Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure 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 have evaluated
the effectiveness of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, and have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures
of the Trust
83
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
84
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.
Management ’ s Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
The Sponsor’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The Trust’s internal
control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes
those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect
the transactions and dispositions of the Trust’s assets, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance GAAP, and that the Trust’s receipts and expenditures are being made
only in accordance with appropriate authorizations; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the Trust’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial
reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject
to the risk that controls may become ineffective because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies
or procedures may deteriorate.
The Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer of the Sponsor assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024.
In making this assessment, they used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)
in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Their assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Trust’s internal
control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Based
on their assessment and those criteria, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Sponsor
concluded that the Trust maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the Trust’s fourth fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected,
or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
Not applicable.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent
Inspections.
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The Trust does not have any directors, officers or employees. The creation
and operation of the Trust has been arranged by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is not governed by a board of directors. The following persons,
in their respective capacities as executive officers of the Sponsor perform certain functions with respect to the Trust that, if the Trust
had directors or executive officers, would typically be performed by them. The principals and executive officers of the Sponsor are as
follows:
85
Jan F. van Eck
Mr. van Eck, (born 1963), serves as the Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Sponsor and VanEck. Mr. van Eck joined VanEck in 1992 and its Executive Management Team in 1998. Additionally, he is
the President and CEO of Van Eck Securities Corporation. Furthermore, Mr. van Eck is a Trustee, the President and Chief Executive Officer
of VanEck Vectors ETF Trust, VanEck Funds and VanEck VIP Trust. Furthering VanEck’s mission to anticipate asset classes and trends,
Mr. van Eck has created strategic beta, tactical allocation, emerging markets, and commodity-related investment strategies in mutual fund,
ETF, and institutional formats. Mr. van Eck founded the VanEck’s ETF business in 2006. One of the world’s largest ETF sponsors,
the Van Eck offers ETFs, branded VanEck Vectors®, globally across equity and fixed income asset classes. Mr. van Eck holds a JD from
Stanford University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Williams College with a major in Economics. He has registrations with the National
Futures Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Mr. van Eck is a Director of the National Committee on United States-China
Relations. He routinely appears on CNBC and Bloomberg Television, and was a 2013 Finalist for Institutional Investor’s Fund Leader
of the Year and a 2019 finalist for ETF.com’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
86
John J. Crimmins
Mr. Crimmins (born 1957) serves as Vice President, Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer of the Sponsor. Mr. Crimmins joined VanEck in 2009 as Vice President of Portfolio Administration. He is primarily responsible
for overseeing portfolio accounting and administration. He also serves as Chief Financial Officer to the VanEck Funds, VanEck VIP Trust
and VanEck ETF Trust. Prior to joining VanEck, Mr. Crimmins was the Chief Financial, Operating and Compliance Officer for Kern Capital
Management LLC from 1997 to 2009 and the Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Administration for Evergreen Investment Services from
1987 to 1997. Previously, Mr. Crimmins acted as Vice President and Controller for Pilgrim Group for three years and was in public accounting
for six years. Mr. Crimmins is a Certified Public Accountant and received a BS in Accounting from St. John’s University.
Insider Trading Policy
VanEck has adopted an insider trading policy which applies to its employees.
VanEck believes that the insider trading policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations
with respect to the purchase, sale and/or other dispositions of securities, including Shares of the Trust, as well as the applicable rules
and regulations of the Exchange. A copy of VanEck’s insider trading policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to this Report.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The Trust has no employees, officers or directors. The Trust is managed
by the Sponsor and pays the Sponsor the Sponsorfee. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Trust has incurred Sponsor Fee of $63,571.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
and Related Stockholder Matters.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
Not applicable.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Not applicable.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
See Item 11 above.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The table below summarizes the fees for services performed by Cohen &
Company, Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
2024
2023
Audit fees
$
76,250
$20,000
Audit-related Fees
$
0
$0
Tax fees
$
0
$0
All other fees
$
0
$0
Total
$
76,250
$20,000
87
Audit fees for the year ended December 31, 2024, consist of contractual
fees payable to Cohen & Company Ltd. for quarterly financial statement information included on Form 10-Q and the audit of the Trust’s
annual financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2024.
Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Services
and Fees
The Trust has no board of directors,
and as a result, has no audit committee or pre-approval policy with respect to fees paid to its principal accounting firm. Such
determinations are made by the Sponsor.
88
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Financial Statements
See Index to Financial Statements on Page F-1 for a list of the financial
statements being filed as part of this Report.
Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not
applicable or the information has otherwise been included.
Exhibits
The following documents are filed herewith or incorporated herein and
made a part of this Report:
Exhibit No.
