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Bitcoin ETF vs Buying BTC Directly: What’s Better?

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A spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) has been one of the hottest topics over the past few years. Many investment companies, both traditional and crypto-oriented, have been filing multiple applications with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission over and over again.

On January 10th, 2024, the SEC finally gave the go-ahead and greenlighted a total of 11 Bitcoin ETF applications.

It’s been a hard-fought battle spanning many years, and if you want to check out the full timeline of the events, take a look at our detailed article on the matter:

Timeline of Events Leading to Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval in the United States

With the approval already a fact, it’s now critical to explore a very important subject – the difference between buying a spot Bitcoin ETF and buying Bitcoin directly and what might be better for you.

Here’s a quick table of comparison between both, while the following article provides a more in-depth look.

btc_etf1

What is a Spot Bitcoin ETF?

Exchange-traded funds have been a cornerstone in the world of traditional finance for many years.

In essence, an ETF represents a basket (or individual) of assets, and it trades on an exchange just like a regular stock does. It can track the price of various types of assets, including but not limited to securities, commodities, or other assets. It can track multiple assets or just one (as is the case with the spot Bitcoin ETF).

In the case of the Bitcoin ETFs, they provide a traditional and well-regarded investment vehicle to gain exposure to the price of BTC.

There is, however, a technical difference between the ETF itself and the asset that it tracks. Since the ETF itself is a standalone product – it has a market of its own and trades independently of the asset that underpins it. This is why there might be a difference between the ETF price and the net asset value (NAV) of the underpinning product.

There are other important takeaways that characterize the Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, so let’s have a look at a comprehensive summary.

btc_etf2

Trades on traditional exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange

Because the ETF is a traditional investment product, it trades on regulated exchanges on Wall Street, such as the New York Stock Exchange. ETFs don’t trade on cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance.

Investors don’t own the underlying BTC

Owning an ETF doesn’t grant ownership to the underlying product. Think of it as a synthetic asset that’s built on top of BTC, and it tracks its price. Investors who buy the ETF don’t have to worry about storing and safekeeping BTC.

The shares in the ETF are backed by BTC, which is owned and stored by the ETF provider.

There are acquisition fees depending on the ETF provider

There are multiple Bitcoin ETFs, and each of them comes with different fees stipulated by the provider. In the case of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), there’s a sponsor fee of 0.25% (T&C apply).

Managed by the ETF provider

ETFs are managed by the companies that launch them. They can pull support if they don’t meet certain criteria and can also change the fees at their own volition.

Trades within traditional US trading hours

Because ETFs trade on traditional and regulated US exchanges like NYSE, they can only be accessed during regular US trading hours.

There might be an ETF/NAV price difference

There might be a price difference between the Bitcoin ETF and the price of Bitcoin on the same day. This is because ETFs trade on their separate markets, which dictate their current price.

Pros and Cons of a Bitcoin ETF

The above characteristics are specific to Bitcoin ETFs, and they bring certain advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

  • Regulated financial product
  • It can be included in specialized portfolios like retirement or 401(k)
  • Backed by regulated and reputable providers like BlackRock

Cons:

  • Investors do not own the underlying BTC
  • There might be a premium on the ETF compared to the BTC NAV
  • Limited trading hours and higher fees

Buying BTC Directly

As opposed to ETFs, buying Bitcoin directly provides you with ownership over the BTC, regardless of whether you buy it from an exchange or P2P.

Of course, if you do buy it through an exchange such as Binance, you should consider self-custody. This means that you should take your BTC off the exchange and transfer it into a cold wallet such as Trezor or Ledger, where you control the private keys.

In crypto, there’s a popular saying that goes like this:

“Not your keys, not your Bitcoin.”

This also comes with certain responsibilities. Keeping your crypto safe can be a challenging task, especially if you have no prior experience. Worry not, however, as we’ve prepared a detailed guide on what you can do to make sure your BTC is safe.

9 Tips for Securing Your Bitcoin and Crypto Wallets You Must Follow

Just as it is with ETFs, buying Bitcoin directly has its specifics. Here’s a quick summary.

btc_etf3

Trades on cryptocurrency exchanges

You can’t buy Bitcoin on the New York Stock Exchange. You have to use a cryptocurrency exchange. The most popular ones are Binance (outside of the US) and Coinbase (US).

