The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) is an exchange-traded fund designed to track the spot price of Bitcoin. The ETF is managed by 21Shares US LLC in partnership with ARK Invest and trades under the ticker ARKB on the Cboe BZX Exchange.

Classified as a cryptocurrency ETF, the fund provides direct exposure to Bitcoin by holding the digital asset in custody rather than using futures contracts. Its structure allows investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin's price movements through a regulated exchange-traded investment vehicle.

The ETF follows a passive investment approach and seeks to reflect, before fees and expenses, the performance of the spot price of Bitcoin using a benchmark based on the cryptocurrency's spot market.

Diversification and sector exposure

ARKB provides exposure primarily associated with:

• Bitcoin.

• Cryptocurrencies.

• Digital assets.

• Blockchain.

• Digital economy.

• Financial technology.

• Crypto asset market.

• Spot exposure.

Because the fund invests exclusively in Bitcoin, it does not provide diversification across multiple assets or economic sectors.

The ETF's performance closely tracks movements in Bitcoin's market price and is influenced by factors such as supply and demand, institutional adoption, developments within the digital-asset ecosystem, and broader financial-market conditions.

Structure and costs

ARKB shares trade on the secondary market on the Cboe BZX Exchange during regular trading hours. Share creation and redemption occur through authorized participants using cash creations and redemptions, a mechanism designed to help keep the ETF's market price aligned with its net asset value (NAV).

The Bitcoin held by the fund is maintained by a specialized digital-asset custodian using institutional-grade custody and security measures designed to safeguard private keys. The ETF charges a management fee as outlined in its prospectus and does not apply a performance fee.

Because it invests exclusively in Bitcoin, the fund is subject to the significant price volatility associated with cryptocurrency markets.

History and evolution of the ETF

The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF was launched in 2024 following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. Its launch marked an important milestone for the digital-asset industry by allowing investors to access Bitcoin through a regulated, exchange-traded investment vehicle.

Since inception, the fund has become part of the growing group of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, reflecting the continued institutional adoption of Bitcoin and the ongoing development of the digital-asset ecosystem.

Additional Information

ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (United States) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF), with assets under management totaling $2.09 billion.

Over the past 12 months, ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF recorded a return of -44.52%, with its price trading between $19.46 and $41.70 during the same period.

The ETF is traded under the ticker ARKB.