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How to Buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Shares
In this guide
- 1. How to Buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Shares
- 2. How to buy BTC ETF, a step-by-step guide
- 3. Where to buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust
- 4. Should I invest in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF?
- 5. How has the BTC ETF performed in recent years?
- 6. How to sell Grayscale Bitcoin Trust
- 7. Should I buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust now?
- 8. Quick answers to key questions
- 9. What is the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust?
- 10. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust vs similar Bitcoin ETFs
Trade your favourite markets with our top-rated broker, .
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
It’s simple and more convenient than ever to invest in Bitcoin. Thanks to the arrival of some top Bitcoin ETFs, you can start investing in Bitcoin with just a few clicks, in no time at all.
You can invest in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust through a traditional trading account. It’s a low-cost, secure way to get exposure to the world’s largest cryptocurrency, with less risk compared to trading the crypto itself.
You don’t need to sign up to a crypto exchange or manage your own crypto at all if you don’t want to, so an ETF like BTC is the perfect route in for beginners, or casual investors.
Here we go through a step-by-step walkthrough on how to buy the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, making the process simple and accessible for everyone.
How to buy BTC ETF, a step-by-step guide
Copy link to sectionInvesting in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is quick and painless, so don’t worry even if you’re new to ETF investing. These are the steps to follow in order to complete your investment:
1. Choose a broker
Copy link to sectionYou need to use an online brokerage platform to buy shares in the BTC ETF. We recommend eToro , but there are many different options to choose from.
The main thing to check is that the broker offers ETFs in general and the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust in particular. Along with that, compare the fees across similar platforms before you decide which one to use.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
2. Create an account
Copy link to sectionOnce you’ve selected your broker, simply go to their website and create an account. The steps required for this will vary from platform to platform, but generally you can expect to have to provide your name, email address, phone number, and some form of photo identification.
You can only start using the account properly after you’ve verified your identity with that form of ID. This is normal practice, in accordance with financial regulations laid down by the Securities and Exchange Commission which are designed to prevent fraud and money laundering online.
3. Deposit funds
Copy link to sectionLog into your broker account and select the option to deposit funds. Depending on your broker you’ll have a variety of payment options available; most brokers accept bank transfers and debit card payments, but not all accept e-wallets such as PayPal.
Select your preferred payment method and deposit the amount of money you wish to invest in the BTC ETF.
4. Execute your order for BTC ETF
Copy link to sectionSearch for the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ticker symbol (BTC) and see the current price at which the ETF is trading.
If you’re happy with the price, enter the amount of shares you wish to own and place your order.
Once you’ve placed your order, your broker automatically executes it for you and your shares will be listed in your account.
Congratulations, you’ve just invested in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust!
5. Monitor your position
Copy link to sectionYou should check back regularly and monitor this position. Have a price in mind at which you’d be prepared to sell, to lock in a profit (hopefully) or limit a loss.
Where to buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust
Copy link to sectionTo invest in an ETF like this, you need to sign up with an online stock broker. We recommend a platform like eToro .
Alternatively, choose any of our recommended ETF platforms below, each of them offer a beginner-friendly way to invest.
We’ve ordered them according to their value for money, regulatory status, and how easy it is to use the platform.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Plus500
CFD service. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorised by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.
Should I invest in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF?
Copy link to sectionIt’s a perfect entry point into the Bitcoin world. If you aren’t interested signing up to a crypto exchange and buying Bitcoin directly – and there are legitimate reasons to be cautious about that – then this is a great alternative.
An ETF is an ideal investment tool for beginners because it’s cheap and easy to buy, while you benefit from greater regulation than you would get otherwise.
Here are a few reasons you might want to consider investing in Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF.
- Regulation. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF is subject to regulatory oversight by the SEC. This means you’ll have better protection and transparency which is often lacking in the wider crypto market.
- Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF is more accessible. Rather than investing directly in Bitcoin, buying Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF is easier and more accessible to the everyday investor. This makes it a good choice if you’re unsure how to navigate the crypto market.
- Simplicity. You can buy and sell shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF just like stocks and use a familiar trading platform so you won’t need to learn new processes.
- Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF takes care of custody. When you buy Bitcoin directly you’ll need to find a place to store your coins. While this is generally quite simple to do, it’s even easier buying the BTC as everything is taken care of for you.
- Potential tax efficiency. Investing in an ETF generally offers a more straightforward way to report tax compared to direct ownership of crypto. Although this largely depends on your local jurisdiction and tax rules.
You should know that this is not the only Bitcoin ETF available. It’s one of a flurry of ETFs that were made available at around the same time.
Here are a few more Bitcoin ETFs you can buy. Most of them are very similar, but the costs and exact make-up of the ETF can vary. It’s worth comparing the investor prospectus or fact sheet to get a feel for how they differ:
How has the BTC ETF performed in recent years?
Copy link to sectionThe current Grayscale Bitcoin Trust price is $46.00. As the fund is fairly new, there is not much past price performance to take into account.
