By
Steve Muchoki
April 19th, 2024
Grayscale, the company that launched Bitcoin Investment Trust, launches new ‘Digital Large Cap Fund’. The Fund is tied to 5 top cryptocurrencies. Each digital asset will be evaluated, less the fund’s expenses and other liabilities.
Grayscale Investments, the the sponsor of Bitcoin Investment Trust (GBTC), has launched a new investment vehicle, the Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund LLC (the “Fund”).
According to Grayscale, the Fund “provides exposure to the top liquid digital assets, through a market cap-weighted portfolio.” It comprises such cryptocurrencies as bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), ripple (XRP), bitcoin cash (BCH) and litecoin (LTC).
Established in 2013 by Digital Currency Group, Grayscale is the investment community’s trusted authority on digital currency investing. Grayscale provides unparalleled market insight and investment exposure to the developing digital currency asset class. Grayscale Investments, LLC is the sponsor of the Bitcoin Investment Trust, the Ethereum Classic Investment Trust, the Zcash Investment Trust and the Digital Large Cap Fund.
In September 2017, NYSE Arca exchange withdrew a request with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list shares of the Bitcoin Investment Trust.
Barry Silbert, CEO of Grayscale, said: “We’re excited to further expand the universe of Grayscale’s product offerings as interest in the digital currency asset class continues to grow.” He added: “As a trusted and experienced manager, Grayscale is committed to creating investment structures that are familiar to qualified investors and provide secure access to this emerging asset class.”
Grayscale believes that the shares represent a cost-effective and convenient investment relative to a direct investment in digital assets. The value of the Fund Components is determined at 4:00 p.m. New York time and based on TradeBlock’s Digital Asset Reference Rate. The primary objective of the Fund is to make shares reflect this value and provide a way to explore cryptocurrencies for investors.
“Investors are looking for broad market exposure to the digital currency asset class,” Michael Sonnenshein, Grayscale managing director, said. “This gives them the ability to make a singular investment that is going to give them exposure to approximately 70 percent of the market via this one vehicle.”
The Fund will be rebalanced quarterly, beginning on the first business day of January, April, July, and October of each year. Shares of the Fund are eligible to be held in certain IRA, Roth IRA, and other brokerage and investor accounts.
The Fund does not currently operate a redemption program, so there is no assurance that the value of the shares will approximate the value of the Fund Components held by the Fund and the shares may trade at a substantial premium over, or discount to, the value of the Fund Components, if traded on any secondary market in the future.
The Fund is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not subject to disclosure and certain other requirements mandated by U.S. securities laws. As a result, the shares of each Vehicle are restricted and subject to significant limitations on resales and transfers.
For the first year, Digital Large Cap Fund will be solely available to SEC-accredited investors who have annual income of $200,000 or a net worth of over $1 million. They will be able to buy directly from Grayscale. Grayscale aims to list the fund’s shares publicly after one year, at which time the first buyers are able to sell their shares on the public market if they wish.