates the marketing plan of the Trust on an ongoing basis. The Sponsor also oversees the additional service providers of the Trust and exercises managerial control of the Trust as permitted under the Trust Agreement. The Sponsor has agreed to pay all normal operating expenses of the Trust (except for litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses) out of the Sponsor’s unitary management fee (the “Sponsor Fee”) and may determine in its sole discretion to assume legal fees and expenses of the Trust in excess of $
Delaware Trust Company acts as the trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”) for the purpose of creating a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act which requires that the Trust have at least
The Trust's registration statement on Form S-3 relating to its continuous public offering of Shares was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 2024 and the Shares of the Trust were listed on the Exchange on January 11, 2024.
The statements of assets and liabilities and schedules of investment as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the statements of operations, cash flows, and changes in net assets for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the period January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024, have been prepared by management of the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust. In the opinion of management of the Sponsor of the Trust, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the period-end January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024 have been made, respectively.
Prior to the commencement of operations on January 10, 2024, on November 9, 2023, BAM purchased
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements.
Basis of Presentation
86
The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). The Trust is an investment company and follows the specialized accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of these financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash
Generally, the Trust does not intend to hold any cash. Cash includes non-interest-bearing unrestricted cash with one (1) institution. Cash in a bank deposit account, at times, may exceed U.S. federally insured limits. The Trust has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on such bank deposits.
Investment Transactions and Revenue Recognition
The Trust records its investment transactions on a trade date basis and changes in fair value are reflected as net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investment in bitcoin. Realized gains and losses are calculated using the specific identification method. Realized gains and losses are recognized in connection with transactions including settling obligations for the Sponsor Fee in bitcoin.
Investment Valuation - Principal Market Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
To determine which market is the Trust's principal market (or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market) for purposes of calculating the Trust's net asset value in accordance with U.S. GAAP (“Principal Fair Market NAV”), the Trust follows ASC Topic 820-10, Fair Value Measurement, which outlines the application of fair value accounting. ASC 820-10 determines fair value to be the price that would be received for bitcoin in a current sale, which assumes an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820-10 requires the Trust to assume that bitcoin is sold in its principal market to market participants or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market. Market participants are defined as buyers and sellers in the principal or most advantageous market that are independent, knowledgeable, and willing and able to transact.
The Trust only receives bitcoin in connection with a creation order from the Authorized Participant (or a Liquidity Provider) and does not itself transact on any Digital Asset Markets. Therefore, the Trust looks to market-based volume and level of activity for Digital Asset Markets. The Authorized Participant(s), or a Liquidity Provider, may transact in a Brokered Market, a Dealer Market, Principal-to-Principal Markets and Exchange Markets (“Trading Platform Markets”), each as defined in the FASB ASC Master Glossary (collectively, “Digital Asset Markets”).
In determining which of the eligible Digital Asset Markets is the Trust's principal market, the Trust reviews these criteria in the following order:
First, the Trust reviews a list of Digital Asset Markets that are US accessible, have historically provided publicly available data, and are exchanges that Bitwise normally transact on. Specifically, the Trust utilizes a third-party valuation vendor, Lukka, Inc., to identify publicly available, well established and reputable crypto asset exchanges selected in their sole discretion.
Second, Lukka, Inc. sorts these Digital Asset Markets from high to low by market-based volume and level of activity of bitcoin traded on each Digital Asset Market. For the year ended December 31, 2025, this sort was performed for Digital Asset Markets for the period mid-November through mid-December 2025.
87
Third, Lukka, Inc. then reviews pricing fluctuations and the degree of variances in price on each Digital Asset Market during the 60 minutes prior to 4:00 pm. EST for bitcoin to identify any material notable variances that may impact the volume or price information of a particular Digital Asset Market.
Fourth, Lukka, Inc. then selects a Digital Asset Market as its principal market based on the highest market-based volume level of activity and price stability in comparison to the other Digital Asset Markets on the list.
As of December 31, 2025, Lukka, Inc. included Binance, Bitfinex, Bitflyer, Bitstamp, Bullish, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Gate.io, Gemini, HitBTC, Huobi, itBit, Kraken, KuCoin, LMAX, MEXC Global, OKX and Poloniex as its primary Exchange Markets in consideration.
At December 31, 2025, the principal market and the principal market price for bitcoin, which is composed of the majority of the Trust’s assets as of December 31, 2025, was Crypto.com with a price of $
The Trust determines its principal market (or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market) annually and conducts a quarterly analysis to determine (i) if there have been recent changes to each Digital Asset Market’s trading volume and level of activity in the trailing twelve months, (ii) if any Digital Asset Markets have developed that the Trust has access to, or (iii) if recent changes to each Digital Asset Market's price stability have occurred that would materially impact the selection of the principal market and necessitate a change in the Trust's determination of its principal market.
The cost basis of the bitcoin received by the Trust in connection with a creation order is recorded by the Trust at the fair value of bitcoin at 4:00 p.m., EST, on the creation date for financial reporting purposes. The cost basis recorded by the Trust may differ from proceeds collected by the Authorized Participant from the sale of the corresponding Shares to investors.
Various inputs are used to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities. Inputs may be based on independent market data (“observable inputs”) or they may be internally developed (“unobservable inputs”). These inputs are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes. The level of a value determined for an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means; and
Level 3: Unobservable inputs, including the Trust's assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments, where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.
The cost basis of the investment in bitcoin recorded by the Trust for financial reporting purposes is the fair value of bitcoin at the time of transfer. The cost basis recorded by the Trust may differ from proceeds collected by the Authorized Participant from the sale of the corresponding Shares to investors.