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
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed
by the Registrant on August 20, 2024
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
4.2
Description
of the Registrant’s Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Registrant on March 28, 2024
4.3
Amendment No. 1 to the 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 August 20, 2024
10.1
Form
of Authorized Participant Agreement by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant
on December 29, 2023
10.2
Form
of Marketing Agent Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant
on October 27, 2023
10.3
Form
of Custodial Services Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the
Registrant on October 27, 2023
10.4
Trust
Administration and Accounting Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed
by the Registrant on December 29, 2023
10.5
Transfer
Agency Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant on December
29, 2023
10.6
Form
of Index Sub-Licensing Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the
Registrant on October 27, 2023
10.7
Cash
Custody Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant on
December 29, 2023
10.8
Subscription
Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant on December
29, 2023
89
10.9
Clearing
Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant on January
8, 2024
10.10
Additional Bitcoin Custodian Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on June 26, 2024.
19.1*
Insider Trading Policy
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
97.1
Executive
Officer Incentive-Based Compensation Clawback Policy incorporated by reference to Exhibit
97.1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Registrant on March 28, 2024
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.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None .
90
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEX
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 925)
F-2
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
F-3
Statement of Operations
F-4
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
F-5
Notes to Financial Statements
F-7
F- 1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Sponsor and Shareholders of
VanEck Bitcoin ETF
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities
of VanEck Bitcoin ETF (the “Trust”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, including the schedule of investment as of December
31, 2024, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for the year ended December 31, 2024, and for the
period from December 21, 2023 (date of seeding) to December 31, 2023, including the related notes (collectively referred to as
the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and changes in its net assets
for the year ended December 31, 2024, and for the period from December 21, 2023 (date of seeding) to December 31, 2023, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Trust’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a
public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and
are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the
PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform,
an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of
material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
Our procedures included confirmation of cash and digital assets owned as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, by correspondence with
the custodians. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
We have served as the Trust’s auditor since 2023.
COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.
Towson, Maryland
March 26, 2025
F- 2
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (a)
December 31,
2024
December 31,
2023
Assets
Investment in bitcoin, at fair value (cost $ 895,843,577 and $ - , respectively)
$ 1,280,450,332
$ —
Cash
—
100,000
Total assets
1,280,450,332
100,000
Liabilities
Total liabilities
—
—
Net assets
$ 1,280,450,332
$ 100,000
Shares issued and outstanding ( no par value, unlimited amount authorized)
48,500,000
8,000
Net Asset Value per Share
$ 26.40
$ 12.50
(a) Shares issued and outstanding and the Net Asset Value per Share have been adjusted to reflect the 4 for 1 share split that took place on February 14, 2025.
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.
F- 3
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Statements of Operations
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
For the Period
December 21,
2023 (Date of
Seeding)
to
December 31,
2023
Expenses
Sponsor fee, related party
$ 1,323,357
$ —
Total expenses
1,323,357
—
Sponsor fee waiver, related party
( 1,259,786 )
—
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
34,414,287
—
Bitcoin distributed for Sponsor fee, related party
10,977
—
Net realized gain on investments in bitcoin
34,425,264
—
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in bitcoin
384,606,755
—
Net realized gain and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
419,032,019
—
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
$ 418,968,448
$ —
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F- 4
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
For the Period
December 21,
2023 (Date of
Seeding)
to
December 31,
2023
Net increase from operations
Net investment loss
$ ( 63,571 )
$ —
Net realized gain from investment in bitcoin
34,425,264
—
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments in bitcoin
384,606,755
—
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
418,968,448
—
Capital Share transactions
Contributions for shares issued
1,145,143,775
100,000
Withdrawals for shares redeemed
( 283,761,891 )
—
Total capital share transactions
861,381,884
100,000
Net increase in net assets
1,280,350,332
100,000
Net assets:
Beginning of period
100,000
—
End of period
$ 1,280,450,332
$ 100,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F- 5
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Schedule of Investment as
of
December 31, 2024 (a)
Quantity of Bitcoin
Cost
Fair Value
% of Net Assets
Investment in bitcoin
13,716.83
$ 895,843,577
$ 1,280,450,332
100.00 %
Net Assets
$ 1,280,450,332
100.00 %
(a) No comparative financial statements have been provided as the
Trust did not hold any bitcoin as of December 31, 2023.
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.
F- 6
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2024
Note 1. Organization:
The VanEck Bitcoin ETF (the “Trust”) (formerly known
as VanEck Bitcoin Trust), a Delaware statutory trust, is an exchange-traded fund that issues common shares of beneficial interest
in an ownership of the Trust (the “Shares”). The Shares are traded on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange”).
The Trust’s investment objective is to reflect the performance of the price 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 CSC Delaware Trust Company is the “Trustee” of the Trust.
Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies:
A. Basis of Preparation and Use of 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”)
Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies (“ASC Topic 946”) , 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, if any, 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 December 31, 2024,
the Trust did not hold cash.
