UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 .
or
☐ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from______________________to______________________.
Commission file number:
001-41908
VanEck Bitcoin Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 85-6811021
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
c/o VanEck Digital Assets, LLC
Jonathan R. Simon, Esq.
Matthew A. Babinsky, Esq.
666 Third Avenue , 9 th Floor
New York , New York 10017
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
( 212 ) 293-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code)
Securities registered or to be registered
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange
on which registered
Shares HODL Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒
Yes ☐
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to submit such files). ☒ Yes
☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions
of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging
growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☐
Non-Accelerated Filer ☒ Smaller Reporting Company ☒
Emerging Growth Company ☒
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.). ☐
Yes ☒
No
The
registrant had 8,200,000 outstanding shares as of April 30, 2024.
VanEck Bitcoin Trust
Table of Contents
Page
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
1
Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements.
1
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
10
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.
11
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
11
Part II. OTHER INFORMATION.
12
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
12
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
12
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
12
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
12
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
12
Item 5. Other Information.
12
Item 6. Exhibits.
12
SIGNATURES.
14
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements.
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
March 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
December 31, 2023
Assets
Investment in Bitcoin, at fair value (cost $ 515,657,187 and $-, respectively)
$ 619,067,103
$ —
Cash
—
100,000
Receivable for shares sold
20,018,933
—
Total assets
639,086,036
100,000
Liabilities
Payable for investments in Bitcoin purchased
4,002,826
—
Contribution received in advance
16,016,107
—
Accrued sponsor fees, related party
17,075
—
Total liabilities
20,036,008
—
Net
Assets
$ 619,050,028
$ 100,000
Shares issued and outstanding (no par value, unlimited amount authorized)
7,700,000
2,000
Net Asset Value per Share (Note 2)
$ 80.40
$ 50.00
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
financial statements.
1
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Statement of Operations (a)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
Expenses
Sponsor fee, related party
$ 122,669
Total expenses
122,669
Sponsor fee waiver, related party
( 59,098 )
Net expenses
63,571
Net investment loss
( 63,571 )
Net realized gain
and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
Net realized gain
on:
Bitcoin sold for redemption of shares
5,947,470
Bitcoin distributed for Sponsor fee, related party
10,977
Total realized gain
5,958,447
Net change in unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on:
Investment in Bitcoin
103,409,916
Total net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
103,409,916
Net realized gain and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
109,368,363
Net increase
in net assets resulting from operations
$ 109,304,792
(a) No comparative financial statements have been provided as the Trust did not have any operations as of March 31, 2023.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
financial statements.
2
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Statement of Changes in Net Assets (a)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
Net increase in net assets from operations
Net investment loss
$ ( 63,571 )
Net realized gain from investment in bitcoin
5,958,447
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments in bitcoin
103,409,916
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
109,304,792
Capital share transactions
Contributions for shares issued
530,072,065
Withdrawals for shares redeemed
( 20,426,829 )
Total capital share transactions
509,645,236
Net increase in net assets
618,950,028
Net assets
Beginning of period
100,000
End of period
$ 619,050,028
(a) No comparative financial statements have been provided as the Trust did not have any operations as of March 31, 2023.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
financial statements.
3
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Schedule of Investment as
of March 31, 2024 (a)
(Unaudited)
Quantity of Bitcoin
Cost
Fair Value
% of Net Assets
Investment in Bitcoin
8,711.14
$ 515,657,187
$ 619,067,103
100.00 %
Liabilities in excess of assets
( 17,075 )
0.00 (b)
Net Assets
$ 619,050,028
100.00 %
(a) No comparative financial statements have been provided as the Trust did not hold any bitcoin as of December 31, 2023.
(b) Rounds to less than 0.01%.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
financial statements.
4
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
March 31, 2024
Note 1. Organization:
The VanEck Bitcoin Trust (the “Trust”),
a Delaware statutory trust, is an exchange-traded fund that issues common shares of beneficial interest in an ownership of the
Trust (“Shares”). The Shares are traded on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange”). The Trust’s
investment objective is to reflect the performance of bitcoin less the operating expenses of the Trust. The Trust is managed and
controlled by VanEck Digital Assets, LLC (the “Sponsor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation
(“VanEck”). The Delaware Trust Company, is the “Trustee” of the Trust.
Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies:
A. Basis of Preparation and Use Estimates
The preparation of financial statements
in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
The Trust qualifies as an investment
company solely for accounting purposes and not for any other purpose and follows accounting and reporting requirements of Accounting
Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies, but is not registered, and
is not required to be registered, as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
B. Cash
Cash represents cash deposits
held at a major financial institution and is subject to credit risk to the extent its balance exceeds the federally insured limits.
