Fidelity Seeds Ethereum ETF with $4.7M, Lowest Fee Yet

John Darbie
Photo: Finoracle.net

Fidelity to Seed Ethereum ETF with $4.7 Million

Fidelity, the fourth-largest asset manager in the world, has announced that it will seed its upcoming Ethereum ETF with $4.7 million ahead of its official launch. This information comes from a recent regulatory filing. Fidelity's S-1 registration form for its "Fidelity Ethereum Fund" revealed, "Total proceeds to the Trust from the sale of the Seed Baskets were $4,749,975.00."

Fidelity Buys Its First Batch of Ethereum

On June 4, Fidelity used the proceeds to buy 1,250 ETH (Ethereum), worth $4.75 million at the time. The purchase was made by FMR Capital, an affiliate of Fidelity, and resulted in the asset manager securing 125,000 shares for $38 each. This process is known as seeding an ETF, where asset managers provide initial funds to offer liquidity for its first buyers and to show confidence in the fund. For example, when Fidelity launched its Bitcoin ETF in January, it seeded it with $20 million. Competitors such as BlackRock and Bitwise provided initial seeds worth $10 million and $200 million respectively.

Competition in the Market

Earlier this week, Bitwise disclosed in a registration statement that it had seeded its Ethereum ETF with $2.5 million, and that Pantera Capital Management might buy $100 million worth of shares. Shortly after Fidelity's announcement, BlackRock revealed that it would match its initial Bitcoin fund investment by seeding its Ethereum fund with $10 million.

Management Fees and Launch Dates

While seed numbers are being revealed, Franklin Templeton is one of the few applicants to disclose the management fee for their Ethereum fund. Their fee matches their Bitcoin product at 0.19%, making it the cheapest Bitcoin or Ethereum ETF so far. For comparison, VanEck’s fee is slightly higher at 0.2%. Experts believe other providers will reveal their fees as the launch date approaches. Eric Balchunas, a Bloomberg ETF analyst, estimates that these funds will go live around July 2. He remarked, “Everyone is likely waiting until the last minute or on BlackRock to disclose to see what they need to orbit around.”

Expected Performance of ETH ETFs

Analysts generally do not expect Ethereum ETFs to surpass Bitcoin ETFs in terms of inflow but predict that they will greatly outperform the average newly launched ETF product. Balchunas previously projected that the Ethereum ETFs would capture 20% of the Bitcoin ETFs' flows, which are currently at $14.6 billion since their launch in January. K33 Research published a report suggesting Ethereum ETFs might achieve 28% of the Bitcoin product's performance, amounting to $4 billion in five months. In March, Standard Chartered predicted that Ethereum ETFs could attract $45 billion of inflows within a year.

By understanding these developments and comparing them with previous ETF launches, it becomes easier to gauge the future performance and potential market impact of Fidelity's new Ethereum ETF.

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John Darbie is a seasoned cryptocurrency analyst and writer with over 10 years of experience in the blockchain and digital assets industry. A graduate of MIT with a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, John specializes in blockchain technology, cryptocurrency markets, and decentralized finance (DeFi). His insights have been featured in leading publications such as CoinDesk, CryptoSlate, and Bitcoin Magazine. John’s articles are renowned for their thorough research, clear explanations, and practical insights, making them a reliable source of information for readers interested in cryptocurrency. He actively follows industry trends and developments, regularly participating in blockchain conferences and webinars. With a strong reputation for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, John Darbie continues to provide high-quality content that helps individuals and businesses navigate the evolving world of digital assets.