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Subsequent Events
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
Subsequent Events
11. Subsequent Events
On January 10, 2024, the SEC approved an application under Rule 19b-4 of the Exchange Act by NYSE Arca to list the Shares of the Trust. Shares of the Trust began trading on NYSE Arca on January 11, 2024 (the “Uplisting Date”), and the
19b-4
application was amended on January 17, 2024. On October 19, 2023, the Sponsor filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form
S-3
to register the Shares of the Trust under the Securities Act of 1933. The registration statement on Form
S-3
was declared effective on January 10, 2024.
Also on January 10, 2024, in connection with the approval of the
19b-4
Application, the Sponsor
authorized
the commencement of a redemption program. Effective January 11, 2024, the Trust creates and redeems Shares at such times and for such periods as determined by the Sponsor, but only in one or more whole Baskets. A Basket equals 10,000 Shares. The creation of a Basket requires the delivery to the Trust of the number of Bitcoins represented by one Share immediately prior to such creation multiplied by 10,000. The redemption of a Basket requires distribution by the Trust of the number of Bitcoins represented by one Share immediately prior to such redemption multiplied by 10,000. The Trust may from time to time halt creations and redemptions for a variety of reasons, including in connection with forks, airdrops and other similar occurrences.
On January 9, 2024, the Sponsor and Delaware Trust Company, the trustee of the Trust, entered into the Sixth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement, dated as of January 9, 2024 (the “Sixth A&R Trust Agreement”). The amendments implemented by the Sixth A&R Trust Agreement are described in the Trust’s Consent Solicitation Statement included in its definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on December 18, 2023. Effective January 9, 2024, the Sponsor’s Fee accrues daily in U.S. dollars and is payable in Bitcoin, daily in arrears. In addition, amendments to the Trust Agreement permit a portion of the Trust Estate (as defined in the Trust Agreement) to be held from time to time in one or more omnibus accounts in order to facilitate the creation and redemption of Shares of the Trust.
In addition, on January 9, 2024, the Sponsor and the Trustee entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Sixth A&R Trust Agreement in order to reduce the Sponsor’s Fee to 1.5%, effective as of the Uplisting Date. As a result, effective January 11, 2024, the Sponsor’s Fee was lowered from 2.0% to 1.5%.
On May 2, 2018 and July 29, 2019, the Sponsor delivered to the former custodian and the current Custodian, respectively, on behalf of the Trust, a notice stating that the Trust is abandoning irrevocably for no direct or indirect consideration, effective immediately prior to each time at which the Trust creates Shares, all Incidental Rights and IR Virtual Currency to which it would otherwise be entitled as of such time. On January 5, 2024, the Trust delivered a supplemental notice to the Prime Broker, the Custodian and Coinbase Credit, Inc. providing that the Trust also will abandon irrevocably for no direct or indirect consideration, effective immediately prior to each time at which the Trust redeems Shares, all Incidental Rights or IR Virtual Currency to which it would otherwise be entitled as of such time. The Sponsor has committed to cause the Trust not to take any Affirmative Action to acquire any Incidental Rights or IR Virtual Currency, thereby irrevocably abandoning any Incidental Rights and IR Virtual Currency to which the Trust may become entitled in the future. Because the Sponsor has now committed to causing the Trust to irrevocably abandon all Incidental Rights and IR Virtual Currency to which the Trust otherwise would become entitled in the future, and causing the Trust not to take any Affirmative Actions, the Trust will not receive any direct or indirect consideration for the Incidental Rights or IR Virtual Currency and thus the value of the Shares will not reflect the value of the Incidental Rights or IR Virtual Currency. In addition, in the event the Sponsor seeks to change the Trust’s policy with respect to Incidental Rights or IR Virtual Currency, an application would need to be filed with the SEC by NYSE Arca seeking approval to amend its listing rules to permit the Trust to distribute the Incidental Rights or IR Virtual Currency
in-kind
to an agent of the shareholders for resale by such agent.