As of March 31, 2024, the Trust’s cash balance did not exceed the federal insured limits.
C. Investment Valuation
The Trust values its investments
in bitcoin and other assets and liabilities at fair value, daily. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset
or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
The Trust identifies and determines
the bitcoin principal market (or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market) for GAAP financial statement
purposes consistent with the application of fair value measurement framework in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 as of 4:00 p.m. EST. Under ASC 820, a principal market is the market
with the greatest volume and activity level for the asset or liability. The determination of the principal market will be based
on the market with the greatest volume and level of activity that can be accessed. The Sponsor on behalf of the Trust will determine
in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust’s financial statements in accordance
with GAAP.
Various inputs are used in determining
the fair value of assets and liabilities. Inputs may be based on independent market data (observable inputs) or they may be internally
developed (unobservable inputs). These inputs are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for
financial reporting purposes. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices
in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 – Inputs other than
quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted
prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets
that are not considered to be
5
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (Continued)
March 31, 2024
active, inputs other than quoted
prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable
market data by correlation or other means; and
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs
where there are little or no market activity for the asset or liability, including the Trust’s assumptions used in determining
the fair value of investments.
The following is a summary of the fair value
hierarchy as of March 31, 2024:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets
Investment in Bitcoin
$
619,067,103
—
—
$
619,067,103
The following represents the changes in quantity
of Bitcoin and the respective fair value:
Bitcoin
Fair Value
Beginning balance as of January 1, 2024
—
$
—
Bitcoin contributed
9,023.10
530,070,682
Bitcoin withdrawn
( 311.96
)
( 20,371,942
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investment in Bitcoin
—
103,409,916
Net realized gain on investment in Bitcoin
—
5,958,447
Ending balance as of March 31, 2024
8,711.14
$
619,067,103
The Trust did not hold any bitcoin as of
December 31, 2023 .
D. Bitcoin
Bitcoin transactions are accounted
for on trade date. Realized gains and losses on sale of bitcoin are determined based on the average cost method. Proceeds received
by the Trust from the issuance of creation baskets consist of bitcoin. Such deposits are held by the custodian on behalf of the
Trust until (i) delivered out in connection with redemptions of creation baskets or (ii) sold by the Sponsor, which may be facilitated
by the custodian, to pay fees due to the Sponsor and Trust expenses and liabilities not assumed by the Sponsor.
E. Calculation of Net Asset Value
The Trust’s net asset value (“NAV”)
is calculated based on the Trust’s net asset holdings as reconciled to the Bitcoin Custodian’s accounts on a market approach, determined
on a daily basis in accordance with the MarketVectorTM Bitcoin Benchmark Rate price at 4:00 pm EST. The Trust’s NAV per Share is
calculated by taking the current market value of its total assets, subtracting any liabilities, and then dividing that total by
the total number of outstanding Shares. The Trust Agreement gives the Sponsor the exclusive authority to determine the Trust’s
NAV and the Trust’s NAV per Share, which it has delegated to the Administrator.
F. Federal Income Taxes
The Trust is treated as a grantor
trust for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required. Any interest, expenses,
gains and losses are passed through to the holders of Shares of the Trust. The Sponsor has reviewed the tax positions and has determined
that no provision for income tax is required in the Trust’s financial statements.
6
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (Continued)
March 31, 2024
Note 3. Trust Expenses and Other Agreements
The Trust pays the Sponsor a unified fee
(the “Sponsor Fee”) of 0.20 % of net assets that accrues daily and pays monthly. Prior to February 21, 2024, the Sponsor
fee was 0.25 %. Effective for the period from March 12, 2024, through March 31, 2025, the Sponsor agreed to waive the entire Sponsor
Fee for the first $ 1.5 billion of the Trust’s net assets. If the Trust’s net assets exceed $1.5 billion prior to March
31, 2025, the Sponsor Fee charged on net assets over $1.5 billion will be 0.20%. All investors will incur the same Sponsor Fee
which is the weighted average of those fee rates. After March 31, 2025, the Sponsor Fee will be 0.20%. The Sponsor has agreed to
pay all operating expenses (except for litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses) out of the Sponsor Fee. The Sponsor
from time to time will sell bitcoin, which may be facilitated by the custodian, in such quantity as is necessary to permit payment
of the Sponsor Fee and Trust expenses and liabilities not assumed by the Sponsor.