The following summarizes the Trust’s assets accounted for at fair value at December 31, 2025 (amounts in thousands):
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Level 1 |
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Level 2 |
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Level 3 |
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Total |
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Assets |
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Investment in bitcoin, at fair value |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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||||
The following summarizes the Trust’s assets accounted for at fair value at December 31, 2024 (amounts in thousands):
88
|
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Level 1 |
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Level 2 |
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Level 3 |
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Total |
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Assets |
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Investment in bitcoin, at fair value |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Calculation of Net Asset Value (NAV) and NAV Per-Share
On each business day, as soon as practicable after 4:00 p.m. EST, the NAV of the Trust is obtained by subtracting all accrued fees and other liabilities of the Trust from the fair value of the bitcoin and other assets held by the Trust. The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Administrator”) computes the NAV per Share by dividing the NAV of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding on the date the computation is made.
Income Taxes
The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income and expenses “flow through” to the shareholders, and the Administrator reports the Trust’s income, gains, losses, and deductions to the Internal Revenue Service on that basis. The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability as of December 31, 2025.
The Trust is required to determine whether its tax positions are more likely than not to be sustained on examination by the applicable taxing authority, based on the technical merits of the position. Tax positions not deemed to meet a more likely than not threshold would be recorded as a tax expense in the current year. As of December 31, 2025, the Trust has determined that
Organizational and Offering Costs
The costs of the Trust’s organization and the initial offering of the Shares are borne directly by the Sponsor. The Trust is not obligated to reimburse the Sponsor.
3. Fair Value of Bitcoin
As of December 31, 2025, the Trust held a net closing balance of
The following represents the changes in quantity of bitcoin and the respective fair value for the year ended December 31, 2025:
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|
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Quantity of bitcoin |
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Fair Value |
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||
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2024 |
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$ |
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Purchases |
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In-kind creations |
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Sales for the redemption of Shares |
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( |
) |
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|
( |
) |
Bitcoin transferred for Sponsor Fee |
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( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin transferred to pay Sponsor Fee |
|
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— |
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|
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|
Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in bitcoin |
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— |
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|
( |
) |
Ending balance as of December 31, 2025 |
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|
|
|
$ |
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||
As of December 31, 2024, the Trust held a net closing balance of
The following represents the changes in quantity of bitcoin and the respective fair value for the period from January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2024:
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Quantity of bitcoin |
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Fair Value |
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Beginning balance as of January 10, 2024 (commencement of operations) |
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$ |
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Purchases |
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Sales for the redemption of Shares |
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( |
) |
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|
( |
) |
Bitcoin transferred for Sponsor Fee |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin transferred to pay Sponsor Fee |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investment in bitcoin sold for redemptions |
|
|
— |
|
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( |
) |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in bitcoin |
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— |
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|
Ending balance as of December 31, 2024 |
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$ |
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4. Related Party Transactions and Agreements
The Trust pays a Sponsor Fee of
The Sponsor Fee is paid by the Trust to the Sponsor as compensation for services performed under the Trust Agreement and Sponsor Agreement. After the period during which all or a portion of the Sponsor Fee was waived, the Sponsor Fee has been accruing daily, since July 11, 2024, and is payable in bitcoin monthly in arrears. The Administrator calculates the Sponsor Fee on a daily basis by applying a
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out-of-pocket expenses, the fees of the Trust’s regular service providers (Cash Custodian, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, Marketing Agent, Transfer Agent and Administrator), exchange listing fees, tax reporting fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to $
The Trust may incur certain extraordinary, non-recurring expenses that are not assumed by the Sponsor, including but not limited to, taxes and governmental charges, any applicable brokerage commissions, financing fees, Bitcoin network fees and similar transaction fees, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Sponsor (or any other service provider) on behalf of the Trust to protect the Trust or the Shareholders (including, for example, in connection with any fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, any Incidental Rights and any IR Asset, any indemnification of the Cash Custodian, Bitcoin Custodian, Prime Execution Agent, Transfer Agent, Administrator or other agents, service providers or counterparties of the Trust, and extraordinary legal fees and expenses, including any legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with litigation, regulatory enforcement or investigation matters).
See Note 1 for further discussion on related party capital transactions. As of December 31, 2025, the Sponsor owned no Shares of the Trust.
5. Creation and Redemption of Shares
The Trust may either create and redeem Shares in-kind for bitcoin (“In-Kind Creations” and “In-Kind Redemptions,” respectively) or for cash (“Cash Creations” and “Cash Redemptions,” respectively). When the Trust creates or redeems its Shares, it does so in blocks of
The Trust only creates and redeems Baskets in transactions with financial firms that are authorized to purchase or redeem Shares with the Trust (each, an “Authorized Participant”). In the case of In-Kind Creations and In-Kind Redemptions, an Authorized Participant or an Authorized Participant’s designee deposits bitcoin directly with the Trust or receives bitcoin directly from the Trust. Shares initially comprising the same Basket but offered by the Authorized Participants to the public at different times may have different offering prices that depend on various factors, including the supply and demand for Shares, the value of the Trust’s assets, and market conditions at the time of a transaction. Authorized Participants must pay the Transfer Agent a non-refundable fee for each order they place to create or redeem one (1) or more Baskets. The transaction fee may be waived, reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Trust or the Sponsor, and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.
Each Authorized Participant is required to be registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a member in good standing with FINRA, or exempt from being or otherwise not required to be licensed as a broker-dealer or a member of FINRA, and is qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so requires. Certain Authorized Participants may also be regulated under federal and state banking laws and regulations. Each Authorized Participant has its own set of rules and procedures, internal controls and information barriers as it determines is appropriate in light of its own regulatory regime.
The Transfer Agent will facilitate the settlement of Shares in response to the placement of creation orders and redemption orders from Authorized Participants. The Trust has entered into the Cash Custody Agreement with BNY Mellon under which BNY Mellon acts as custodian of the Trust’s cash and cash equivalents. The Trust only creates or redeems its Shares at NAV.
