Bitwise Asset Management has recently introduced a new investment product called the Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (OWNB). This ETF is designed to provide investors with exposure to companies that hold significant reserves of Bitcoin.
The ETF follows the Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations Index, which includes companies that have integrated Bitcoin into their corporate treasuries. According to a statement released on March 11, the rationale behind corporate Bitcoin holdings is that many businesses hold trillions in cash while the US government runs an annual deficit exceeding $2 trillion. As a result, firms view Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset that is liquid, scarce, and independent of government monetary policies.
Matt Hougan, Bitwise’s Chief Investment Officer, explained that companies perceive Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset that is not subject to government money printing. He believes that companies are just beginning to explore this trend, and the ETF provides investors with exposure to innovative firms leading the way in this space.
Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley noted that over 70 companies are now following the blueprint set by Strategy and Michael Saylor by holding Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategy.
In order to qualify for inclusion in the index, companies must hold at least 1,000 BTC. The index weights holdings based on Bitcoin ownership while ensuring diversification. No single company can account for more than 20% at rebalancing, and firms where Bitcoin represents less than 33% of total assets receive an automatic 1.5% weighting.
At launch, Strategy held the largest index share at 20.87%, followed by MARA Holdings at 12.12% and CleanSpark and Riot Platforms at 6.26% and 6.23% respectively. Asian companies such as Boyaa Interactive and Metaplanet were also included in the index, along with Aker ASA, Bitfarms, BitFuFu, and Galaxy Digital.
Overall, the Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF provides investors with a unique opportunity to gain exposure to companies that are at the forefront of integrating Bitcoin into their corporate strategies.