Grayscale confirms Bitcoin ETF plans and adds exposure to Zcash, Stellar Lumens and Horizen to its trusts

Published at: Oct. 18, 2021

Institutional asset manager Grayscale has announced it will be converting its GBTC Trust into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) once the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has “comfort” with recently-approved Bitcoin futures ETFs.

In a Monday Twitter thread, Grayscale communications director Jennifer Rosenthal said the asset manager would proceed with offering an ETF when “the SEC has formally expressed their requisite comfort with the underlying Bitcoin market.” The offering would convert the asset manager’s Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), first listed in 2013, into an ETF.

“Once there’s official and verifiable evidence of the SEC’s comfort with the underlying Bitcoin market — likely in the form of a Bitcoin Futures ETF being deemed effective — the NYSE Arca will file a document called the 19b-4 to convert $GBTC into an ETF,” said Rosenthal.

The announcement follows ProShares announcement that its Bitcoin (BTC) futures-linked ETF will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BITO starting Oct. 19. Filings with the SEC show the regulator has also accepted the registration request for shares of Valkyrie’s Bitcoin Strategy ETF to be listed on the Nasdaq and may accept others in the near future — the SEC currently has several crypto ETF applications under review.

Related: Grayscale adds SOL and UNI to Digital Large Cap Fund portfolio

Grayscale also added three cryptocurrencies available for trading through its suite of crypto investment trust products. The firm said its Grayscale Zcash Trust, Grayscale Stellar Lumens Trust and Grayscale Horizen Trust were now listed on the OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbols ZCSH, GXLM and HZEN, respectively.

According to Grayscale, the three trusts are not subject to registration and disclosure requirements from the SEC. The vehicles provide a way for investors to gain exposure to the tokens without directly investing in them. Grayscale offers six other crypto investment products with exposure to Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum Classic (ETC) and Litecoin (LTC), in addition to a basket of cryptocurrencies through its Digital Large Cap Fund.

Tags
Business
Cryptocurrencies
Investments
Grayscale
Related Posts
Morgan Stanley doubles exposure to Bitcoin through Grayscale shares
Major U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley has more than doubled its shares of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust since April. According to a report from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, filed Sept. 27, the Morgan Stanley Europe Opportunity Fund, which invests in established and emerging companies throughout Europe, owned 58,116 shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, or GBTC, as of July 31. At the time of publication, the price of GBTC is $34.28, making the investment bank’s exposure to Bitcoin (BTC) roughly $2 million — Morgan Stanley reported thatthe shares cost $2.4 million. Previous filings show that Morgan …
Business / Sept. 27, 2021
US Global Investors bought crypto exposure through Grayscale funds
Texas-based investment manager U.S. Global Investors, which reported $4.6 billion in assets under management as of Q1 2021, has bought exposure to Bitcoin. According to a Monday filing from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Global Investors added more than $566,389 worth of shares of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, or GBTC, to three of its eight mutual funds as of June 30. The filings show the company invested $302,899 GBTC in its Gold and Precious Metals Fund, $222,532 in its World Precious Minerals Fund, and $40,958 in its Global Resources Fund. The Bitcoin (BTC) exposure represents up to 0.19% …
Business / Aug. 30, 2021
Grayscale’s Bitcoin Holdings Pass $3 Billion, Growing 76% Year-on-Year
Grayscale, a major digital asset management fund, has continued to grow this year, with its total assets under management, or AUM, hitting new highs. According to a May 19 tweet, Grayscale’s total AUM hit $3.8 billion, surging over 80% from $2.1 billion in May 2019. Bitcoin trust continues to gain momentum Grayscale’s Bitcoin (BTC) trust has continued to lead other cryptocurrencies in the fund, accounting for $3.36 billion, or 89% of the firm’s total AUM. The value of Grayscale’s Bitcoin investment trust surged 76% from last year’s $1.9 billion. At the same time, Grayscale’s Bitcoin trust’s share saw a small …
Bitcoin / May 20, 2020
Grayscale launches campaign to encourage public comments on Bitcoin ETF application
As the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is considering whether to approve or deny asset manager Grayscale’s application for a Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund, the firm has called on American investors to submit comments to the regulator. In a Tuesday Twitter thread, Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein announced the launch of an advocacy campaign for U.S.-based investors to speak their minds to the SEC before any final decision is reached on the Bitcoin (BTC) investment vehicle. Since the NYSE Arca filed with the regulatory body on Oct. 19 to list shares of Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF under the ticker GBTC, the commission …
Etf / Feb. 22, 2022
Controlling shareholders' stakes in GBTC are 'highly illiquid': Report
According to a new Twitter post by Ryan Selkis, CEO of blockchain research firm Messari, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust's (GBTC) controlling shareholders Genesis Global and Digital Currency Group cannot simply "dump" their holdings to raise more capital. Selkis explained that the restrictions are due to Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, which forces issuers of over-the-counter, or OTC, traded entities to give advance notice of proposed sales, as well as a quarterly cap on sale of either 1% of outstanding shares or weekly traded volume. 2/ DCG bought nearly $800mm worth of GBTC shares since the premium flipped …
Blockchain / Nov. 28, 2022