6. Concentration of Risk
Substantially all the Trust’s assets are holdings of bitcoin, which creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the price of bitcoin. Accordingly, a decline in the price of bitcoin will have an adverse effect on the value of the Shares of the Trust. The trading prices of bitcoin have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to fluctuate
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significantly. Extreme volatility in the future, including substantial, sustained, or rapid declines in the trading prices of bitcoin, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value. Factors adversely impacting the value of bitcoin and the Shares may include an increase in the global bitcoin supply or a decrease in global bitcoin demand; market conditions of, and overall sentiment towards, the crypto assets and blockchain technology industry; trading activity on crypto asset exchanges, which, in many cases, are largely unregulated or may be subject to manipulation; the adoption of bitcoin as a medium of exchange, store-of-value or other consumptive asset and the maintenance and development of the open-source software protocol of the Bitcoin network, and their ability to meet user demands; manipulative trading activity on crypto asset exchanges, which, in many cases, are largely unregulated; and forks in the Bitcoin network, among other things.
Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC serves as the Trust’s custodian for bitcoin for which qualified custody is available (the “Bitcoin Custodian”). The Bitcoin Custodian is subject to change in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. At December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, bitcoin with a market value of $
7. Financial Highlights
Per-Share Performance (for a Share outstanding throughout the periods presented)
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For the year ended December 31, 2025 |
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For the period |
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Principal Market NAV per-share, beginning of period |
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$ |
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$ |
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Net investment loss 1 |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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Net realized and change in unrealized on investment in bitcoin |
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( |
) |
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Net change in net assets from operations |
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( |
) |
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Principal Market NAV per-share, end of period |
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$ |
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$ |
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Total return, at net asset value 2 |
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) |
% |
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% |
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Ratios to average net assets |
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Net investment loss |
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( |
) |
% |
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( |
) |
%3,4 |
Gross expenses |
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% |
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%3,4 |
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Net expenses |
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% |
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%3,4 |
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8. Segment Reporting
An operating segment is defined in FASB Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“Topic 280”), as a component of a public entity that engages in business activities from which it may recognize revenues and incur expenses, has operating results that are regularly reviewed by the public entity’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and has discrete financial information available. Selective members of the of the Sponsor act as the Trust’s CODM. The Trust represents a operating segment, as
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9. Indemnifications
In the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred. The Trust expects the risk of any future obligation under these indemnifications to be remote.
10. Subsequent Events
The Trust has evaluated subsequent events through March 2, 2026, the date the financial statements were issued,
and has determined that there are no subsequent events that require adjustments to or disclosure in the financial statements.
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Trust maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its 1934 Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Sponsor performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had any officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Sponsor, the Sponsor evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under 1934 Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based on this evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Sponsor concluded that, as of December 31, 2025, the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in causing material information relating to the Trust to be recorded, processed, summarized and reported by management of the Sponsor on a timely basis and to ensure the quality and timeliness of the Trust’s public disclosures with the SEC.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Sponsor’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under 1934 Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The Trust’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Trust’s assets, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the Trust’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Trust’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become ineffective because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Sponsor assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. In making this assessment, they used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Their assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Based on their assessment and those criteria, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Sponsor concluded that the Trust maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025.
KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as stated in their report which is included herein, issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 on page 78.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recently completed fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2025, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
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During the period covered by this Annual Report, no officers or directors of the Sponsor have
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
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Part III.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The Sponsor
Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC is the Sponsor of the Trust, and has the sole responsibility for the implementation of the Trust’s investment strategy, in accordance with the Trust’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions, pursuant to the Trust Agreement and the Sponsor Agreement.
The Sponsor is neither an investment adviser registered with the SEC, nor a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC, and will not be acting in either such capacity with respect to the Trust, and the Sponsor’s provision of services to the Trust will not be governed by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or the Commodity Exchange Act.
Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAM, the parent of the Sponsor. BAM had 93 employees as of December 31, 2025.
The Sponsor’s Role
The Sponsor is generally responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust under the provisions of the Trust Agreement and Sponsor Agreement. This includes, but is not limited to, (i) purchasing and selling bitcoin on behalf of the Trust, (ii) preparing and providing periodic reports and financial statements on behalf of the Trust for Shareholders, (iii) processing creation and redemption orders for Shares and coordinating the processing of such orders, with the assistance of the Administrator, (iv) selecting and monitoring the Trust’s service providers and from time to time engaging additional, successor or replacement service providers, (v) instructing the Bitcoin Custodian to withdraw the Trust’s bitcoin from the Trust Bitcoin Account as needed to pay Trust Expenses or effectuate a sale of bitcoin in connection with a redemption of Shares, and (vi) upon any dissolution of the Trust, distributing the Trust’s cash proceeds from the sale of the Trust’s remaining bitcoin to the owners of record of the Shares.
Management of the Sponsor
The Trust does not have any directors, officers or employees. Under the Trust Agreement, all management functions of the Trust have been delegated to and are conducted by the Sponsor, its agents and its affiliates, including without limitation, the custodians and their agents. As a result, the officers of the Sponsor may take certain actions and execute certain agreements and certifications for the Trust, in their capacity as the principal officers of the Sponsor.
BAM, has a board of directors (the “Board”). The Board consists of Corey Mulloy, Hunter Horsley, and Hong Kim. The Board does not have a separately-designated standing audit committee.
The following individual is a non-employee director of BAM:
Corey Mulloy, 54, has served as a Director of BAM since BAM's inception. Mr. Mulloy serves as a General Partner at Highland Capital Partners, which he joined in 1997. Additionally, Mr. Mulloy currently serves on the boards of AmorCode, Gigamon, ZeroFox and Malwarebytes. Mr. Mulloy also serves as a member of the Swarthmore College Investment Committee. Mr. Mulloy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Swarthmore College in 1994 and a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 2001.