Investors get direct ownership of BTC

Once you buy spot BTC on a cryptocurrency exchange – you own it. You can transfer it out of the exchange to a cold storage, or you can use it to trade against other altcoins such as Ethereum.

Acquisition fees vary between crypto exchanges

Unlike ETFs, there’s no Sponsor fee. There are, however, trading fees associated with buying and selling BTC, and they vary based on the cryptocurrency exchange of choice.

Managed by you

Since you have complete ownership over the BTC you bought, you are also responsible for its safety. Self-custody comes with certain challenges, and it’s imperative that you learn about cold storage and how to keep your crypto safe.

Trades 24/7, irrespective of traditional working hours

Cryptocurrency exchanges work around the clock, so there are no limitations in terms of trading hours or weekends.

Direct exposure to the BTC price

You don’t have to worry about differences in the price of the ETF and the net asset’s value. You’re as exposed to the BTC price as it’s physically possible.

Pros and Cons of Buying BTC Directly

Here are the advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:

  • You get direct ownership of the BTC you buy
  • You can get full control through self-custody
  • Unlimited trading hours and lower fees

Cons:

  • Storing your BTC can be challenging and requires higher technical expertise
  • Can’t include it in traditional retirement plans and 401(k)
  • Not recognized as a financial instrument

Bitcoin ETF vs. Buying BTC Directly: What’s Better?

The above comprises the most essential differences between a spot Bitcoin ETF and buying BTC directly.

There’s no one answer as to which is better, and it strongly depends on the individual preferences and needs of the investor.

For instance, if you’re not tech-savvy, not interested in trading BTC against other altcoins, want long-term exposure without having to worry about safekeeping your crypto, and don’t mind the higher fees, an ETF might be the better option.

However, if you are well-versed in the crypto field and prefer direct ownership of BTC because you want to either safely store it on your cold wallet or you want to trade it actively against other altcoins, then perhaps buying BTC directly is the way to go.

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30% Surge for Dogecoin? Here’s What Needs to Happen (Analyst)

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TL;DR

  • The meme coin mania seems to have faded despite a few brief moments of hope, and the niche’s leader has failed to recapture its momentum and investors’ attention.
  • However, there’s a chance for a massive double-digit surge, but only under certain conditions, according to popular crypto analyst Ali Martinez.

To embark on its 30% journey north, the largest meme coin by market cap first needs to reclaim the $0.17 resistance. This doesn’t sound like such a major hurdle, given its current price tag of $0.164.

The second part of the equation involves the TD Sequential, which is a metric often used to determine the underlying asset’s market exhaustion in either direction.

The indicator has presented a buy signal on DOGE’s 3-Day chart. Consequently, Martinez concluded that both of these factors could result in a price pump to $0.21.

This would be a breath of fresh air for Dogecoin, which has struggled quite a lot since early 2025. In the past month alone, its price has tumbled by over 21%.

Despite this rather unfavorable market movement lately, some industry participants have remained highly bullish on DOGE’s future price trajectory. JAVON MARKS, known for his bullish statements on several crypto assets, believes the OG meme coin still has a chance to post a mind-blowing surge that can take it to the stratosphere, based on historic performance.

Such a price tag sounds just a bit far-fetched at the moment. History is no indication for future price movements, and $20 per DOGE would mean a whopping market cap of roughly $3 trillion, which would make it a lot bigger than BTC.

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Glassnode: ETFs, Macro Trends, and $114 Billion Futures Boom Drive Bitcoin Liquidity

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The transformation of Bitcoin (BTC) from speculative novelty to a cornerstone of global finance is gaining momentum, with more than $544 billion in fresh capital flooding the network since late 2022.

A new report from Glassnode and Avenir Group has uncovered a “liquidity trifecta” of on-chain dynamics, market microstructure, and macro linkages underpinning the original cryptocurrency’s maturation as a standalone asset class.

The $550 Million Daily Money Machine

According to the analysis, Bitcoin’s evolution has become visible in its on-chain fundamentals. Since March 2023, those investing in the crypto asset have locked in profits amounting to about $550 million daily, signifying a deep, mature market where participants have serious conviction, taking gains, knowing the market is strong enough to absorb it.

