New zero fee standard for Bitcoin ETFs creates cheap custodial alternative to exchanges New zero fee standard for Bitcoin ETFs creates cheap custodial alternative to exchanges
For the next 6 months most ETFs waive fees entirely as competition heats up.
2 min read
Updated: Jan. 30, 2024 at 1:14 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
The competition among spot Bitcoin ETFs is seriously heating up with Grayscale outflows declining, but now, so are the fees being charged by the Newborn Nine.
Shortly before the final SEC approval of the swathe of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which entered the market earlier this month, several ETF issuers dropped their fees in last-minute filings. Notable cuts on Jan. 8 saw Grayscale lower its 2% fee to 1.5%, while Ark Invest slashed theirs to 0.25% from 0.8%.
However, the day the ETFs were approved, Jan. 10, BlackRock announced a 0.12% fee for 12 months and 0.25% after that, causing ripples across other issuers. By the time the ETFs went live, several had chosen to waive their fees entirely for specific promotional periods.
The promotional rates appear to have had a strong impact, with the Newborn Nine acquiring around $6.4 billion in assets under management in just 13 trading days. However, the promotional activities are seemingly not over yet. The chart below, shared by Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart, shows the respective fees across all current spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S.
Interestingly, BlackRock, VanEck, and Grayscale are the only ETFs currently charging a management fee. All others have waived their fees for at least the first six months of trading.
| Name | Ticker | Fee (after Waiver) | Waiver Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Bitcoin ETF | EZBC | 0.0%(0.25%) | Until Aug. 2 or $10 Billion |
| Bitwise Bitcoin ETP Trust (Re-filing) | HODL | 0.00% (0.19%) | 6 Months or $1 Billion |
| ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF(Re-filing) | ARKB | 0.0% (0.20%) | 6 Months or $1 Billion |
| Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust(Re-filing) | FBTC | 0.0% (0.21%) | Until July 31 |
| Valkyrie Bitcoin Fund(Re-filing) | BRRR | 0.0% (0.25%) | 3 Months |
| Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF(Re-filing) | BTCO | 0.0% (0.25%) | 6 Months or $5 Billion |
| Wisdomtree Bitcoin Trust(Re-filing) | BTCW | 0.0% (0.25%) | 6 Months or $1 Billion |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust | IBIT | 0.0% (0.30%) | 12 Months or $5 Billion |
| VanEck Bitcoin Trust(Re-filing) | HODL | 0.12% (0.25%) | None |
| Grayscale Bitcoin Trust(Re-file)Conversion | GBTC | 1.5% | None |
Grayscale seemingly has little inclination to lower its fees due to the size of its AUM and ability to garner significant revenues even as Bitcoin leaves the fund. By charging more than 130bps more than any other competitor and an AUM still over $20 billion, its revenues dwarf even BlackRock and Fidelity. Further, a fee reduction becomes even more unlikely, with outflows seemingly slowing.
The lack of management fees makes Bitcoin purchases through ETFs extremely competitive versus native crypto exchanges. For comparison, the chart below shows the cost to purchase and withdraw the respective amounts of Bitcoin to self-custodial using the average transaction fee as of press time*. For U.S. investors with zero commission ETF trading options, spot Bitcoin ETFs offering 0% fees are a cheaper option for custodial Bitcoin.
| Exchange | Trading Fees | $100 | $200 | $2000 | Withdrawal Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken | 0.26% | $18.26 | $18.52 | $23.20 | $18 |
| Coinbase | 0.60% | $10.45 | $10.65 | $21.45 | Network fee |
| Crypto.com | 0.075% | $27.07 | $27.15 | $28.50 | $27 |
| Gemini | $0.99 or 1.49% for >$200 | $10.44 | $12.43 | $39.30 | Network fee |
| Cash App | 3% or 1.75% for >$200 or 1.25% for >$1999 | $12.45 | $12.95 | $34.45 | Network fee |
| Binance | 0.1% | $9.55 | $9.75 | $9.75 | Network fee |
It will be interesting to see if any ETF extends its promotional period or further reduces the long-term fees. However, given that crypto exchanges available in the U.S., such as Coinbase and Kraken, charge over 0.25% on each trade, most long-term rates for ETFs are extremely competitive already.
* Rates are based on a new trader making their first Bitcoin purchase without frequent trader bonuses.
Mentioned in this article
Bitcoin 
BlackRock 
Ark Invest 
Grayscale Investments iShares Bitcoin Trust 
ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF 
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Author 
Liam 'Akiba' Wright
Also known as "Akiba," Liam Wright is a reporter, podcast producer, and Editor-in-Chief at CryptoSlate. He believes that decentralized technology has the potential to make widespread positive change.
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In this article
Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.
BlackRock
BlackRock, synonymous with global asset management, is an American multinational investment management corporation based in New York City.
Ark Invest
ARK Investment Management LLC (ARK Invest) holds a precision lens on thematic investing.
Grayscale Investments
Established in 2013 by Digital Currency Group, Grayscale Investments is a trusted authority on digital currency investing and cryptocurrency asset management.
The BlackRock Bitcoin ETF, known as the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), is an investment fund that provides regulated exposure to Bitcoin for investors.
The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) is a digital asset ETF that seeks to track the performance of bitcoin, as measured by the performance of the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate – New York Variant (the “Index”).
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) is a digital currency investment product that provides investors with access to Bitcoin through traditional investment channels.