The following individuals are the officers of the Sponsor responsible for overseeing the business and operations of the Trust:
Hunter Horsley, 35, is the President and Treasurer of the Sponsor and has served in such capacity since the Sponsor's inception. Mr. Horsley is also a Director and the Chief Executive Officer of BAM and has served in such capacity since BAM's inception. Mr. Horsley has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of BAM since October 2016. Prior to the Sponsor, Mr. Horsley was a product manager at Facebook and Instagram leading efforts in monetization from 2015 to 2016. He graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 2015. Mr. Horsley took two years off of school from 2011 to 2013 to be on the founding team of a technology company called Lore (formerly known as CourseKit) to assist in the development of an online learning tool incorporating social networking features. Lore raised over $6 million in equity, grew to 20 employees, and was sold to Noodle Education, Inc. in 2013. Mr. Horsley was named a member of Forbes’ 2019 “30 Under 30” list.
Paul “Teddy” Fusaro, 40, is the Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Sponsor and has served in such capacity since the Sponsor's inception. Mr. Fusaro has also served as the President of BAM since January 2021. Prior to the
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Sponsor, Mr. Fusaro was Senior Vice President and Head of Portfolio Management and Capital Markets at IndexIQ, the exchange-traded fund issuer unit of New York Life Investment Management, a firm with over $550 billion in AUM, from 2013 to 2018. In this capacity he oversaw portfolio management, trading, and operations for a suite of alternative strategy exchange traded funds, mutual funds, and separately managed accounts. Prior to that, from 2009 to 2013, Mr. Fusaro was Vice President of Portfolio Management and co-head of Trading and Operations at Direxion Investments, a $13 billion AUM alternative ETF Sponsor. Earlier in his career, Mr. Fusaro spent time in both equity derivatives and credit derivatives at Goldman Sachs & Co. Since 2022, Mr. Fusaro has served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bitwise Funds Trust. Mr. Fusaro is a graduate of Providence College.
James Bebrin III, 40, is a Vice President of the Sponsor and has served in such capacity since November 2025. Mr. Bebrin is also the Principal Financial Officer, Asset Management Products, for BAM and has served in such capacity since August 2025. Mr. Bebrin previously served as Director, Head of Controls and Fund Administration, at BAM since September 2021. Prior to BAM, Mr. Bebrin previously served as a Fund Manager of WisdomTree Asset Management from 2015 to 2021.
Phuong Black, 47, is a Vice President of the Sponsor and has served in such capacity since November 2025. Ms. Black is also the Director, Head of Investment Operations, for BAM and has served in such capacity since April 2023. Ms. Black previously served as Director, Head of Fund Operations, at BAM since April 2023 and Operations Manager since January 2022. Prior to joining BAM, Ms. Black was Vice President at BlackRock from 2014 to 2021.
Johanna Collins-Wood, 39, is a Vice President of the Sponsor and has served in such capacity since November 2025. Ms. Collins-Wood is also the General Counsel and Head of Compliance, U.S. Asset Management, for Bitwise, and has served in such capacity since November 2025. Ms. Collins-Wood previously served as Deputy General Counsel at Bitwise from December 2024 to November 2025 and as Senior Counsel at Bitwise from 2021 to December 2024. Prior to joining Bitwise, Ms. Collins-Wood was a senior associate in the fintech and financial services practice group at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, LP from 2019 to 2021. Before that, she was an associate in the corporate group at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP from 2017 to 2019. Ms. Collins-Wood began her career as an associate in the capital markets group at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in 2013.
The following individuals are executive officers of BAM, the parent of the Sponsor:
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among the executive officers.
Duties of the Sponsor and Indemnification
The general fiduciary duties which would otherwise be imposed on the Sponsor (which would make its operation of the Trust as described herein impracticable due to the strict prohibition imposed by such duties on, for example, conflicts of interest on behalf of a fiduciary in its dealings with its beneficiaries), are replaced by the terms of the Trust Agreement (to which terms all shareholders, by subscribing to the Shares, are deemed to consent).
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The Trust Agreement provides that the Sponsor will not be under any liability to the Trust, the Trustee or any Shareholder for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action in good faith pursuant to the Trust Agreement, or for errors in judgment or for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale of any bitcoin or other assets held in trust hereunder; provided, however, that this provision will not protect the Sponsor against any liability to which it would otherwise be subject by reason of its own gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct. The Sponsor may rely in good faith on any paper, order, notice, list, affidavit, receipt, evaluation, opinion, endorsement, assignment, draft or any other document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted to it by the Trustee, the Trustee’s counsel or any other Indemnified Person for any matters arising hereunder. The Sponsor will in no event be deemed to have assumed or incurred any liability, duty, or obligation to any Shareholder or to the Trustee other than as expressly provided for herein. The Trust will not incur the cost of that portion of any insurance which insures any party against any liability, the indemnification of which is herein prohibited.
The Sponsor and its shareholders, members, directors, officers, employees, affiliates and subsidiaries (each a “Sponsor Indemnified Party”) will be indemnified by the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred hereunder without gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct on the part of such Sponsor Indemnified Party arising out of or in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement. Any amounts payable to a Sponsor Indemnified Party under Section 4.06 of the Trust Agreement may be payable in advance or will be secured by a lien on the Trust. The Sponsor will not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action that in its opinion may involve it in any expense or liability; provided, however, that the Sponsor may, in its discretion, undertake any action that it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of the Trust Agreement and the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the Shareholders and, in such event, the legal expenses and costs of any such action will be expenses and costs of the Trust and the Sponsor will be entitled to be reimbursed therefore by the Trust. The obligations of the Trust to indemnify the Sponsor Indemnified Parties as provided herein will survive the termination of the Trust Agreement.
