ETC Group
ETC Group is a London-based crypto ETP issuer, acquired by Bitwise in August 2024, offering nine European-listed, 100% physically-backed exchange-traded products that give professional and institutional investors regulated, cold-storage-custodied digital asset exposure via major European exchanges.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ETC Group does
ETC Group was a London-based cryptocurrency Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) issuer founded in 2019, focused on providing professional and institutional investors with regulated, exchange-traded access to digital assets. The company issued nine European-listed crypto ETPs — covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and diversified/thematic baskets — all 100% physically backed by the underlying tokens held in cold-storage wallets with regulated custodians. Products were German-domiciled through Bitwise Europe GmbH, traded on recognised European exchanges (notably Xetra/Deutsche Börse), and accessible to investors through standard securities accounts without requiring crypto-wallet setup. The group's technology stack centres on ETP infrastructure: physical replication, cold-storage custody orchestration, ISO 27001-certified information security management, and an independent trustee arrangement for investor protection.
ETC Group monetised through recurring Total Expense Ratios (TERs) charged on assets under management, with the flagship Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP (BTC1) priced at a 0.05% management fee (committed at that level through 31 December 2026). Distribution ran through both product-led self-serve access via existing brokerage platforms and an enterprise field-sales motion for institutional due-diligence engagements, supported by an Insights Hub, investor-type-segmented newsletters, webinars, and a Professional Investors Area. The company's target customers were professional investors needing regulated crypto exposure via familiar securities-account infrastructure, and global institutional allocators requiring benchmark-conscious, long-term buy-and-hold products with institutional-grade risk management.
On 19 August 2024, Bitwise Asset Management acquired ETC Group, adding the nine ETPs and over $1bn in AUM to create a combined entity with more than $4.5bn in AUM. Within the broader Bitwise platform, ETC Group's products sit alongside an expanded suite of 70+ crypto investment solutions spanning spot, staking, and diversified wrappers, with $11bn+ in worldwide client assets and a 200+ person team. As a result of the transaction, ETC Group no longer operates as an independent entity and now functions as the European ETP arm of Bitwise.
ETC Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ETC Group
- Legal name
- ETC Group
- Website
- https://etc-group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ETC Group is a London-based crypto ETP issuer, acquired by Bitwise in August 2024, offering nine European-listed, 100% physically-backed exchange-traded products that give professional and institutional investors regulated, cold-storage-custodied digital asset exposure via major European exchanges.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ETC Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency ETPs / Digital Asset Management
- NAICS
- Open-End Investment Funds (525910)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Index-Tracking Funds, ETPs & Structured Index Products (Crypto) (FSADAHAC)
Keywords
Where ETC Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
ETC Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Crypto ETP Management Fees: Revenue generated through management fees (Total Expense Ratio/Ter) charged on crypto Exchange Traded Products. The Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP has a TER of 0.05%. Fees are accrued within the ETP structure, reducing NAV accordingly.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP with 0.05% TER |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ETC Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ETC Group is a London-based cryptocurrency ETP (Exchange-Traded Product) issuer that provided regulated, exchange-traded access to digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and other cryptoassets. Its products were 100% physically backed and held in cold-storage custody by regulated custodians, traded on recognized European exchanges (notably Xetra) and accessible through standard brokerage accounts without requiring a blockchain wallet.
Product overview
ETC Group is a crypto ETP (Exchange-Traded Product) issuer that was acquired by Bitwise Asset Management in August 2024. The company offered a suite of European-listed cryptocurrency ETPs providing exchange-traded exposure to digital assets. The acquisition added nine European-listed crypto ETPs to Bitwise's portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP (BTC1) Physically-backed exchange-traded product providing benchmark-conscious, long-term buy-and-hold exposure to Bitcoin for professional and institutional investors; 100% physical replication with cold-storage custody.
- Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP (BTCE) 100% physically-backed Bitcoin ETP providing exchange-traded exposure to BTC with assets held in cold-storage custody; targeted at professional investors.
- Bitwise Diaman Bitcoin & Gold ETP (BTCG)
Quantifiable outcome
- Cold storage custody for 100% of underlying digital assets
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ETC Group
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ETC Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
ETC Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ETC Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CoinShares: European crypto ETP/ETN issuer (including the XBT Provider Bitcoin tracker) and digital asset manager with regulated products listed on Nordic and European exchanges. Directly comparable to ETC Group's ETP issuance and institutional focus.
- Hashdex: Crypto index and ETF/ETP issuer with both US spot crypto ETFs and European-listed products, including diversified basket strategies. Closely comparable to ETC Group on the basket/DA20-style diversified ETP positioning.
- 21Shares: Largest dedicated crypto ETP issuer in Europe, offering a broad suite of physically-backed single-asset and basket crypto ETPs listed across European exchanges. Direct competitor to ETC Group's product lineup and target institutional channel.
Broad incumbents
- WisdomTree: Global asset manager offering a series of physically-backed crypto ETPs in Europe alongside broad ETF/ETP product suites. Overlaps with ETC Group's ETP product format and European institutional distribution but within a much larger multi-asset platform.
- Grayscale Investments: Crypto investment product issuer with GBTC and a growing suite of US spot ETFs and European-listed products. Operates in the same regulated-investment-vehicle category as ETC Group's ETPs and competes for institutional allocations.
- VanEck: Global asset manager with European-listed crypto ETPs and US spot Bitcoin ETF. Competes with ETC Group across single-asset physically-backed ETP structures, with deeper US distribution post-spot ETF approvals.
- Franklin Templeton: Global asset manager with a US spot Bitcoin ETF and broader digital asset initiatives. Comparable in regulated crypto ETP/ETF wrapper and institutional channel focus, with materially greater brand and AUM scale.
- Invesco: Large global asset manager offering physically-backed crypto ETPs in Europe and competing US spot crypto ETFs. Overlaps with ETC Group's product format but at much larger scale and with broader distribution relationships.
Others
- Bitwise Asset Management: US-based crypto index fund manager and ETC Group's parent company post-acquisition. Operates an overlapping suite of crypto ETPs/strategies ($11bn+ AUM, 70+ products) and is the natural integration benchmark for the ETC Group business.
Emerging players
- Valkyrie Funds: Crypto-focused ETF/ETP sponsor with US spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs after operating as a smaller crypto product issuer. Comparable niche-focus trajectory to ETC Group's pre-acquisition positioning, now competing in regulated product wrappers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ETC Group social profiles
Digital presenceETC Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ETC Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ETC Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ETC Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ETC Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ETC Group
What does ETC Group do?
ETC Group is a London-based cryptocurrency ETP (Exchange-Traded Product) issuer that provided regulated, exchange-traded access to digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and other cryptoassets. Its products were 100% physically backed and held in cold-storage custody by regulated custodians, traded on recognized European exchanges (notably Xetra) and accessible through standard brokerage accounts without requiring a blockchain wallet.
Is ETC Group a public or private company?
ETC Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was ETC Group founded?
ETC Group was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ETC Group based?
ETC Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ETC Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: crypto ETP Management Fees.
Who are ETC Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CoinShares, Hashdex and 21Shares. Broad incumbents are WisdomTree, Grayscale Investments, VanEck, Franklin Templeton and Invesco. Bitwise Asset Management is listed as an others. Valkyrie Funds is listed as an emerging player.
Does ETC Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for ETC Group.
What industry is ETC Group in?
ETC Group's product category is Cryptocurrency ETPs / Digital Asset Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADAHAC, Index-Tracking Funds, ETPs & Structured Index Products (Crypto). Its NAICS code is 525910 and its SIC code is 6200.