Bitcoin ETFs are exchange-traded funds that track the price of the cryptocurrency. They are seen as a way to make bitcoin more accessible and liquid for investors, especially those who want to avoid the hassle of buying and storing digital coins directly. However, not all fund issuers are interested in offering bitcoin ETFs. One of the biggest players in the U.S. ETF market, Vanguard, has announced that it will not create or sell any bitcoin ETFs on its platform.
Vanguard is one of the world’s largest asset managers, with more than $8 trillion in assets under management. It is known for its low-cost and conservative investment approach, which follows the philosophy of its founder Jack Bogle. Bogle died in 2019, but his legacy lives on through Vanguard’s index funds and ETFs.
Vanguard has been a pioneer in the U.S. ETF market, launching more than 400 funds since 1993. It has also been a leader in innovation and efficiency, reducing its fees and improving its trading technology over time.
However, Vanguard has also been cautious about investing in cryptocurrencies and other emerging assets. It has said that it does not see them as suitable for a well-balanced portfolio, which consists of equities, bonds, and cash.
According to a statement from Vanguard, “spot Bitcoin ETFs will not be available for purchase on the Vanguard platform. We also have no plans to offer Vanguard Bitcoin ETFs or other crypto-related products.”
The statement added that “our perspective is that these products do not align with our offer focused on asset classes such as equities, bonds, and cash.”
Why does Vanguard avoid bitcoin?
There are several possible reasons why Vanguard is reluctant to enter the bitcoin space. Here are some of them:
- Regulatory uncertainty: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been reluctant to approve any bitcoin ETFs so far, citing concerns about market manipulation, fraud, custody issues, and investor protection. The SEC has delayed or rejected several applications from various fund providers over the years.
- Competition: The U.S. ETF market is already crowded with many players offering different types of funds that track various asset classes and sectors. Adding another category of funds that track a volatile and speculative asset like bitcoin could dilute the demand and liquidity for existing funds.
- Cost: Creating and selling a bitcoin ETF would involve significant costs for both fund providers and investors. Fund providers would have to pay fees to custodians who store and secure the bitcoins they hold in trust for investors. Investors would have to pay brokerage commissions or bid-ask spreads when buying or selling shares of a bitcoin ETF.
- Risk: Investing in a bitcoin ETF would expose investors to various risks associated with holding bitcoins directly or indirectly through derivatives like futures or options contracts. These risks include price volatility, hacking attacks, thefts, regulatory changes, technical glitches, operational failures, liquidity shortages, counterparty defaults, tax implications, legal disputes, environmental concerns, etc.
What does this mean for investors?
The absence of a bitcoin ETF from Vanguard does not mean that investors cannot access or invest in bitcoins at all. There are other ways to buy or sell bitcoins legally in the U.S., such as using online platforms like Coinbase or Gemini; using peer-to-peer platforms like LocalBitcoins; using over-the-counter (OTC) brokers like Oanda; using futures contracts traded on regulated exchanges like CME Group; etc.
However, these methods may have their own drawbacks or limitations compared to investing in a regulated and transparent product like an ETF.
For example:
- Buying bitcoins directly may require more time and effort from investors who have to research different platforms; verify their identity; create accounts; fund their wallets; transfer their coins; etc.
- Selling bitcoins directly may require more technical knowledge from investors who have to understand how different platforms work; how they price their coins; how they handle transactions; how they deal with security issues; etc.
- Buying futures contracts may involve higher leverage from investors who can amplify their gains or losses depending on the price movements of bitcoins.
- Selling futures contracts may involve higher margin requirements from investors who have to deposit collateral with brokers when entering into contracts.
- Buying OTC brokers may involve higher fees from investors who have to pay commissions or spreads when trading with intermediaries.
- Selling OTC brokers may involve higher counterparty risk from investors who have no recourse if their brokers default on their obligations.