The Trustee or any officer, affiliate, director, employee, or agent of the Trustee (each, an “Indemnified Person”) will be entitled to indemnification from the Sponsor or the Trust, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any and all losses, claims, taxes, damages, reasonable expenses, and liabilities (including liabilities under State or federal securities laws) of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, “Losses”), to the extent that such Losses arise out of or are imposed upon or asserted against such Indemnified Persons with respect to the creation, operation or termination of the Trust, the execution, delivery or performance of the Trust Agreement or the transactions contemplated in the Trust Agreement; provided, however, that the Sponsor and the Trust will not be required to indemnify any Indemnified Person for any Losses that are a result of the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person. The obligations of the Sponsor and the Trust to indemnify the Indemnified Persons as provided herein will survive the termination of the Trust Agreement.
Under Delaware law, a beneficial owner of a statutory trust (such as a Shareholder of the Trust) may, under certain circumstances, institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated beneficial owners (a “class action”) to recover damages for violations of fiduciary duties, or on behalf of a statutory trust (a “derivative action”) to recover damages from a third party where there has been a failure or refusal to institute proceedings to recover such damages. In addition, beneficial owners may have the right, subject to certain legal requirements, to bring class actions in federal court to enforce their rights under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC. Beneficial owners who have suffered losses in connection with the purchase or sale of their beneficial interests may be able to recover such losses from the Sponsor where the losses result from a violation by the Sponsor of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws.
The foregoing summary describing in general terms the remedies available to shareholders under federal law is based on statutes, rules and decisions as of the date of this Annual Report. As this is a rapidly developing and changing area of the law, shareholders who believe that they may have a legal cause of action against any of the foregoing parties should consult their own counsel as to their evaluation of the status of the applicable law at such time.
Code of Ethics
The Sponsor has a code of ethics that applies to its executive officers and agents (the “Code of Ethics”). The Sponsor’s Code of Ethics is intended to be a codification of the business and ethical principles that guide the Sponsor, and to deter wrongdoing, to promote honest and ethical conduct, to avoid conflicts of interest, and to foster compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations, the prompt internal reporting of violations and accountability for adherence to this code.
Insider Trading Policy
The Sponsor has
98
investment products and is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations. A copy of the Insider Trading Policy is filed hereto as Exhibit 19.1.
Compensation Recovery Policy
The Sponsor has adopted a recovery policy for erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation (the “Compensation Recovery Policy”) that establishes a framework for the potential recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation in the event that officers of the Sponsor are granted such compensation in the future. The Compensation Recovery Policy aims to promote accountability, safeguard the interests of investors and ensure compliance with applicable regulations. A copy of Compensation Recovery Policy is incorporated into this Annual Report by reference as Exhibit 97.1.
The Code of Ethics, the Insider Trading Policy, and the Compensation Recovery Policy are available, without charge, by written request to the Sponsor at 250 Montgomery Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94104 or by calling the Sponsor at (415) 707-3663.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The Trust has no employees or directors and is managed by the Sponsor. None of the members or officers of the Sponsor receive compensation (including in the form of equity award grants) from the Trust. Accordingly, the Trust has no specific policy or practice on the timing of grants of equity awards in relation to the disclosure of material nonpublic information.
The Trust pays the Sponsor the unitary Sponsor Fee of 0.20% per annum of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings. The Sponsor waived the entire Sponsor Fee on the first $1 billion of Trust assets until July 11, 2024. The Sponsor Fee accrued during the period ended December 31, 2025 was $8,132,160.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plan and Related Stockholder Matters
Not applicable.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The Trust does not have any directors, officers, or employees. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to beneficial ownership of the shares for each director and executive officer of the Sponsor owning the Trust’s Shares. There were no such persons beneficially owning more than five percent (5%) of the Trust’s Shares as of December 31, 2025.
The number of Shares beneficially owned and percentages of beneficial ownership set forth below are based on the number of Shares outstanding as of March 2, 2026.
In accordance with the rules of the SEC, beneficial ownership includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.
Officers and Directors |
|
Amount and |
|
Percentage of |
Hunter Horsley |
|
* |
|
* |
Hong Kim |
|
* |
|
* |
James Bebrin III |
|
* |
|
* |
Phuong Black |
|
* |
|
* |
Johanna Collins-Wood |
|
* |
|
* |
* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%
Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each shareholder listed in the table above is c/o Bitwise Asset Management, Inc., 250 Montgomery Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94104.
99
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
General
The Sponsor has not established formal procedures to resolve all potential conflicts of interest. Consequently, shareholders may be dependent on the good faith of the respective parties subject to such conflicts to resolve them equitably. Although the Sponsor attempts to monitor these conflicts, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Sponsor to ensure that these conflicts do not, in fact, result in adverse consequences to the Trust.
The Sponsor presently intends to assert that shareholders have, by subscribing for Shares of the Trust, consented to the following conflicts of interest in the event of any proceeding alleging that such conflicts violated any duty owed by the Sponsor to investors.
The Sponsor
The Sponsor has a conflict of interest in allocating its own limited resources among, when applicable, different clients and potential future business ventures, to each of which it owes fiduciary duties. Additionally, the professional staff of the Sponsor also services other affiliates of the Trust, including other digital asset investment vehicles, and their respective clients. Although the Sponsor and its professional staff cannot and will not devote all of its or their respective time or resources to the management of the affairs of the Trust, the Sponsor intends to devote, and to cause its professional staff to devote, sufficient time and resources to manage properly the affairs of the Trust consistent with its or their respective fiduciary duties to the Trust and others.
The Sponsor and BAM are affiliates of each other, and the Sponsor may engage other affiliated service providers in the future. Because of the Sponsor’s affiliated status, it may be disincentivized from replacing affiliated service providers. In connection with this conflict of interest, shareholders should understand that affiliated service providers may receive fees for providing services to the Trust.
