Spot Crypto Funds
This page reviews a selection of the leading spot crypto exchange-traded funds, focusing on their core characteristics, such as the underlying cryptocurrency, assets under management, annual expense ratio, and long-term performance, to give you comprehensive information about the most important crypto investment funds.
If you've heard about cryptocurrencies and thought about adding some to your portfolio, crypto funds like Bitcoin and Ethereum funds are a suitable option. They give you direct exposure to the coin's price without the complexity of setting up a wallet or storing or securing the coin yourself. That's because spot crypto funds are funds that invest directly in the coin itself, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. So instead of the fund buying contracts or derivative instruments, it actually buys the underlying asset and holds it with a trusted party called a "custodian."
Each unit you buy from the fund represents a share of the coin, and its price moves with the market price. But the difference is that you don't own the coin directly, and you don't need to deal with wallets or private keys—everything happens through the trading platform you buy from. These funds give you an organized, clear way to gain exposure to crypto performance, and you can track your investment just like you would any other stock or fund.
Leading Bitcoin Spot Funds - BTC Spot ETFs
| Ticker | Description | Inception Date | Assets Under Management | Annual Expense Ratio | Return Since Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FBTC | A spot fund tracking the price of Bitcoin – by Fidelity | January 10, 2024 | $18 billion | 0.25% | 136.13% |
| IBIT | A spot fund tracking the price of Bitcoin – by BlackRock | January 5, 2024 | $64 billion | 0.25% | 131.03% |
Leading Ethereum Spot Funds - ETH Spot ETFs
| Ticker | Description | Inception Date | Assets Under Management | Annual Expense Ratio | Return Since Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETHA | A spot fund tracking the price of Ethereum – by BlackRock | June 1, 2024 | $3 billion | 0.25% | 1.62% |
Last updated: August 5, 2025
Source: this data was compiled from various sources, including the funds’ official websites and TradingView for performance measurement.
Key differences between owning a unit in a spot fund and owning the coin directly:
| Aspect of Difference | Owning a Unit in the Fund | Owning the Coin |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | You own an investment unit that reflects the coin’s performance | You own the coin |
| Storage | Held by a custodian | Self-custody, such as using a digital wallet |
| Purchase Method | Bought like any stock through a trading platform | Bought through a crypto exchange |
| Usage | You cannot use it since you do not own the coin itself, only exposure to its performance | You can use it, transfer it, or make purchases with it |
| Goal | Getting performance similar to the coin without the complexity of owning it | Owning the coin and using its technology |