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Crypto Investment · Tool Face-Off

Fidelity Bitcoin ETF vs Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)

Quick answer

Fidelity's FBTC is the smarter pick for most investors: razor-thin fees and true ETF structure beat GBTC's legacy baggage and high expense ratio. GBTC is only compelling if you're already holding it for tax reasons.

Our pick
Fidelity Bitcoin ETF (FBTC)
Institutional-grade Bitcoin exposure with Wall Street's lowest fees.
4.6
VS
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)
The OG Bitcoin fund — now an ETF, but carrying an expensive past.
3.7
Expense Ratio
0.25%/yr
1.50%/yr
Product Type
Spot Bitcoin ETF (since Jan 2024)
Spot Bitcoin ETF (converted Jan 2024; was closed-end trust)
Bitcoin Custody
Fidelity Digital Assets (self-custody)
Coinbase Custody
Ticker
FBTC
GBTC
AUM (approx.)
~$10–12B
~$18–22B
Historical NAV Premium/Discount
Tracks NAV closely as ETF
Traded at steep discount (up to -49%) before ETF conversion
Exchange Listed
CBOE
NYSE Arca
Minimum Investment
1 share (~price of BTC fraction)
1 share (~price of BTC fraction)
In-Kind Redemptions
Cash only (SEC requirement)
Cash only (SEC requirement)
Fee Waiver Promotions
0.00% on first $1B AUM (introductory, now expired)
No fee waivers offered
Track Record Length
Since January 2024
Since 2013 (11+ years)
Parent Company Reputation
Fidelity Investments — $4.5T AUM giant
Grayscale / Digital Currency Group

Fidelity Bitcoin ETF (FBTC)

Liquidity★★★★½
Fees & Cost★★★★★
Track Record★★★½
Transparency★★★★½
Ease of Access★★★★★
Regulatory Structure★★★★★

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)

Liquidity★★★★½
Fees & Cost½☆☆☆
Track Record★★★★½
Transparency★★★½
Ease of Access★★★★½
Regulatory Structure★★★½

Worth knowing

GBTC's 1.5% fee was set back when it was a monopoly and investors had no alternative — now it's basically a loyalty tax for people too lazy to switch.

If you want

You want the cheapest, cleanest Bitcoin ETF exposure

FBTC's 0.25% fee and Fidelity's custody model make it the no-brainer long-term hold.

→ Pick Fidelity Bitcoin ETF (FBTC)
If you want

You already hold GBTC with large unrealized gains

Selling triggers a taxable event — sometimes the devil you know (and owe taxes on) is cheaper to keep.

→ Pick Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)
If you want

You want the deepest liquidity and longest institutional track record

GBTC's larger AUM and 10+ year history give it an edge in market depth, though the fee gap is painful.

→ Pick Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)
If you want

You're a new investor opening a brokerage account today

Zero reason to start with GBTC's high fees when FBTC exists — same Bitcoin, a fraction of the cost.

→ Pick Fidelity Bitcoin ETF (FBTC)
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