The Sponsor and any affiliated service provider may, from time to time, have conflicting demands in respect of their obligations to the Trust and, in the future, to other clients. It is possible that future business ventures of the Sponsor and affiliated service providers may generate larger fees, resulting in increased payments to employees, and therefore, incentivizing the Sponsor and/or the affiliated service providers to allocate it/their limited resources accordingly to the potential detriment of the Trust.
There is an absence of arm’s length negotiation with respect to some of the terms of the Trust, and, where applicable, there has been no independent due diligence conducted with respect to the Trust. The Sponsor will, however, not retain any affiliated service providers for the Trust which the Sponsor has reason to believe would knowingly or deliberately favor any other client over the Trust.
Seed Capital Investors
Prior to the commencement of operations on January 10, 2024, on November 9, 2023, BAM purchased the Seed Shares. Delivery of the Seed Shares was made on November 9, 2023. On January 5, 2024, Bitwise Investment Manager, LLC (“BIM”), an affiliate of the Sponsor, purchased 10,010 Shares of the Trust at a per Share price of $50.00 for $500,500. On January 10, 2024, BAM redeemed the entirety of its 4 Seed Shares for $200 and BIM redeemed the entirety of its 10,010 Shares for $500,500. Following the redemptions, on January 10, 2024, the Trust formally revised its NAV per Share from $50.00 per Share to $25.00 per Share. Additionally, on January 10, 2024, BIM purchased the initial 100,000 Shares of the Trust (the “Seed Baskets”) for $2,500,000, at $25.00 per Share. BIM acted as a statutory underwriter in connection with the initial purchase of the Seed Baskets. On January 11, 2024, BIM sold all of its 100,000 Shares of the Trust for cash.
Proprietary and Individual Trading/Other Clients
The Sponsor and its respective officers, directors, employees and/or affiliates (and the affiliates’ officers, directors and employees) may trade in the bitcoin, bitcoin futures and related contracts, other bitcoin-linked derivatives,or other markets for their own accounts and for the accounts of their clients at the same time that the Sponsor is managing the Trust, and in doing so, subject to their fiduciary duties, may from time-to-time, take positions in their proprietary accounts which are opposite to those held by the Trust or ahead of the Trust and may compete with the Trust for positions in the marketplace. Such trading may create conflicts of interest on behalf of one (1) or more such persons in respect of their obligations to the Trust. Further, such transactions may not serve to benefit the Shareholders of the Trust and may have a positive or negative
100
effect on the value of the bitcoin held by the Trust and, consequently, on the market value of bitcoin. There can be no assurance that any of the foregoing will not have an adverse effect on the performance of the Trust or its Shares.
The Sponsor has adopted policies and procedures that identify the conflicts of interest associated with such trading of bitcoin, bitcoin futures and related contracts or other bitcoin-linked derivatives. These policies are intended to prevent conflicts of interest occurring where the Sponsor or their principals, officers, directors or employees could give preferential treatment to their own accounts or trade their own accounts ahead of or against the Trust. Pursuant to these policies, all principals, officers, directors and employees of the Sponsor, and their family members, must receive prior written clearance from the Sponsor’s chief compliance officer before entering into a transaction in bitcoin, bitcoin futures or any other bitcoin-linked derivative if such transaction exceeds $4,999 in current market value. To the extent any such transaction constitutes a purchase of bitcoin, bitcoin futures or other bitcoin-linked derivative exceeds $4,999 in current market value, the policies require that such bitcoin, bitcoin futures or bitcoin-linked derivative must be held for 60 days before it can be traded or sold.
Resolution of Conflicts Procedures
The Trust Agreement provides that whenever a conflict of interest exists between the Sponsor or any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Trust or any Shareholders or any other person, on the other hand, the Sponsor will resolve such conflict of interest considering the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable accepted accounting practices or principles.
Director Independence
As a statutory trust, the Trust does not have a board of directors.
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Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
|
|
Period ended December 31, 2025* |
|
Period ended December 31, 2024* |
|
||
Audit Fees |
|
$ |
366,000 |
|
$ |
275,000 |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
28,500 |
|
Tax Fees |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
All Other Fees |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
Combined Trust: |
|
$ |
366,000 |
|
$ |
303,500 |
|
* Audit fees for the periods ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, are fees paid to KPMG for professional services for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and review of financial statements included in the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and for services that are normally provided by the accountants in connection with regulatory filings or engagements. Audit related fees were related to audit consent letters for additional SEC filings for the Trust.
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Part IV.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
Exhibit |
|
Description of Document |
3.1 |
|
First Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement(2) |
3.2 |
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
3.4 |
|
State of Delaware Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust(2) |
4.1 |
|
|
10.1 |
|
|
10.2 |
|
|
10.3 |
|
|
10.4 |
|
Amended Restated and Consolidated Coinbase Prime Broker Agreement (with Custodian Agreement and Trade Finance Agreement included as exhibits thereto)(8)(10) |
10.5 |
|
|
10.6 |
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
10.9 |
|
|
19.1 |
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
31.2 |
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
32.2 |
|
|
97.1 |
|
Recovery Policy for Erroneously Awarded Incentive-Based Compensation(7) |
101.INS |
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document(8) |
101.SCH |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document(8) |
104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File included as Exhibit 101 (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
103
Item 16. Form 10‑K Summary.
None.
GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS
The following terms may be used throughout this Annual Report, including the consolidated financial statements and
related notes.
1933 Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1934 Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Administration Agreement: The Trust Administration and Accounting Agreement with BNY Mellon.
Administrator: BNY Mellon.
