<p>There is currently no ETF that allows the trading of bitcoins. The idea of a bitcoin ETF has been suggested before, however nobody has set one up as of yet. The main reason being that to do so would be very complex, requiring a large amount of money and legal advice.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T05:08:33.890Z
2013-02-12T05:08:33.890Z
Endgame
<p>As far as I know, there is no such ETF as of today. However, the recent spike is likely to spark even more the interest of the best ETFs issuers out there (Vanguard, iShares...).</p>

<p>It is not complex at all, actually it would be very cheap compared to setting up traditional ETFs. The fund would just have to keep bitcoins in an offline wallet held in a secure vault somewhere, just as if it were gold or any other precious metal.</p>

<p>Now given the current market volatility of bitcoin vs. other currencies, it could be considered as too dangerous marketing-wise to be offered to retail investors (even if it would be a less complex product than for example leveraged ETFs).</p>

<p>More importantly, at this stage the key preventing factor could be the low liquidity available on the various exchanges (Mt. Gox and others): bitcoins are nowhere as liquid as other currencies, thus transaction costs in terms of market impact could be astonishingly high and significantly affect the fund's performance.</p>

<p>That being said, I do believe this will eventually happen, sooner rather than later, either with bitcoin or with an alternate equivalent currency. Then, you can also expect future and option markets to flourish (for hedging purposes).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-05T13:16:43.153Z
2013-04-05T13:16:43.153Z
Erwin Mayer
<p>A Bitcoin Trust fund <a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1579346/000119312513279830/d562329ds1.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">registration statement</a> was filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If approved it would be the first Bitcoin ETF you can trade in the market.</p>

<p>UPDATE: The <a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/batsbzx/2017/34-80206.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bitcoin ETF was not approved</a>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>As discussed further below, the Commission is disapproving this proposed rule change
  because it does not find the proposal to be consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act,
  which requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed
  to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices and to protect investors and the public
  interest.
  The Commission believes that, in order to meet this standard, an exchange that lists and
  trades shares of commodity-trust exchange-traded products (“ETPs”) must, in addition to other
  applicable requirements, satisfy two requirements that are dispositive in this matter. First, the
  exchange must have surveillance-sharing agreements with significant markets for trading the
  underlying commodity or derivatives on that commodity. And second, those markets must be
  regulated.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-20T18:28:59.830Z
So was it approved?
Pacerier
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-02T02:38:02.510Z
2017-03-12T14:02:07.290Z
2017-03-12T14:02:07.290Z
Encore PTL
<p>Is there any ETF that allows for the purchase of Bitcoins?</p>

<p>Is this possible?  </p>

<hr>

<p><strong>More info...</strong></p>

<p>An ETF is like a stock that is publicly traded on the stock market, and it can represent:</p>

<ul>
<li>A collection of stocks</li>
<li>An asset, like gold or silver</li>
<li>A position, such as a derivative on an index like SPX$</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T02:10:02.100Z
In case others don't know what an ETC is either... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange-traded_fund
Highly Irregular
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-22T06:20:13.807Z
Also see http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13971/1475
Pacerier
<trading><finance><bitcoin-etf>
Do any ETFs purchase Bitcoins? Is that scenario possible?
makerofthings7
# Do any ETFs purchase Bitcoins? Is that scenario possible?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-12)

Is there any ETF that allows for the purchase of Bitcoins?

Is this possible?

---

**More info...**

An ETF is like a stock that is publicly traded on the stock market, and it can represent:

* A collection of stocks
* An asset, like gold or silver
* A position, such as a derivative on an index like SPX$

**Tags:** trading, finance, bitcoin-etf

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In case others don't know what an ETC is either... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange-traded_fund  
> **username_2**: Also see http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13971/1475  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2013-07-02. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

A Bitcoin Trust fund [registration statement](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1579346/000119312513279830/d562329ds1.htm) was filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If approved it would be the first Bitcoin ETF you can trade in the market.

UPDATE: The [Bitcoin ETF was not approved](https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/batsbzx/2017/34-80206.pdf).

> As discussed further below, the Commission is disapproving this proposed rule change
> because it does not find the proposal to be consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act,
> which requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed
> to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices and to protect investors and the public
> interest.
> The Commission believes that, in order to meet this standard, an exchange that lists and
> trades shares of commodity-trust exchange-traded products (“ETPs”) must, in addition to other
> applicable requirements, satisfy two requirements that are dispositive in this matter. First, the
> exchange must have surveillance-sharing agreements with significant markets for trading the
> underlying commodity or derivatives on that commodity. And second, those markets must be
> regulated.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: So was it approved?  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-02-12. Score: 3

There is currently no ETF that allows the trading of bitcoins. The idea of a bitcoin ETF has been suggested before, however nobody has set one up as of yet. The main reason being that to do so would be very complex, requiring a large amount of money and legal advice.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-04-05. Score: 2

As far as I know, there is no such ETF as of today. However, the recent spike is likely to spark even more the interest of the best ETFs issuers out there (Vanguard, iShares...).

It is not complex at all, actually it would be very cheap compared to setting up traditional ETFs. The fund would just have to keep bitcoins in an offline wallet held in a secure vault somewhere, just as if it were gold or any other precious metal.

Now given the current market volatility of bitcoin vs. other currencies, it could be considered as too dangerous marketing-wise to be offered to retail investors (even if it would be a less complex product than for example leveraged ETFs).

More importantly, at this stage the key preventing factor could be the low liquidity available on the various exchanges (Mt. Gox and others): bitcoins are nowhere as liquid as other currencies, thus transaction costs in terms of market impact could be astonishingly high and significantly affect the fund's performance.

That being said, I do believe this will eventually happen, sooner rather than later, either with bitcoin or with an alternate equivalent currency. Then, you can also expect future and option markets to flourish (for hedging purposes).


---

