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Fidelity launches direct-hold bitcoin funds

By Joyanta Acharjee

14:24, 2 December 2021

Bitcoin investing chart
Fidelity Investments Canada is launching two crypto-themed investment products – Photo: Shutterstock

Institutional firms’ embrace of cryptocurrencies continues with Fidelity Investments Canada launching two crypto-themed investment products as soon as Thursday.

The Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF allows investors to gain exposure to bitcoin in order to diversify a portfolio with the world’s largest cryptocurrency. The fund will hold custody of digital assets itself.

 “We believe that cryptocurrency is a valid asset class that we would like to provide as an investment option for retail investors in Canada by including this in our product offering,” Fidelity Canada’s vice president of corporate affairs Chris Pepper told Capital.com.

Emerging technology

Although cleared by the industry regulator in Canada, funds that directly hold crypto have yet to be allowed to offer their investments on the US market by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

 “This product offers investors exposure to an emerging technology, and including it in a traditional portfolio of stocks and bonds may be beneficial from a portfolio diversification standpoint,” Pepper said.

The ETF will trade under the FBTC ticker on the Toronto Stock exchange and an associated mutual fund will trade under FBTC.U.

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Crypto services

At the same time, Fidelity Canada’s Clearing arm, which provides investment custody and clearing services, has become the nation’s first regulated entity to offer crypto trading and custody services for institutional investors, opening the door to more fund firms offering crypto investments in Canada.

BTC/USD

98,171.60 Price
-1.820% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee -0.0616%
Short position overnight fee 0.0137%
Overnight fee time 22:00 (UTC)
Spread 50.00

DOGE/USD

0.44 Price
-5.380% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee -0.0616%
Short position overnight fee 0.0137%
Overnight fee time 22:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.0021943

XRP/USD

2.40 Price
-6.900% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee -0.0616%
Short position overnight fee 0.0137%
Overnight fee time 22:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.01199

XLM/USD

0.46 Price
-7.030% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee -0.0616%
Short position overnight fee 0.0137%
Overnight fee time 22:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.00228

“In addition to these institutional clients, Fidelity Clearing also has an exemption allowing it to support Canadian-registered mutual funds with the same custody and transaction services,” Fidelity Canada’s Pepper said.

“The Canadian regulators worked tirelessly and cooperatively with Fidelity.  This was a complex regulatory file with everyone working towards the common goal”. 

Tax-efficient savings

Fidelity Canada’s new crypto ETF and mutual fund are eligible for the tax-efficient retirement and savings programmes known as registered retirement savings plans and tax-free savings accounts in Canada.

“We expect to launch the Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF and ETF Fund on or around 2 December,” Pepper added.

Other crypto-themed funds and ETFs are already available in Canada from fund firms such as Purpose Investments, CI Investments and 3iQ.

Read more: ETH eyes new all-time high as BTC lags

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BTC/USD
Bitcoin / USD
98171.60 USD
-1821.25 -1.820%

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The difference between trading assets and CFDs
The main difference between CFD trading and trading assets, such as commodities and stocks, is that you don’t own the underlying asset when you trade on a CFD.
You can still benefit if the market moves in your favour, or make a loss if it moves against you. However, with traditional trading you enter a contract to exchange the legal ownership of the individual shares or the commodities for money, and you own this until you sell it again.
CFDs are leveraged products, which means that you only need to deposit a percentage of the full value of the CFD trade in order to open a position. But with traditional trading, you buy the assets for the full amount. In the UK, there is no stamp duty on CFD trading, but there is when you buy stocks, for example.
CFDs attract overnight costs to hold the trades (unless you use 1-1 leverage), which makes them more suited to short-term trading opportunities. Stocks and commodities are more normally bought and held for longer. You might also pay a broker commission or fees when buying and selling assets direct and you’d need somewhere to store them safely.
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