The Trustee fee is paid by the Sponsor and is not a separate
expense of the Trust.
The Trust holds its bitcoin at Gemini Trust
Company, LLC (the “Bitcoin Custodian”), a regulated third-party custodian that carries insurance and is chartered as
a trust company under the New York Banking Law and serves as a fiduciary responsible for safekeeping of bitcoin owned by the Trust
and holding the private keys that provide access to the bitcoin in the Trust’s bitcoin account.
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Trust’s
administrator, transfer agent and cash custodian.
Note 4. Related Parties
The Sponsor is considered to be a related party to the Trust.
MarketVector Indexes GmbH is the index
sponsor and index administrator for the MarketVector Bitcoin Benchmark Rate, which is used by the Trust to determine its net asset
value. MarketVector Indexes GmbH is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of VanEck.
Van Eck Securities Corporation, a marketing agent to the Trust,
is a wholly owned-subsidiary of VanEck.
VanEck is the initial seed investor (“Seed Capital Investor”)
on December 21, 2023. On January 4, 2024, the Seed Capital Investor purchased additional shares (see Note 5).
VanEck is a minority interest holder in
the parent company of the Bitcoin Custodian, representing less than 1 % of its equity.
Note 5. Capital Share Transactions
Investors can buy and sell Shares of the Trust in secondary
market transactions through brokers. Shares trade on the Exchange under the ticker symbol HODL. Shares are bought and sold throughout
the trading day like other publicly traded securities.
The Trust continuously offers the Trust
Shares in creation baskets consisting of 25,000 Shares to authorized participants. Prior to March 4, 2024, the Trust offered creation
baskets consisting of 50,000 Shares to authorized participants. Authorized participants pay a transaction fee for each order they
place to create or redeem one or more creation baskets. The Administrator calculates the cost to purchase (or sell in the case
of a redemption order) the amount of bitcoin represented by the baskets being created (or redeemed); the amount of bitcoin represented
is equal to the combined NAV of the number of Shares included in the baskets being created (or redeemed).
The Trust creates and redeems Shares, but
only in one or more creation baskets. Creation baskets are only made in exchange for delivery to the Trust or the distribution
by the Trust of the amount of bitcoin represented by the baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which is equal to the
combined NAV of the number of Shares included in the baskets being created or redeemed determined as of 4:00 p.m. EST on the day
the order to create or redeem
7
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (Continued)
March 31, 2024
baskets is properly received. Only authorized
participants may place orders to create and redeem baskets through the transfer agent. The transfer agent will coordinate with
the Trust’s custodian in order to facilitate settlement of the Shares and bitcoin.
Share and Capital activity is as follows:
Shares
Amount
Beginning of period
2,000
(a)
$
100,000
Shares issued
7,975,000
(b)
530,072,065
Shares redeemed
( 277,000
)
(b)
( 20,426,829
)
End of period
7,700,000
$
509,745,236
(a) Van Eck Associates Corporation was the sole shareholder as of December 31, 2023.
(b) On January 4, 2024, the 2,000 Shares held by the Seed Capital Investor were redeemed for cash and the Seed Capital Investor purchased the “Seed Creation Baskets,” comprising of 1,450,000 Shares at a per-Share price of $ 50.00 . Total proceeds to the Trust from the sale of the Seed Creation Baskets were $ 72,500,000 , which resulted in the Trust receiving 1,640.92 bitcoin.
Note 6. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
In the normal course of business, the Trust
enters into contracts that contain a variety of general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these agreements
is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred. However, the Sponsor
believes the risk of loss under these arrangements to be remote.
Note 7. Concentration Risk
Substantially all of the Trust’s
assets are holdings of bitcoin, which creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the value of bitcoin due to
number of factors. Accordingly, a decline in the value of bitcoin will have an adverse effect on the value of the Shares of the
Trust. Factors that may have the effect of causing a decline in the value of bitcoin include high volatility, which could have
a negative impact on the performance of the Trust. Bitcoin exchanges are relatively new and, in some cases, unregulated, and, therefore,
may be more exposed to fraud and security breaches than established, regulated exchanges for other financial assets or instruments,
which could have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust. The value of the Shares depends on the development and acceptance
of the Bitcoin network. The slowing or stopping of the development or acceptance of the Bitcoin network may adversely affect an
investment in the Trust. The price of bitcoin on the bitcoin market has exhibited periods of extreme volatility. Digital assets
such as bitcoin were only introduced within the past decade, and the medium-to-long term value of the Shares is subject to a number
of factors relating to the capabilities and development of block-chain technologies and to the fundamental investment characteristics
of digital assets that are uncertain and difficult to evaluate. The Trust is subject to risks due to its concentration of investments
in a single asset class. Possible illiquid markets may exacerbate losses or increase the variability between the Trust’s
NAV and its market price. The amount of bitcoin represented by the Shares may decline over time.
