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Concentration Risk
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]  
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 7. Concentration Risk

 

Substantially all of the Trust’s assets are holdings of bitcoin, which creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the value of bitcoin due to number of factors. Accordingly, a decline in the value of bitcoin will have an adverse effect on the value of the Shares of the Trust. Factors that may have the effect of causing a decline in the value of bitcoin include high volatility, which could have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust. Bitcoin exchanges are relatively new and, in some cases, unregulated, and, therefore, may be more exposed to fraud and security breaches than established, regulated exchanges for other financial assets or instruments, which could have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust. The value of the Shares depends on the development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network. The slowing or stopping of the development or acceptance of the Bitcoin network may adversely affect an investment in the Trust. The price of bitcoin on the bitcoin market has exhibited periods of extreme volatility. Digital assets such as bitcoin were only introduced within the past decade, and the medium-to-long term value of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the capabilities and development of block-chain technologies and to the fundamental investment characteristics of digital assets that are uncertain and difficult to evaluate. The Trust is subject to risks due to its concentration of investments in a single asset class. Possible illiquid markets may exacerbate losses or increase the variability between the Trust’s NAV and its market price. The amount of bitcoin represented by the Shares may decline over time.

 

Future and current regulations by a United States or foreign government or quasi-governmental agency could have an adverse effect on an investment in the Trust. Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of Shares in an investment company registered under the 1940 Act or the protections afforded by the Commodity Exchange Act. Future legal or regulatory developments may negatively affect the value of bitcoin or require the Trust or the Sponsor to become registered with the SEC or CFTC, which may cause the Trust to liquidate.

 

The Exchange on which the Shares are listed may halt trading in the Trust’s Shares, which would adversely impact a Shareholder’s ability to sell Shares. The market infrastructure of the bitcoin spot market could result in the absence of active authorized participants able to support the trading activity of the Trust.

 

Shareholders that are not authorized participants may only purchase or sell their Shares in secondary trading markets, and the conditions associated with trading in secondary markets may adversely affect Shareholders’ investment in the Shares.