Advisers Act: The Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Agent Execution Model: The model whereby the Prime Execution Agent, acting in an agency capacity, conducts bitcoin
purchases and sales on behalf of the Trust with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service pursuant to the Prime
Execution Agreement.
Airdrops: A method to promote the launch and use of new Crypto Assets by providing a small amount of such new
Crypto Assets to the private wallets or exchange accounts that support the new Crypto Asset and that hold existing related
Crypto Assets.
ASIC: Application-specific integrated circuit.
Auditor: KPMG LLP.
Asset Purchase: The purchase and sale of all of the bitcoin owned by the Osprey Trust to the Trust in exchange for the
Consideration Shares as contemplated by APA.
AUL: Authorized user list.
Authorized Participant: One that purchases or redeems Baskets from or to the Trust.
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BAM: Bitwise Asset Management, Inc., the parent company of the Sponsor.
Basket: A block of 10,000 Shares used by the Trust to issue or redeem Shares.
Basket Amount: The quantity of bitcoin attributable to each Share of the Trust (net of accrued but unpaid expenses and
liabilities) multiplied by the number of Shares comprising a Basket (10,000).
Benchmark Provider: CF Benchmarks Ltd.
bitcoin (lowercase): The native unit of account and medium of exchange on the Bitcoin network.
Bitcoin (uppercase): The software protocol and peer-to-peer network used for the creation, transfer and possession of
bitcoin, as recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Bitcoin Custodian: Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC, a New York State limited liability trust company.
Bitcoin Custody Agreement: The custody agreement between the Bitcoin Custodian and the Trust pursuant to which the
Trust Bitcoin Account is established.
Bitcoin Trading Counterparty: The bitcoin trading counterparties that have been approved by the Sponsor.
BitLicense: The license required by the NYSDFS for virtual currency business activity conducted in New York State. The
term often is used to describe the regulations promulgated under the New York Banking Law that authorize such licensing
process.
Bitwise Trust Agreement: The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of Bitwise Bitcoin ETF,
entered into by the Sponsor and the Trustee.
BNY Mellon: The Bank of New York Mellon, a national association bank in New York that serves as the Administrator
and Transfer Agent.
BRR: CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate.
BRRNY: CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant, calculated by CF Benchmarks Ltd. and published by the
CME Group, is the CF Bitcoin-Dollar US Settlement Price that determines the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin as of 4:00
p.m. EST daily, based on aggregated executed trade flows from major bitcoin trading platforms.
Business Day: Any day other than a day when the Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange is closed for regular trading.
Cash Custodian: BNY Mellon.
CFTC: U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
CME: The Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant: The CF Bitcoin-Dollar US Settlement Price, a reference rate
published by the CME Group that calculates the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin as of 4:00 p.m. EST on each calendar
day on constituent digital asset trading platforms.
CME Bitcoin Real Time Price: The CME CF Bitcoin Real Time Index, a pricing index continuously published by the
CME Group at one (1) second intervals that calculates the U.S. dollar price of one (1) bitcoin on constituent digital asset
trading platforms.
Code: Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Cold Storage Account: A crypto asset custody account in which the associated private cryptographic keys are generated
and stored in an offline environment that is not connected to the internet.
105
Consideration Shares: the Shares of the Trust delivered to the Osprey Trust in connection with the Asset Purchase that
would have been distributed to Unitholders in the Pre-Liquidation Distribution.
Constituent Platforms: The major bitcoin trading platforms that serve as the pricing sources for the calculation of the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate – New York Variant and CME CF Bitcoin Real Time Index.
Covered Transactions: The Asset Purchase, Pre-Liquidation Distribution, and the Final Liquidating Distribution,
collectively.
Cryptocurrency: A token such as bitcoin that is the native asset of a digital asset network.
Crypto Asset: A token, such as cryptocurrency, that is the native asset of or issued on a digital network and secured using
public and private key cryptography or similar cryptographic credentials.
CVC: Convertible virtual currency.
dApps: Decentralized applications.
DeFi: Decentralized finance.
Digital Asset: A token, such as a cryptocurrency, that is the native asset of or issued on a digital asset network and secured
using public private key cryptography or similar cryptographic credentials.
DTC: The Depository Trust Company, the securities depository for the Shares.
DTC Participant: An entity that has an account with DTC.
ERISA: Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
EST: Eastern Standard Time.
ETF: Exchange-traded fund.
ETP: exchange-traded product.
Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board.
FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
FinCEN: The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department with the mandate to
regulate financial institutions such as money services businesses in the U.S.
FINRA: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers.
Forked Asset: The digital asset resulting from a “hard fork” that is not bitcoin, as determined by the Sponsor in its
discretion as set forth in the Trust Agreement. The holder of bitcoin at the time of a Network Fork may use its Bitcoin
network private key to access the Forked Asset on the new network, typically through the use of the modified version of the
Bitcoin network software that created the Network Fork (or the legacy version of the Bitcoin network software if the new
version is determined to be Bitcoin).
GAAP: The generally accepted accounting principles of the U.S.
GENIUS Act: Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act of 2025.
Hard Fork: A backward-incompatible change to a blockchain protocol such that nodes running the prior version of the
106
software will reject blocks produced under the new rules.
Hot Storage Account: A crypto asset custody account maintained in which the associated private cryptographic keys are
generated and stored in an online environment connected to the internet.
Incidental Right: A right to receive a benefit of a fork or airdrop.
Indemnified Person: The Trustee or any officer, affiliate, director, employee, or agent of the Trustee, for the purposes of
indemnification provisions of the Trust Agreement.
Indirect Participants: Banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship
with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Insignificant Participation Exception: An exception to the designation of certain assets under the Plan Asset Rules, where
the investment by all benefit plan investors relating to such assets is not significant or other exceptions apply.
Investment Company Act: Investment Company Act of 1940.
IR Asset: Any digital asset acquired through an Incidental Right.