One of the best ways to evaluate the performance of an ETF like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is by tracking the price of Bitcoin and comparing the two. The rises and falls of the ETF should very closely resemble the Bitcoin price. If it doesn’t, consider looking elsewhere.
Are there other ways to buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust?
Copy link to sectionYes, you can invest in Grayscale Bitcoin Trust in several ways. One option is to buy stock in the BTC ETF directly through an investment platform as laid out above.
Another option is to use a social copy trading platform, like eToro. Find a trader who you like and copy their Grayscale Bitcoin Trust trades directly to your own account.
This can be a good investment strategy for beginners and a way to learn how to buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust from someone with more experience.
What are the fees for investing in Grayscale Bitcoin Trust?
Copy link to sectionIt depends on the stockbroker. Some platforms charge a flat fee per trade, others charge a commission as a percentage of the total trade value each time you buy BTC ETF.
Consider that there may be other costs to trading too. Other fees can include deposit and withdrawal fees, or inactivity fees if you don’t use your account for three months or more.
These are the trading platforms that charge the lowest fees for buying Grayscale Bitcoin Trust.
| Asset | eToro fees | Plus500 fees | Public fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crypto | 1% | From 2% | 1-2% (spread) |
| Commodities | From 2 pips | From 0.04% | – |
| Forex | From 1 pip | – | – |
| Index prices | From 0.75 pts | From 0.7% | – |
| Stocks | 0% commission | From 0.08% | Spreads |
| Stock CFDs | 0.15% | – | – |
| ETF CFDs | 0.15% | – | – |
| View more > | eToro > | Plus500 > | Public > |
How to sell Grayscale Bitcoin Trust
Copy link to sectionWhen you decide the time is right to sell and lock in some profit (or cut your losses), log into your broker account and navigate to your portfolio.
From there, find your Grayscale Bitcoin Trust holding and you’ll see a ‘sell’ option next to it. Click that to set the details of the trade (you don’t have to sell all your stocks at once) and sell back to cash.
Should I buy Grayscale Bitcoin Trust now?
Copy link to sectionIt’s your investing goals and style that define whether now is a good time to buy. The current BTC ETF price plays into it but ultimately it depends on your investment horizons.
- If you’re a short term trader: the goal is to make money by buying and selling stocks regularly to secure a profit or avoid a loss. That can mean trading hourly, daily, or weekly but the focus is always on the near future. Traders learn how to buy shares in Grayscale Bitcoin Trust based on short term technical analysis and don’t hold shares for a long time, so any time can be a good time to buy BTC.
- If you’re a long term investor: you’re more interested in long term price appreciation than whether a stock is up or down on any given day. The important thing is finding a stock with a strong foundation where you think the share price will be up over a period of months or years. If you think the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust fundamentals are solid then the best time to invest in BTC ETF shares is after a dip or a pullback in price.
Most new traders sit somewhere between these two positions. You don’t want to actively trade Grayscale Bitcoin Trust all hours of the day but you don’t want to wait years for a return either.
Either way, following BTC price news and analysis will help you decide when to dip your toe into the market.
Quick answers to key questions
Copy link to sectionIs the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust overvalued?
Copy link to sectionThere is no perfect way to value an ETF. You can use financial metrics like the P/E ratio to compare share prices among BTC ETF and its competitors, where a higher ratio indicates that an ETF is more expensive. But lots of different factors play into the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust share price and the ‘right’ valuation is often a matter of opinion.
Do I have to pay capital gains tax on any profits I make?
Copy link to sectionIt depends on where you live but you do normally have to pay capital gains tax any time you make money from investing in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust.
Capital gains tax is often charged at 10-15% of your profit but there are ways to limit the amount you have to pay, by using tax-friendly stock market investment vehicles and writing off losses.
Speak to an accountant or a tax professional and check the tax laws where you live to find out more.
What is Grayscale Bitcoin Trust‘s ticker symbol?
Copy link to sectionThe Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ticker symbol is BTC. A ticker symbol, or stock code, is an exchange traded fund’s unique identifier so that you can find them on stock exchanges.
Is the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF ESG friendly?
Copy link to sectionNo, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is not considered an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) friendly investment. Bitcoin mining has large energy usage, there is limited transparency & governance, and it is a speculative asset class.
What is the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust?
Copy link to sectionGrayscale Bitcoin Trust is a Bitcoin investment fund that was launched in 2013 as a private placement and later converted to a publicly-traded trust. In early 2024, it began trading on the over-the-counter (OTC) market under the ticker symbol BTC, making it one of the first bitcoin investment products available to US investors.
BTC does not purchase or hold Bitcoin directly. Instead, it invests in bitcoin by buying and holding the cryptocurrency on behalf of its shareholders. Grayscale Investments, LLC, the world’s largest digital currency asset manager, is the sponsor and manager of the trust.
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust vs similar Bitcoin ETFs
Copy link to sectionThere are several differences between BTC and similar funds. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is a closed end trust rather than an ETF, which means it does not trade at NAV like a traditional exchange traded fund.
When it comes to fees, GBTC’s 1.50% expense ratio is higher than the 0.20% to 0.40% fees charged by spot bitcoin ETFs like the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC).