Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Risk Management, Strategy and Governance
The Trust has no employees or internal
information systems and is managed by the Sponsor. Thus, the Trust relies on the Sponsor and VanEck, the parent company of the
Sponsor, as well as the Bitcoin Custodian and other service providers to protect the Trust’s information from cybersecurity
threats. VanEck has policies, standards, and procedures on information security (the “Cybersecurity Documents”). The
Cybersecurity Documents govern the procurement, use, storage, protection and permissions of data systems, applications and devices.
The Cybersecurity Documents outline the correct usage of elements
75
and tasks on the networks/infrastructure
to ensure safe operation, high availability, performance, and data accuracy.
VanEck has adopted the National Institute
of Standards and Technology’s (“NIST”) cybersecurity framework as its security outline. The program is reviewed
annually. Using the NIST framework as a guide, VanEck’s cybersecurity program is organized around the following program domains:
● Identify
critical assets, data, systems and capabilities, cybersecurity strategy and governing
elements, threats and cybersecurity risks
● Protect
assets (data, systems, networks, personnel, etc.) from external or internal malicious actors and failed practices
● Detect
anomalies and security events through environments monitoring, analysis, remediation, and reporting. Engage outside vendors to
periodically test the network infrastructure and software applications against known vulnerabilities and to ensure the use of
a best practice security program
● Respond to
incidents regardless of source or causality
● Recover
through planning, improvements and communications (external and internal)
● Conduct
after-action evaluation to identify what went well, what did not go well and improve VanEck systems on the back of an issue
VanEck employs third-party firms to assess
its cybersecurity posture, conduct penetration testing, and forensic analysis.
VanEck maintains a risk-based approach to
identifying and overseeing cybersecurity risks presented by third parties, including vendors, service providers, counterparties
and clients, as well as the systems of third parties that could significantly and adversely impact VanEck’s business in the
event of a cybersecurity incident affecting those third-party systems. Third-party risks are included within VanEck’s NIST
framework, and risk identification and mitigation are supported by VanEck’s cybersecurity program. VanEck also performs diligence
on certain third parties and monitors cybersecurity threats and risks identified through such diligence.
Roles and Responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities for cybersecurity
have been established first by VanEck’s cybersecurity policy and secondly by its connection to the governance structure of
the firm and VanEck’s risk management committee (the “Risk Management Committee”), which is comprised of senior-level
employees. Cybersecurity is closely aligned with not only risk management, but also with business continuity planning and response.
In addition, the importance of cybersecurity protection and its practice at the manager and employee level is frequently communicated
to the staff globally. Specifically, VanEck’s Chief Information Security Officer, reporting to the co-chair of the Risk Management
Committee, is responsible for conducting the firm’s cybersecurity risk assessment, as well as providing regular staff educations
with a special emphasis on proper desktop and email security and conduct. Special training is also given to recently on-boarded
staff. VanEck’s Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Technology Officer, together with VanEck’s Chief Information
Security Officer, are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm cybersecurity infrastructure including normal operations
as well as any remedial work required in response to an incident. The communication responsibility in the event of an incident
is shared by VanEck’s CEO and the General Counsel.
Since our commencement of operations, we have not experienced
a material information security breach incident and we are not aware of any cybersecurity risks that are reasonably likely to materially
affect our business. However, future incidents could have a material impact on our business strategy, results of
76
operations, or financial condition. See “Item 1A. Risk
Factors— Other Risks—Due to the increased use of technologies, intentional and unintentional cyber-attacks pose operational
and information security risks.”
Item 2. Properties.
Not applicable.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.