Assets, Ethereum

What Is Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust?

Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust is an investment product that enables investors to gain exposure to Ethereum Classic (ETC) in a manner that is similar to a traditional equity or fixed income investment. The trust holds Ethereum Classic and provides investors with a way to invest in the cryptocurrency without having to purchase, store, or manage it themselves.

The trust is managed by Grayscale Investments, LLC, a digital currency asset manager. Grayscale Investments is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, Inc.

, which also owns CoinDesk, one of the leading media and information companies in the digital currency and blockchain space.

The trust was launched in April 2017 and began trading on the OTCQX, an over-the-counter market for securities that are not listed on a major exchange, in December 2017. The trust is currently the only investment product that provides exposure to Ethereum Classic.

The trust’s website describes Ethereum Classic as “a decentralized blockchain platform that runs smart contracts” and “a public blockchain platform with a Turing-complete programming language that enables developers to build decentralized applications.” Ethereum Classic is one of the largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization and is often referred to as the “original” or “first” Ethereum blockchain.

NOTE: WARNING: Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust (ETCG) is a digital asset that tracks the price of Ethereum Classic (ETC). It is an investment vehicle that allows investors to gain exposure to ETC without having to directly purchase and store it. However, there are risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies, including volatility, security, and regulatory concerns. It is important for investors to research and understand the risks prior to investing in ETCG or any other digital asset.

The trust’s objective is for the value of each share to track the price of Ethereum Classic. The shares are not redeemable for cash and are not suitable for all investors.

The trust is intended for investors who are comfortable with holding a long-term investment in a digital asset and who do not require immediate liquidity.

The value of each share of the trust is determined by dividing the net asset value (NAV) of the trust by the number of outstanding shares. The NAV of the trust is calculated daily using prices from four cryptocurrency exchanges: Bitfinex, Kraken, Bittrex, and Poloniex.

Grayscale Investments charges a 2% annual management fee and requires a minimum investment of $50,000. The trust is available for purchase through accredited investors and registered broker-dealers only.

Ethereum Classic has been one of the top performing cryptocurrencies in 2019, with its price rising more than 150% since January 2019. The rally has been driven by increased interest from institutional investors and mainstream companies such as Samsung, which announced it would start using Ethereum Classic in its blockchain-based products and services.

The Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust provides investors with an easy way to gain exposure to this growing cryptocurrency without having to purchase or manage it themselves. However, it comes with a high minimum investment requirement and annual management fee which may make it impractical for some investors.

Previous ArticleNext Article