The Bitcoin Investment Trust was launched in 2013 by its sponsor, Grayscale Investments, LLC, as a pioneering private placement vehicle for accredited investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin. In 2015, it became the first publicly-quoted Bitcoin investment vehicle in the United States. The trust's mission is to provide investors with a secure and convenient way to invest in Bitcoin through a traditional investment wrapper, removing the challenges of buying, storing, and safekeeping Bitcoin directly. In a landmark development, following a successful legal challenge against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) was converted into a spot Bitcoin ETF on January 11, 2024, and is now listed on the NYSE Arca. The trust is sponsored and managed by Grayscale Investments, LLC, a leader in digital currency asset management.

Founded in

United States