IRS: U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
ITV: Indicative Trust Value.
JOBS Act: The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act.
Listing Application: The application for approval of a proposed rule change to list and trade Shares of the Bitwise Bitcoin
ETP Trust under the Exchange Rule 8.201-E, as filed with the SEC by the Exchange on June 28, 2023, and subsequently
amended on September 25, 2023 and January 5, 2024.
Liquidating Distributions: The Pre-Liquidation Distribution and the Final Liquidating Distribution, collectively.
Losses: The losses, claims, taxes, damages, reasonable expenses, and liabilities (including liabilities under State or federal
securities laws) of any kind and nature whatsoever of an Indemnified Person or Sponsor Indemnified Party, as applicable,
that are eligible for indemnification pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
Marketing Agent: Foreside Financial Services, LLC.
MiCA: Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.
NAV: Net asset value of the Trust, which is a Non-GAAP metric and is determined each business day by valuing the
Trust’s bitcoin using the BRRNY, less the Trust’s accrued but unpaid expenses.
Network Fork: A proposed change to the open-source software and protocols of the Bitcoin network that results in the
creation of two versions of the Bitcoin network – the version running the unmodified software and the version running the
modified version. To the extent that a Network Fork creates Bitcoin networks or Bitcoin blockchains that are not
interoperable, the Network Fork is referred to as a “hard fork” and results in separate Bitcoin networks with independent
bitcoin assets and Bitcoin blockchains that diverge from the point of adoption of the Network Fork.
OFAC: The Office of Foreign Assets Control.
OTC: Over-the-counter, which refers to transactions that occur bilaterally between a purchaser and a seller, rather than
through an exchange or clearing house.
Plan: An “employee benefit plan” as defined in, and subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of, ERISA or of a
“plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code.
Plan Asset Rules: Rules promulgated pursuant to ERISA for determining when an investment by a Plan in an entity will
result in the underlying assets of such entity being assets of the Plan for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code.
107
Plan Fiduciaries: Fiduciaries with investment discretion over a Plan.
Prime Execution Agent: Coinbase Inc., an affiliate of the Bitcoin Custodian.
Prime Execution Agreement: The agreement between Coinbase Inc. and the Trust that sets forth the terms and conditions
pursuant to which Coinbase Inc., and its affiliates, agree to open and maintain a prime broker account and provide services
relating to trade execution.
Principal Market NAV: The NAV of the Trust determined on a GAAP basis.
Publicly-Offered Security Exception: An exception to the designation of certain assets under the Plan Asset Rules, where
such assets are publicly-offered securities.
Purchase Order: An order to purchase one (1) or more Baskets.
Purchase Order Cut-Off Time: The time at which Purchase Orders must be placed on a Business Day for that Business
Day to constitute the Purchase Order Date.
Purchase Order Date: The Business Day on which a Purchase Order is accepted by the Transfer Agent.
Redemption Order: An order to redeem one (1) or more Baskets.
Redemption Order Cut-Off Time: The time at which Redemption Orders must be placed on a Business Day for that
Business Day to constitute the Redemption Order Date.
Redemption Order Date: The Business Day on which a Redemption Order is accepted by the Transfer Agent.
Register: The record of all Shareholders and holders of the Shares in certificated form kept by the Transfer Agent.
Registration Statement: the Trust’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-260235), which was
declared effective by the SEC on January 10, 2024, as amended.
SEC (or Commission): The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, an independent agency with the mandate to
regulate securities offerings and markets in the U.S.
Seed Shares: The four (4) Shares used to seed the Trust.
Seed Capital Investor: Bitwise Asset Management, Inc.
Shares: Common shares representing units of undivided beneficial ownership of the Trust.
Shareholders: Holders of Shares.
Sponsor: Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which controls the investments and
other decisions of the Trust.
Sponsor Agreement: The agreement between the Sponsor and the Trust.
Sponsor Bitcoin Account: The custody account in the name of the Sponsor held with the Bitcoin Custodian, in which the
Sponsor will receive payment in bitcoin of its management fee from the Trust Bitcoin Account.
Sponsor Indemnified Party: The Sponsor and its shareholders, members, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and
subsidiaries, for the purposes of indemnification under the Trust Agreement.
Sponsor Fee: The unitary management fee of 0.20% per annum of the Trust’s bitcoin holdings the Trust agreed to pay to
the Sponsor.
Trade Credit: The Trust may borrow bitcoin or cash as a credit on a short-term basis from the Trade Credit Lender
108
pursuant to the Trade Financing Agreement.
Trade Credit Lender: Coinbase Credit, Inc.
Trade Financing Agreement: The Coinbase Post-Trade Financing Agreement.
Transfer Agent: BNY Mellon.
Trust: The Bitwise Bitcoin ETF.
Trust Bitcoin Account: The custody account in the name of the Trust held with the Bitcoin Custodian, in which the Trust’s
bitcoin assets will be held.
Trust-Directed Trade Model: The model whereby the Sponsor purchases and sells bitcoin through the use of a Bitcoin
Trading Counterparty.
Trustee: Delaware Trust Company, a Delaware trust company.
UCC: Uniform Commercial Code.
U.S.: The United States of America.
Validators: Stakeholders that help process transactions and ensure that distributed ledgers that make up a proof-of-stake
blockchain network stay consistent with one another.
109
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC as Sponsor of Bitwise Bitcoin ETF |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Paul Fusaro |
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Paul Fusaro |
|
|
|
Title: |
Chief Operating Officer (Principal Executive Officer)* |
|
|
By: |
/s/ James Bebrin III |
|
|
|
|
Name: |
James Bebrin III |
|
|
|
Title: |
Vice President (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)* |
Date: March 2, 2026
* |
The registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their capacities as officers or directors of Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC, the Sponsor of the Registrant. |
110