Future and current regulations by a United
States or foreign government or quasi-governmental agency could have an adverse effect on an investment in the Trust. Shareholders
do not have the protections associated with ownership of Shares in an investment company registered under the 1940 Act or the protections
afforded by the Commodity Exchange Act. Future legal or regulatory developments may negatively affect the value of bitcoin or require
the Trust or the Sponsor to become registered with the SEC or CFTC, which may cause the Trust to liquidate.
The Exchange on which the Shares are listed
may halt trading in the Trust’s Shares, which would adversely impact a Shareholder’s ability to sell Shares. The market
infrastructure of the bitcoin spot market could result in the absence of active authorized participants able to support the trading
activity of the Trust.
Shareholders that are not authorized participants
may only purchase or sell their Shares in secondary trading markets, and the conditions associated with trading in secondary markets
may adversely affect Shareholders’ investment in the Shares.
8
VANECK BITCOIN TRUST
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (Continued)
March 31, 2024
Note 8. Financial Highlights
The financial highlights summarize certain
per share operating information and financial ratios of net investment income and expenses, to daily average net assets for the
three months ended March 31, 2024. An individual investor’s return and ratios may vary from these percentages based on the timing
of capital transactions:
Net asset value per share, beginning of period (a)
$ 50.00
From investment operations:
Net investment loss (b)
( 0.02 )
Net realized gain and change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments in bitcoin
30.42
Total increase resulting from operations
30.40
Net asset value per share, end of period
$ 80.40
Total return (%) (c)
60.80
Ratios to average net assets (d)
Expenses before fee waiver (%)
0.21
Expenses after fee waiver (%)
0.11
Net investment loss (%)
( 0.11 )
Portfolio turnover rate (e)
6.06 %
(a) No comparative financial statements have been provided as the Trust did not have any operations as of March 31, 2023.
(b) Net investment income per share has been calculated based upon an average of daily shares outstanding.
(c) Total return calculation is based on the value of a single share of participation outstanding throughout the period. It represents the percentage change in the net asset value per share between the beginning and end of the period and is not annualized.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Not Annualized.
Note 9. Subsequent Event Review
The Trust has evaluated subsequent events
and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined
that there are no material events that would require disclosure in the financial statements.
9
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.
This information should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and notes to financial statements included with this report. The discussion and analysis that follows may contain statements
that relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology
such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,”
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or the
negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in
this report that address activities, events or developments that may occur in the future, including such matters as changes in
commodity prices and market conditions (for bitcoin and the Shares), the operations of the Trust, the plans of the Sponsor and
references to the Trust’s future success and other similar matters are forward-looking statements. These statements are only
predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses made
by the Sponsor on the basis of its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well
as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not actual results and developments will conform
to the Sponsor’s expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations
discussed in this Report, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning
taxes, made by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and other world economic and political developments. Consequently,
all the forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance
that the actual results or developments the Sponsor anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, will result
in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, the Trust’s operations or the value of the Shares issued
by the Trust. Moreover, neither the Sponsor nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the
forward-looking statements. Neither the Trust nor the Sponsor undertakes an obligation to publicly update or conform to actual
results any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required
by law.
Introduction
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust does not have
directors, officers or employees. The creation and operation of the Trust has been arranged by the Sponsor. The Trust is administered
by the Trust Agreement, among the Sponsor, the Trustee and the Delaware Trustee. The Trust is managed and controlled by the Sponsor,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of VanEck. The Sponsor is not governed by a board of directors.
The Trust’s investment objective is to reflect the performance
of bitcoin less the operating expenses of the Trust. The Trust is a passive investment vehicle that does not seek to pursue any
investment strategy beyond tracking the price of bitcoin. The Trust does not engage in any activities designed to obtain a profit
from, or ameliorate losses caused by, changes in the price of bitcoin.
The Trust issues and redeems Shares only in aggregations of 25,000
Shares, a Basket, or integral multiples thereof, and only in transactions with Authorized Participants.
Shares of the Trust trade on the Exchange under the ticker symbol
“HODL.”