On November 16, 2023, the Sponsor of the Trust, and The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”) entered into a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement (the “Transfer Agency and Service Agreement”) engaging BNY Mellon to serve as the transfer agent for the Trust (the “Transfer Agent”) effective as of the Uplisting Date. Under the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, the Transfer Agent will provide the following services to the Trust and the Sponsor as of the Uplisting Date: (1) facilitate the issuance and redemption of shares of the Trust; (2) respond to correspondence by Trust shareholders and others relating to its duties; (3) maintain shareholder accounts; and (4) make periodic reports to the Trust. Fees paid to the Transfer Agent are a Sponsor-paid Expense. BNY Mellon also serves as the administrator for the Trust.
 
On November 16, 2023, the Sponsor and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a Delaware corporation (“Continental”), entered into a
Co-Transfer
Agency Agreement (the
“Co-Transfer
Agency Agreement”) engaging Continental to serve as a
co-transfer
agent for the Trust (the
“Co-Transfer
Agent”). In connection with the entry into the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement with BNY Mellon and the
Co-Transfer
Agency Agreement with Continental, the Sponsor and Continental agreed to terminate, as of the Uplisting Date, the transfer agency and services agreement, dated September 25, 2013, among the Sponsor, the Trust and Continental, pursuant to which Continental served as transfer agent for the Trust. As a result, effective as of the Uplisting Date, Continental will no longer act as the transfer agent for the Trust but will continue to serve as the
Co-Transfer
Agent.
On December 29, 2023, the Trust, the Sponsor and Coinbase, Inc., the prime broker of the Trust (“Coinbase” or the “Prime Broker”), on behalf of itself and as agent for Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC (“Coinbase Custody” or the “Custodian”) and Coinbase Credit, Inc. (“Coinbase Credit” and, collectively with Coinbase and Coinbase Custody, the “Coinbase Entities”), entered into the Coinbase Prime Broker Agreement governing the Trust’s and the Sponsor’s use of the custodial and prime broker services provided by the Custodian and the Prime Broker. The Prime Broker Agreement establishes the rights and responsibilities of the Custodian, the Prime Broker, the Sponsor and the Trust with respect to the Trust’s Bitcoin which is held in accounts maintained and operated by the Custodian, as a fiduciary with respect to the Trust’s assets, and the Prime Broker (together with the Custodian, the “Custodial Entities”) on behalf of the Trust. The Prime Broker Agreement became effective as of the Uplisting Date.
On or after January 10, 2024, the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust and the Transfer Agent entered into Participant Agreements with a number of unaffiliated Authorized Participants in connection with the approval of NYSE Arca’s application under
Rule 19b-4
of the Exchange Act.
The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, is party to a marketing agent agreement dated August 18, 2022 (the “Marketing Agent Agreement”) with Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Marketing Agent”). Effective January 10, 2024, under the Marketing Agent Agreement, the Marketing Agent will provide the following services to the Sponsor: (i) assist the Sponsor in facilitating Participation Agreements between and among Authorized Participants, the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, and the Transfer Agent; (ii) provide prospectuses to Authorized Participants; (iii) work with the Transfer Agent to review and approve orders placed by the Authorized Participants and transmitted to the Transfer Agent; (iv) review and file applicable marketing materials with FINRA and (v) maintain, reproduce and store applicable books and records related to the services provided under the Marketing Agent Agreement. The Sponsor will pay the Marketing Agent an annual fee, as well as certain
out-of-pocket
fees and expenses of the Marketing Agent incurred in connection with its assistance in the marketing of the Trust and its Shares.
In connection with the entry into the Participant Agreements referred to above, as of January 10, 2024, the Sponsor amended, solely, with respect to the Trust, the Participant Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2022, between the Sponsor and Grayscale Securities, to remove the Trust as an entity covered by the Agreement. Effective January 10, 2024, Grayscale Securities no longer serves as Authorized Participant of the Trust.
As of the close of business on February 19, 2024, the fair value of Bitcoin determined in accordance with the Trust’s accounting policy was $51,813.41 per Bitcoin.
There are no known events that have occurred that require disclosure other than that which has already been disclosed in these notes to the financial statements.