Bitwise Launches Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) for Financial Advisors, Offering Direct Exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum
San Francisco • April 27, 2022
The structure allows financial advisors to provide clients with direct ownership of the world’s two largest crypto assets, which represent more than 60% of the total crypto market, through a simple, professionally managed vehicle.
Bitwise Asset Management, the world’s leading crypto index fund manager with more than $1 billion in assets under management, today announced the launch of the firm’s first separately managed account (SMA) offering, helping financial advisors provide their clients with direct ownership of crypto assets. The new strategy will hold equal-weighted positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum and rebalance quarterly, ensuring that investors have balanced exposure to the world’s two largest crypto assets.
The SMA’s exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum gives investors a compelling way to participate in crypto via two widely held assets with distinct use cases. Bitcoin remains the most popular crypto asset and leading store of value, while Ethereum is the leading platform for blockchain-based smart contracts at the heart of decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Together, the two assets make up more than 60% of the nearly $2 trillion crypto market.¹
The Bitwise BTC/ETH Equal Weight SMA strategy is particularly relevant for financial advisors looking to help their clients manage exposure to crypto in concert with their broader investment plans, offering portfolio rebalancing, fee collection and billing, account planning, and integrated reporting in all major portfolio accounting solutions.
“In crypto, what you’re invested in is critical, but perhaps equally important is how you’re invested,” said Bitwise Chief Distribution Officer Mick McLaughlin. “In the conversations we have every day with hundreds of advisors across the country, one thing has become clear: They have a strong desire for a vehicle that both gives their clients smart crypto exposure and fits into their workflows. An intelligently structured SMA strategy is a great solution for many advisors.”
The SMA structure allows individuals to move existing held-away crypto assets from digital wallets to an investment vehicle that can be monitored and reported on by their advisor, without triggering a tax event. Moreover, advisors' clients retain direct ownership of the assets, which provides greater opportunities for customization and tax-loss harvesting as compared to traditional fund vehicles.² The strategy is offered through the BITRIA platform, which was recently acquired by Gemini to provide asset managers and advisors with access to the crypto ecosystem.
“Five years ago, few people held crypto, and virtually all who invested did so in digital wallets outside the oversight of a professional,” said Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley. “But since then, crypto adoption has skyrocketed, which has reinforced the importance of crypto being managed as part of a larger, coordinated plan with professional oversight. With crypto as our sole focus, we at Bitwise strive to provide the broadest suite of strategies and vehicles to help investors access the opportunities in the space in the way best suited to them. We're excited to add this new strategy today and meet this growing need."
Bitwise manages a growing suite of investment solutions that help investors gain professionally managed exposure to the crypto market, including exchange-traded funds, OTC-traded trusts, private placement funds, and now SMAs. The firm created the first and largest crypto index fund, the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (OTCQX: BITW), which currently holds $830 million in assets.³ The firm focuses on partnering with investment professionals to help them and their clients understand and access crypto markets strategically. Today, Bitwise serves RIAs, multifamily offices, financial advisors, and other institutional managers, with a nationwide distribution and client service team.
The Bitwise BTC/ETH Equal Weight SMA is available to both accredited and non-accredited investors through their advisors, is not subject to investment minimums, and offers daily liquidity. Client assets will be held directly with Gemini, one of the leading regulated crypto custodians worldwide.
To learn more about the strategy, please click here.
(1) Source: CoinMarketCap. As of April 20, 2022, Bitcoin and Ethereum had a combined market capitalization of $1.16 trillion, compared to the crypto market’s total market capitalization of $1.92 trillion.
(3) Bitwise does not offer tax advice. Investors should consult with their own advisors with respect to legal, tax, regulatory, financial, accounting, and similar consequences of investing in any Bitwise product, the suitability of the investment for their portfolios, and other relevant considerations regarding an investment in the Bitwise BTC/ETH Equal Weight SMA.
(3) As of April 20, 2022.
About Gemini
Gemini is a platform that allows customers to buy, sell, store, and earn cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, ether, and DeFi tokens. Gemini's simple, reliable, and secure products are built to unlock the next era of financial, creative & personal freedom. Gemini was founded in 2014 by twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.
About Bitwise
Bitwise Asset Management is the largest crypto index fund manager in America. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors partner with Bitwise to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. For six years, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETFs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies. Bitwise is known for providing unparalleled client support through expert research and commentary, its nationwide client team of crypto specialists, and its deep access to the crypto ecosystem. The Bitwise team of more than 60 professionals combines expertise in technology and asset management with backgrounds including BlackRock, Millennium, ETF.com, Meta, Google, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Bitwise is backed by leading institutional investors and has been profiled in Institutional Investor, Barron’s, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. It has offices in San Francisco and New York. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com.
