Egg prices have basically doubled in a year —a stark reminder that inflation is eating a hole in our bi-fold leather wallets.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s USD equivalent goes up and off to the right.
No one wants to miss out, but not everyone’s ready to handle the hassle of buying and securing crypto and digital assets for the long haul.
Why not just buy Bitcoin directly and hold it?
First, consider the unlikely worst case scenario — would your loved ones be able to find all the passwords and hardware wallets? Will anyone know how to access all of the digital assets you’ve so carefully saved?
If you trust your bank (most people do), and/or you have a direct investment account, there are a few easy ways to gain exposure to crypto without having to worry about security and storage.
All the assets in your bank or investment accounts will be accessible by lawyers and whoever is in charge of settling your estate.
Also, it’s going to be very convenient to stick with your trusted banker and investment advisors. They can offer Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) or in Canada there are Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) where investment income, including capital gains and dividends, is earned tax-free.
Invest in Pro-Crypto Companies
Indirect crypto exposure is possible by looking at companies with large, declared crypto holdings or partnerships with innovators and founders. Compared to holding a coin or token itself, buying shares in a company has substantially lower risk as these companies are often less volatile.
Companies with Large Bitcoin Holdings
Many of these companies are directly involved in blockchain technology or crypto trading. There are a few other technology companies that use Bitcoin as a speculative investment.
Let’s break down a few of the companies with large Bitcoin holdings that might be worth investing in.
Coinbase (COIN)
Coinbase is currently the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., offering a platform for buying, selling, and storing various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. It’s known for its user-friendly interface and has expanded into offering crypto loans and staking services.
With the crypto market’s growth and regulatory advancements, Coinbase is positioned as a key player for those looking to invest in the crypto ecosystem indirectly through its stock, COIN.
https://x.com/coinbase
Microstrategy (MSTR)
MicroStrategy (MSTR) is a software company that has transformed into a major Bitcoin holder, currently owning one of the largest Bitcoin reserves among public companies.
As of January 1, 2025, MicroStrategy held 450,000 Bitcoin.
It uses its corporate strategy to invest in Bitcoin, aiming to benefit from the cryptocurrency’s potential growth, which in turn influences its stock price. Investing in MSTR stock offers indirect exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements without directly owning the cryptocurrency. As you’d expect, closely mirroring Bitcoin’s price fluctuations also makes MSTR’s stock highly volatile.
MSTR experienced a significant surge, with a gain of 477% for 2024. This was largely driven by its strategic Bitcoin acquisitions and the general bullish trend in cryptocurrency markets.
ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK)
ARK Invest’s ARKK ETF focuses on companies driving disruptive innovation, including many in the tech and crypto sectors.
ARKK is a bet on future technology trends, particularly in AI, blockchain, and genomics.
In 2024, ARKK underperformed broader market indices, returning -11%, due to its focus on high-growth, volatile stocks and regulatory challenges for key holdings like Coinbase.
Block Inc (SQ)
As of 2025, Jack Dorsey’s Block, Inc. (formerly Square) has significantly integrated Bitcoin functionality into its Cash App.
At the time of this writing, Block holds 8,038 Bitcoin with a value swelling to around $630 million.
Despite earlier criticisms regarding low usage for trading or sending Bitcoin through Cash App, there’s been a noticeable uptick in engagement, particularly with features allowing users to convert daily sales into Bitcoin. However, the primary value of these holdings still seems to be as a speculative asset for the company, reflecting broader market trends rather than direct consumer activity within the app.
Tesla (TSLA)
Tesla offers indirect exposure to cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, through its significant holdings of 42,902 BTC, valued at around $3.4 billion as of early 2025. Elon Musk’s influence on crypto markets via his social media presence can also sway Tesla’s stock price, making it somewhat of a crypto proxy.
Tesla’s core business remains in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and related technologies, meaning its stock performance is influenced by a broad array of factors beyond just its crypto investments.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Crypto ETFs
An ETF is an Exchange Traded Fund which tracks the price of an asset, or a large group of assets. ETFs aim to mimic the asset price without giving you direct exposure to it. If Bitcoin goes up then the ETF will follow.
ETFs boil down to two different types:
- Spot ETFs track Real-time Prices
This also assumes that the company running the ETF has bought the BTC to back it up - Futures ETFs are backed by Derivatives
In other words they offer contracts to buy back the asset at a certain price in the future.
Canada led the way in North America by approving the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in February 2021. Meanwhile, U.S. investors waited as the SEC delayed approvals, but their patience paid off when spot Bitcoin ETFs were finally greenlit in 2024, followed by Ethereum spot ETFs.
Solana, XRP and a whole bunch of other digital assets might be launching Spot ETFs before long…
These are the top picks, although there isn’t a massive difference between them.
Top Bitcoin ETFs
iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT):
Introduction: Launched by BlackRock, IBIT has quickly become one of the largest spot Bitcoin ETFs in the world, known for its low expense ratio and high trading volume. It provides direct exposure to Bitcoin’s price without the need to manage the cryptocurrency directly.
www.ishares.com/us/products/264124/ishares-bitcoin-trust
Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC):
Introduction: Offered by Fidelity Investments, this ETF aims to track Bitcoin’s price movement with a focus on security and institutional-grade custody solutions. It has gained popularity due to Fidelity’s reputation in the investment space.
www.fidelity.com/etfs/funds-summary/FBTC
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC):
Introduction: While originally structured as a trust, GBTC converted to an ETF in 2024. It’s one of the oldest and largest vehicles for Bitcoin investment, offering investors a way to invest in Bitcoin through traditional markets. However, it has a higher expense ratio compared to newer entrants.
www.grayscale.com/products/grayscale-bitcoin-trust/
Best Canadian Bitcoin ETF
CI Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCX):
Introduction: As one of the earliest Bitcoin ETFs in Canada, BTCX has established itself with one of the lowest management fees among its peers at 0.40%. Managed by CI Investments in partnership with Galaxy Digital, it’s designed to track Bitcoin’s price with high liquidity on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
www.ci.com/en_ca/investments/etfs/products/ci-galaxy-bitcoin-etf