Computation of Net Asset Value
The Trust’s NAV is calculated based on the Trust’s net
asset holdings as reconciled to the Bitcoin Custodian’s accounts on a market approach, determined on a daily basis in accordance
with the MarketVector TM Bitcoin Benchmark Rate price at 4:00 p.m. EST. The Trust’s NAV per Share is calculated
by taking the current market value of its total assets, subtracting any liabilities, and then dividing that total by the total
number of outstanding Shares. The Trust Agreement gives the Sponsor the exclusive authority to determine the Trust’s NAV
and the Trust’s NAV per Share, which it has delegated to the Administrator.
Liquidity
The Trust is not aware of any trends, demands, conditions or events
that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to its liquidity needs. In exchange for a fee, the Sponsor has agreed
to assume most of the expenses incurred by the Trust. As a result, the only ordinary expense of the Trust during the period covered
by this report was the Sponsor’s Fee. The Trust’s only source of liquidity is its sales of bitcoin.
Significant Accounting Policies
In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), management makes estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements,
as well as the reported amount of revenue and expenses reported during the period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
A description of the valuation of bitcoin, a critical accounting policy that the Trust believes is important to understanding its results of operations and financial position, is provided in the
section entitled “Computation of Net Asset Value” above. In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the Financial Statements
included in this report for further discussion of the Trust’s accounting policies.
10
Results of Operations
The Quarter Ended March 31, 2024
The Trust’s net asset value increased from $100,000 at December
31, 2023 to $619,050,028 at March 31, 2024, a 618,950% increase. The increase in the Trust’s net asset value resulted
primarily from an increase in the number of outstanding shares, which increased from 2,000 Shares at December 31, 2023 to 7,700,000
Shares at March 31, 2024, a consequence of 7,975,000 Shares (241 Baskets) being created and 277,000 Shares (9 Baskets) being
redeemed during the period and an increase in the price of bitcoin, which grew 60.17% from $44,182.40 at January 4, 2024 to
$70,766.04 at March 31, 2024.
The 60.80% increase in the NAV from $50.00 at December 31, 2023 to
$80.40 at March 31, 2024 is directly related to the 66.74% increase in the price of bitcoin and impact from seed
capital during this period.
The NAV increased less than the price of bitcoin on a percentage
basis due to the Sponsor Fee, which, net of Sponsor Fee waiver, was $63,571 for the quarter, or 0.11% of the Trust’s average
weighted assets of $239,311,214 during the quarter, and the seed capital period. The NAV of $82.73 on March 13, 2024, was the highest
during the quarter, compared with a low during the quarter of $44.40 on January 23, 2024.
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the quarter
ended March 31, 2024, was $109,304,792 resulting from an unrealized gain on investment in bitcoin of $103,409,916, a net realized
gain of $5,947,470 on bitcoin sold for the redemption of Shares, a net realized gain of $10,977 from bitcoin sold to pay expenses
during the quarter, and a net investment loss of $63,571. Other than the Sponsor Fee of $63,571, the Trust had no other expenses
during the quarter.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
The duly authorized officers of the Sponsor performing functions
equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had any
officers, with the participation of the Trustee, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Trust’s disclosure controls and
procedures, and have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust were effective as of the end of the period
covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Trust
files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within
the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to the duly authorized
officers of the Sponsor performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial officer
of the Trust would perform if the Trust had any officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system
of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls
and procedures.
11
Part II. OTHER INFORMATION.
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors last reported
under Part I, Item 1A of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2024
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
and Use of Proceeds.
a) None.
b) Not applicable.
c) 277,000 Shares (9 Baskets) were redeemed during the quarter ended
March 31, 2024.
Period
Total Number of Shares
Redeemed
Average Per Share
01/01/24 to 01/31/24
2,000
$
50.00
02/01/24 to 02/29/24
50,000
68.30
03/01/24 to 03/31/24
225,000
75.16
Total
277,000
$
73.74
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits.
See the Exhibit Index below, which is incorporated
by reference herein.
12
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
3.1
Certificate of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registration Statement
on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant on December 30, 2020
4.1
Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on March 1, 2024
31.1*
Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*
Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*
Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data
File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File included as Exhibit 101 (embedded within the Inline XBRL
document)
* Filed herewith.
13
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned in the capacities*
indicated thereunto duly authorized.
VANECK DIGITAL ASSETS, LLC
Sponsor of VanEck Bitcoin Trust
By:
/s/ Jan F. van Eck*
Jan F. van Eck
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
By:
/s/ John J. Crimmins*
John J. Crimmins
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: May 13, 2024
* The Registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their
capacities as officers of VanEck Digital Assets, LLC., the Sponsor of the Registrant.
14
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.