- Swiss regulator FINMA approved the Bitcoin Fund ETF (BBIT), which is expected to begin trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange in November.
- Managed by BIT Asset Management, BBIT will hold Bitcoin directly and operate under Swiss investment fund laws rather than as a debt-based ETP.
- FINMA granted an exemption from standard diversification requirements, citing Bitcoin’s longer trading history and higher trading volumes.
- The regulator warned that Bitcoin remains highly volatile and investors could suffer substantial losses despite custody safeguards and investor protections.
Swiss investors are getting a brand-new exchange-traded fund (ETF) that lets the public invest in Bitcoin. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) said in a statement on Tuesday that the fund would be classified under Swiss law as an “other fund for alternative investments” with a specific risk.
FINMA said it has noticed heightened interest in Bitcoin and acknowledged its long trading history compared to other crypto assets.
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However, FINMA also cautioned that investing in crypto – even if it’s through an ETF – remains high-risk.
Due to the high volatility of cryptocurrencies, the capital invested may lose a significant amount of its value. This should be taken into account when making an investment decision, especially with regard to the amount invested.
FINMA BBIT to Start Trading in November
The new fund, called Bitcoin Fund ETF (BBIT), comes from BIT Asset Management and is expected to start trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange in November. Unlike futures-based products, BBIT will hold Bitcoin directly.
While Switzerland has offered crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) since 2018, these are structured as debt securities rather than investment funds. The new ETF will instead operate under Swiss investment fund laws, with assets held separately from those of the fund manager.
FINMA has also made an exception to its usual diversification requirements, pointing to Bitcoin’s longer trading history and higher trading volumes compared to other cryptocurrencies. However, the fund will still be subject to custody safeguards and investor-protection rules.
The regulator previously approved a crypto investment fund in 2021, although that product was available only to qualified investors. Other fund providers have since applied for or announced plans to launch Bitcoin ETFs.
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