Bitwise Takes Over ETC Group – Home To Europe’s Largest Bitcoin Fund

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in traditional finance and a keen observer of the burgeoning cryptocurrency landscape, I find this development between Bitwise Investment and ETC Group to be an astute strategic move. The acquisition not only fortifies Bitwise’s position as a key player in the institutional Bitcoin space but also extends its reach into Europe, a region teeming with potential for crypto growth.


To strengthen its footing in Europe and the global cryptocurrency sector, the investment firm and Bitcoin ETF provider, Bitwise Investment, has finalized an agreement to take over ETC Group, a significant player in the crypto industry based in London.

Bitwise Doubles Down On Institutional Bitcoin

On Monday, Bitwise revealed that upon completion of the agreement, their San Francisco headquarters will handle a significant $4.5 billion worth of assets, though the specifics of the transaction have yet to be disclosed.

2019 marked the inception of ETC Group, which has since made its mark as a trailblazer in the European sector specializing in Crypto Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs), as reported by Bloomberg. This includes a variety of funds that follow popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP. Their premier offering, a $700 million Bitcoin ETP, holds the title of the largest in Europe.

As a researcher delving into this field, I’ve taken notice of the fact that every product from ETC Group is securely anchored by tangible assets. It’s been announced that these offerings will eventually be rebranded under the Bitwise label.

As a seasoned investor with over two decades of experience in the financial market, I must say that the introduction of Bitwise’s BITB Bitcoin ETF this January was a significant milestone for me and many others who have been eagerly waiting for such an opportunity to enter the world of Bitcoin through a regulated exchange-traded fund. Having witnessed the rapid growth and maturation of the cryptocurrency industry, I can attest to the potential that Bitcoin holds as a promising investment option. The fact that Bitwise’s ETF has already accumulated over $2 billion in assets under management (AuM) within a few months of its launch speaks volumes about the increasing institutional interest in this asset class. As an investor, I am excited to see how BITB will perform moving forward and whether it will become a staple investment for both retail and institutional investors alike.

Last month, Bitwise also launched its first spot, Ethereum ETP, the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW), which attracted over $300 million in assets within weeks of its debut. 

CEO Bullish On Expanding Crypto Expertise To Europe

Hunter Horsley, as CEO of Bitwise, showed excitement regarding the acquisition. He emphasized the prospect of serving European investors, offering global perspectives to customers, and expanding the product lineup with ” cutting-edge Exchange Traded Products” (ETPs).

Looking back over the past six years of Bitwise’s esteemed position as a leading cryptocurrency asset manager, Horsley emphasized the firm’s unwavering commitment to providing knowledge and worth to European individual investors, organizations, and consultants. In addition, Horsley made clear:

As a seasoned crypto investor with a six-year track record of working alongside advisors, institutions, and fellow investors, I take pride in our standing as a sophisticated player within the digital asset market. Excitedly, I anticipate sharing my hard-earned knowledge and insights with European investors, expanding our reach and fostering growth in this dynamic space.

Bitwise Takes Over ETC Group – Home To Europe’s Largest Bitcoin Fund

Currently, the most prominent cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, is being traded at approximately $58,200. Over the weekend, it didn’t manage to surpass the significant $60,000 threshold due to a shortage of strong factors driving prices up in the market.

In the past day, Bitcoin has dropped by more than 2%. However, it encountered resistance at approximately $56,000 last week, a level that’s important for optimistic investors to maintain in order to prevent a potential further decline in the upcoming days. This price point could also serve as a test for Bitcoin reaching its 7-month low of around $49,000, which was hit on August 5th.

However, while Bitcoin saw gains, Ethereum had a steeper decline during the same period, trading at approximately $2,570 and experiencing a drop of 3.4%.

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2024-08-20 06:12