Grayscale’s High ETF Fee Keeps the Cash Flowing In Even as Investors Withdraw
2024-10-02

Grayscale's bitcoin {{BTC}} exchange-traded fund (ETF) is reaping higher income than its rivals even as investors flee the vehicle for lower-cost options.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust GGBTC, with almost $14 billion in assets under management (AUM), is earning about $205 million a year, CoinDesk calculations show. The figure is roughly five times larger than at rival BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust IIBIT, with $17 billion in AUM, which is raking in just $42.5 million.
The discrepancy is mainly down to fees, known as the expense ratio. Before the funds opened for trading on Jan. 11, operators jostling for customers started a price war that saw most settling on an expense ratio below 0.40%. GBTC, which existed as a trust before converting to an ETF, stood out, cutting the ratio just half a percentage point to 1.5%.
That compares with 0.20% at Bitwise Bitcoin ETF BBITB, the lowest among the five biggest issuers by assets under management. Ark 21 Shares Bitcoin ETF AARKB went to 0.21% while IBIT and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund FFBTC set it at 0.25%.
Even as investors have withdrawn funds in search of platforms with lower expense ratios, GBTC's head start means the cash is still flowing in. In January, it had AUM of $29 billion, according to YCharts, a financial analysis platform, and roughly 600,000 bitcoin.
The figure's shrunk to $13.65 billion, based on multiplying net assets value (NAV) per share of $49.12 by the 278 million shares outstanding. It now holds about 220,000 bitcoin. IBIT, which holds 366,000 bitcoin, has 642 million shares outstanding and a NAV per share value of $35.13, giving AUM of $17 billion.
Neither Grayscale nor BlackRock responded to an email requesting comment that was sent before U.S. business hours.