How to Buy ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF Shares

Learn how to buy the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF and get exposure to Bitcoin in a safe and straightforward way.
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Updated on Nov 4, 2024
Reading time 2 minutes

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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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 BITO is the perfect route in for beginners, or casual investors.

Here we go through a step-by-step walkthrough on how to buy the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF , making the process simple and accessible for everyone. 

How to buy BITO ETF, a step-by-step guide

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Investing in the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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

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You need to use an online brokerage platform to buy shares in the BITO 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF in particular. Along with that, compare the fees across similar platforms before you decide which one to use.

eToro review
4.6
eToro
Min. Deposit $100
Fees 1%
No. assets 3600+
Demo account Yes

eToro review

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

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Once 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

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Log 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 BITO ETF.

4. Execute your order for BITO ETF

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Search for the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ticker symbol (BITO) 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF !

5. Monitor your position

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You 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF

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To 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.

We found 5 online brokers for users based in

eToro review
4.6
eToro
Min. Deposit $100
Fees 1%
No. assets 3600+
Demo account Yes

eToro review

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

Plus500 review
4.5
Plus500
Min. Deposit $100
Fees From 2%
No. assets 2800+
Demo account Yes

Plus500 review

This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorized by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe, such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.

How to buy Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO)
Min. Deposit n/a
Fees
No. assets n/a
Demo account

Should I invest in the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ETF?

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It’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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ETF. 

  • Regulation. The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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. 
  • ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ETF is more accessible. Rather than investing directly in Bitcoin, buying ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ETF just like stocks and use a familiar trading platform so you won’t need to learn new processes. 
  • ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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 BITO 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 BITO ETF performed in recent years?

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The current ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF price is $18.00. 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ?

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Yes, you can invest in ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF in several ways. One option is to buy stock in the BITO 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF trades directly to your own account. 

This can be a good investment strategy for beginners and a way to learn how to buy ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF from someone with more experience.

What are the fees for investing in ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ?

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It 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 BITO 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF .

Asset eToro fees Plus500 fees
Crypto 1% From 2%
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%
Stock CFDs 0.15%
ETF CFDs 0.15%
View more > eToro > Plus500 >

How to sell ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF

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When 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF now?

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It’s your investing goals and style that define whether now is a good time to buy. The current BITO 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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 BITO.
  • 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF fundamentals are solid then the best time to invest in BITO 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF all hours of the day but you don’t want to wait years for a return either.

Either way, following BITO price news and analysis will help you decide when to dip your toe into the market.

Quick answers to key questions

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Is the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF overvalued?

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There is no perfect way to value an ETF. You can use financial metrics like the P/E ratio to compare share prices among BITO ETF and its competitors, where a higher ratio indicates that an ETF is more expensive. But lots of different factors play into the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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?

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It depends on where you live but you do normally have to pay capital gains tax any time you make money from investing in the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF .

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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ‘s ticker symbol?

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The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ticker symbol is BITO. 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ETF ESG friendly?

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No, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF 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 ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ?

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The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF is a Bitcoin futures based exchange traded fund launched in October 2021. BITO trades on the New York Stock Exchange and gives investors exposure to Bitcoin futures contracts traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

BITO is structured as a commodity pool, with ProShare Capital Management serving as the investment advisor. The fund does not hold Bitcoin directly; instead, it invests in Bitcoin futures contracts to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency’s price movements.

ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF vs similar Bitcoin ETFs

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The main difference between ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF and other Bitcoin ETFs is the use of futures contracts, rather than direct Bitcoin holdings. This sets it apart from spot Bitcoin ETFs like the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) or Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), which hold the underlying cryptocurrency.

Another difference between ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF and similar funds is the expense ratio. BITO has an expense ratio of 0.95% which is considerably higher than Bitcoin spot ETFs such as IBIT which costs just 0.25%.

Although, when compared to other futures based Bitcoin funds, BITO is more cost effective. For example, the Valkyrie Bitcoin and Ether Strategy ETF has an expense ratio of 1.65%


Sources & references

James Knight

James Knight

Editor of Education

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James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets. His main focus is on improving financial literacy among casual investors. He has been with Invezz since the start of 2021 and has been...