Learn more about investing in cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.
Capital at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
Cryptoasset risk: Cryptoasset platforms may be at risk of being hacked or exploited and may involve significant risks due to a compromise of private keys, which may result in losses. Market disruption and government intervention can make digital assets illegal.
With 25 million crypto investors across Europe and crypto being the third most popular investment product, digital assets are increasingly becoming a significant part of the investment landscape.1 Discover the latest cryptocurrency insights with iShares.
Cryptocurrency is becoming increasing widely adopted with bitcoin being the first digital asset to gain widespread global adoption.2 Bitcoin is a digital currency not regulated by central banks or governments, that can be transferred from one person to another anywhere in the world. These transactions are recorded on a secure digital database called the blockchain, and once recorded cannot be changed.
Bitcoin is the world’s leading and most widely adopted cryptocurrency and the first digital asset to gain widespread global adoption.2 Bitcoin is a digital currency not regulated by central banks or governments, that can be transferred from one person to another anywhere in the world. These transactions are recorded on a secure digital database called the blockchain, and once recorded cannot be changed.
There is no physical form of bitcoin; it is solely a digital currency.
Digital assets: An umbrella term that refers to cryptoassets, stablecoins, and financial assets issued as tokens on a blockchain.
Cryptoassets, or cryptocurrencies, or crypto: Digital assets that exist only online and are built and stored on a record-keeping system called a blockchain. They use codes (cryptography) to keep them safe, let people trade directly with each other (peer-to-peer), and keep track of who owns what on a public record, without the need for banks.
Bitcoin: Bitcoin is the world’s leading and most widely adopted cryptocurrency and the first digital asset to gain widespread global adoption.2 Bitcoin is a digital currency not regulated by central banks or governments, that can be transferred from one person to another anywhere in the world. These transactions are recorded on a secure digital database called the blockchain, and once recorded cannot be changed.
Blockchain: A digital database that is shared amongst a network of computers. As a database, a blockchain stores information about transactions of digital assets, including who all the previous owners are, and who the asset belongs to now. What makes blockchain so innovative is that the previous records cannot be changed and any new entry must be verified by the network of computers, meaning you don’t need to place trust in a individual or institution to verity the records.
Cryptoasset risk: Cryptoasset platforms may be at risk of being hacked or exploited and may involve significant risks due to a compromise of private keys, which may result in losses. Market disruption and government intervention can make digital assets illegal.
As cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have grown in popularity, so have the investment options. Investors can invest directly in a digital asset like bitcoin through crypto exchanges. For investors who prefer the convenience of exchange-traded products (ETPs), Bitcoin ETPs can provide exposure through a traditional brokerage account.
We recommend you consult with a financial professional to determine if getting exposure to cryptocurrency such as bitcoin that aligns with your personal investment goals. There are several factors to consider.
Cryptoasset risk: Cryptoasset platforms may be at risk of being hacked or exploited and may involve significant risks due to a compromise of private keys, which may result in losses. Market disruption and government intervention can make digital assets illegal.
A cryptocurrency exchange-traded product (ETP) is an investment vehicle that provides exposure to the price of a cryptocurrency by investing directly in digital assets such as bitcoin. These ETPs can offer ease of stock trading, low costs, possible tax simplicity, and liquidity.
An ETF is a collection of investments like stocks and bonds bundled together in a single fund. ETFs are easy to trade – investors can buy and sell them on the stock market much like an individual stock.
An ETP provides access to the price of an underlying asset (like bitcoin) or a bundle of assets. It can be bought or sold on the stock market just like an ETF but may have a slightly different legal structure.
Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) provide investors with a more accessible way to gain exposure to digital assets like bitcoin, removing the operational, tax, and custody complexities associated with holding the bitcoin directly.
Crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) are generally accessible on brokerage platforms — the same place where investors typically purchase stocks, bonds, and other ETFs/ETPs.
Cryptoasset linked securities risk: The value of the ETP securities is closely tied to acceptance, industry developments, and governance changes, making them susceptible to market sentiment. Digital assets represent a new and rapidly evolving industry, and the value of the ETP securities depends on their acceptance.
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1 Source: BlackRock People & Money/YouGov Plc. All figures, unless stated otherwise, are from YouGov Plc. Sample size: 36,730 adults across Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and UK (any references to Europe in this report refer to these 14 markets). Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th March - 10th May 2024.
The survey was carried out online. Figures given an even weighting to produce an ‘average’ value. All calculations conducted by BlackRock. 2022 data refers to the previous 'Next wave of ETF investors' survey conducted by YouGov Plc between 12 August 2022 and 8 February 2023. Population figures are based on United Nations 2024 and 2022 Revisions of World Population Prospects report (18+ adults). The content and assumptions in this report are based on data derived directly from these surveys.
2 Source: CoinGecko, as of Dec. 31, 2024. Based on bitcoin’s market cap of $1.8T, which accounts for greater than 50% of the total market cap of all cryptoassets (excluding stablecoins and wrapped assets).
Important Information:
The ETP securities are not guaranteed. The value of the ETP securities may go down as well as up and you may lose some or all of your investment.
Investors who are not APs should be aware that they will not take delivery of any bitcoin as a result of buying or selling the ETP securities in the secondary market.
The ETP is intended for retail investors (i) with specific knowledge and/or experience of investing in similar products and with a solid understanding of the significant risks associated with cryptoassets including its associated volatility; (ii) seek a product offering exposure to the performance of the underlying asset(s); and (iii) that have the ability to bear losses up to the amount they have invested in the ETP. The ETP will not be suitable for retail investors that are unable to sustain a significant or complete loss of their investment.
Please refer to the prospectus, available on www.ishares.com, for more information on the ETP securities and the Issuer prior to investing.
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