The survey also found the action was just as intense off-chain, with Bitcoin futures and options becoming the new playground for big money. Total open interest went from $11.1 billion in late 2022 to $114 billion during BTC’s historic charge past $100,000 at the beginning of 2025, a testament that institutions are not just dipping their toes, but are diving into crypto headfirst.

Other key signs of institutional accumulation came from analyzing market microstructure tools such as the Limit Order Book (LOB), which brought to light sophisticated liquidity patterns. For example, before the 2024 spot Bitcoin ETF approval, there was extreme sell-side pressure, which was replaced with a buy-side surge after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) greenlit the financial products.

Similarly, Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) metrics exposed speculative vs. genuine demand, with Glassnode claiming that the current perpetual futures dominance suggests BTC’s latest rally is leaning speculative.

Altcoins Get Left Behind

The joint report also noted that Bitcoin’s sensitivity to macroeconomic forces has eclipsed its crypto-native cycles. Its price now moves tightly alongside the Global Liquidity Index (GLI) and traditional markets like the S&P 500, while moving against assets like the U.S. dollar.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs have validated this macro alignment. While some critics had dismissed them as fleeting speculation when they were first introduced, Glassnode’s “unhedged demand” metric, which filters out arbitrage-driven flows, shows that they now represent genuine long-term institutional muscle.

Meanwhile, the study revealed that altcoins are facing a liquidity crisis, with capital concentration mainly favoring Bitcoin and speculative meme coins on Solana. Per the data, in this cycle, funds going into altcoins dropped by a whopping $46 billion compared to the last boom. Ethereum, which once captured up to 65% of altcoin inflows, has since seen its share plummet to just 31%, with only Solana and XRP managing to outpace BTC.

In Solana’s case, the uptick was fueled mainly by an explosion of meme coins, which saw their collective value shoot up 9,150% from $400 million to $37 billion. XRP has also had a wild ride of its own, with the anticipated resolution to a long-winded legal battle between the SEC and Ripple Labs over the token’s status, helping boost its value in the market on several occasions.

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BTC and ETH Rebound as Altseason Optimism Fades: Binance Report

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ˇTThis week, bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) recovered from the decline triggered by geopolitical developments last week. While BTC showed greater resilience compared to ETH, both assets rebounded strongly as tensions appeared to ease.

According to a weekly report by the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, Bitcoin’s dominance recorded a slight decline during the recovery. However, this is not a strong indication that the market will soon witness an altseason.

BTC, ETH Prices Rebound

Binance said bitcoin’s resilience signaled a potential shift toward risk assets as macro conditions somewhat improved.

After a broader shakeout triggered by geopolitical tensions, both traditional assets and BTC ended the week in the green. However, BTC solidified its position as an emerging hedge asset amid geopolitical uncertainty, recovering to $107,000 after falling to $98,000 at the beginning of the week.

On the other hand, ETH followed a similar trajectory but exhibited greater downside volatility and a less pronounced recovery. The asset’s performance showed that it is less established in the role of a hedge asset. ETH closed the week below its opening price at $2,480 after plunging to a low of $2,130 on Monday.

“While it remains uncertain whether Bitcoin will sustain its outperformance following this weekend’s events, its strong initial recovery may signal market expectations for a continued upward trend in the largest cryptocurrency. Bitcoin dominance remains elevated at ~66%,” Binance added.

Altseason Optimism Fades

As both assets strive to remain above certain support zones, optimism for an altseason in this cycle is fading. Investors are increasingly asking when the altseason will begin.

According to historical data, these have consistently followed strong BTC rallies, becoming more pronounced when the leading asset enters a consolidation phase. During these times, capital has rotated from BTC to more volatile, small-cap altcoins with higher speculative appeal.

Interestingly, past altcoin seasons have been characterized by new industry themes, such as initial coin offerings (ICOs), decentralized finance (DeFi), and layer-2 solutions. In this cycle, the prevailing concepts — meme coins, BitcoinFi, and decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) — are modifications of previous trends, so they are not strong enough to trigger major rallies.

This cycle is also different because of the oversaturated market of new projects. Binance analysts insist that even if fresh capital flows into altcoins, it is likely to be diluted across the numerous tokens currently in existence. Hence, the market requires a significant catalyst to trigger the altseason, as capital rotation and industry narratives are no longer sufficient.

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