C. Investment Valuation
The Trust values its investment in bitcoin and other assets and
liabilities at fair value. 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”) ASC 820 at 11:59 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
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
F- 7
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
F- 8
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
December 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 December
31, 2024:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets
Investment in bitcoin
$ 1,280,450,332
$ —
$ —
$ 1,280,450,332
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
17,847.12
1,145,131,271
Bitcoin withdrawn
( 4,130.29 )
( 283,712,958 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investment in bitcoin
—
384,606,755
Net realized gain on investment in bitcoin
—
34,425,264
Ending balance as of December 31, 2024
13,716.83
$ 1,280,450,332
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 the sale of bitcoin are determined based on the average cost method. Under ASC Topic 946, the average cost
method is an accepted method to determine realized gains and losses on the sale of bitcoin. Proceeds received by the Trust from
the issuance of baskets consist of bitcoin. Deposits of bitcoin are held by Gemini Trust Company, LLC (the “Bitcoin Custodian”)
and are also held at Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC (the “Additional Bitcoin Custodian”, and collectively the
“Bitcoin Custodians”), on behalf of the Trust until (i) delivered out in connection with redemptions of baskets or
cash or (ii) sold by the Sponsor, which may be facilitated by the Bitcoin Custodians, 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 Custodians’ accounts on a market approach, determined
on a daily basis in accordance with the MarketVector TM 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- 9
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2024
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 as of December 31, 2024 and has determined
that no provision for income tax is required in the Trust’s financial statements.
G. Segment Reporting— In this reporting period, the
Trust adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280) Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures
(“ASU 2023-07”). The provisions of the new standard require additional financial statements disclosures related to
segment reporting to enable investors to better understand an entity’s overall performance and to assess its potential future
cash flows. The adoption of the ASU 2023-07 had no impact on the Trust’s financial position or results of operations.
The Sponsor acts as the Trust’s chief operating decision
maker (“CODM”), assessing performance and making decisions about resource allocation. The CODM has determined that
the Trust has a single operating segment based on the fact that the Trust’s long-term strategic asset allocation is pre-determined
in accordance with the terms of its prospectus, with a defined investment strategy which is executed by the Sponsor.
Note 3. Trust Expenses and Other Agreements
The Trust pays the Sponsor a unified fee (the
“Sponsor Fee”) of 0.20% of average daily net assets that accrues daily and pays monthly. Prior to February 21, 2024, the
Sponsor Fee was 0.25% of average daily net assets. Effective for the period from March 12, 2024, through November 24, 2024, the Sponsor agreed to
waive the entire Sponsor Fee for the first $1.5 billion of the Trust’s net assets. Effective for the period from November 25,
2024 through January 10, 2026, the Sponsor will waive the entire Sponsor Fee for the first $2.5 billion of the Trust’s assets.
If the Trust’s assets exceed $2.5 billion prior to January 10, 2026, the Sponsor Fee charged on assets over $2.5 billion will
be 0.20% of average daily net assets. All investors will incur the same Sponsor Fee which is the weighted average of those fee
rates. After January 10, 2026, the Sponsor Fee will be 0.20% of average daily net assets. 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 one or more liquidity providers and/or the Bitcoin Custodians, 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 an expense of
the Trust.
The Trust holds its bitcoin at the Bitcoin Custodian and at the
Additional Bitcoin Custodian, both of which are regulated third-party custodians that carry insurance
(in the case of the Additional Bitcoin Custodian, such insurance is carried by its parent, Coinbase Inc., and is intended to cover
the loss of client assets held by Coinbase Inc. and its subsidiaries, including the Additional Bitcoin Custodian) and are responsible
for safekeeping of bitcoin owned by the Trust and holding private keys that provide access to the bitcoin in the Trust’s bitcoin account.
F- 10
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2024
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Trust’s
administrator, transfer agent and cash custodian.
Note 4. Related Parties (a)
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 NAV. 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 was the initial seed investor (“Seed Capital Investor”)
on December 21, 2023. On January 4, 2024, the 8,000 Shares held by the Seed Capital Investor were redeemed for cash and the Seed
Capital Investor purchased the “Seed Creation Baskets,” comprising of 5,800,000 Shares at a per-Share price of $ 12.50 .
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. As of December 31, 2024, the Seed Capital Investor’s ownership in the Trust represents approximately 9 %
of net assets.
VanEck is a minority interest holder in the parent company of the
Bitcoin Custodian, representing less than 1 % of its equity.
(a) Share amounts in Note 4 have been adjusted to reflect the 4 for 1 share split that occurred on February 14, 2025.
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 baskets consisting
of 25,000 Shares to authorized participants. Prior to March 4, 2024, the Trust offered 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 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 baskets.
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
F- 11
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2024
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 baskets is properly received. For an order to create baskets,
an authorized participant will deliver cash to the Trust’s account at the cash custodian, which the Sponsor will then use
to purchase bitcoin from a liquidity provider chosen by the Sponsor. For an order to redeem baskets, the Sponsor will arrange for
the bitcoin represented by the basket to be sold to a liquidity provider chosen by the Sponsor and the cash proceeds distributed
from the Trust’s account at the cash custodian to the authorized participant in exchange for their Shares. Only authorized
participants may place orders to create and redeem baskets through the transfer agent. The transfer agent will coordinate with
the Trust’s Bitcoin Custodians to facilitate settlement of the Shares and bitcoin.
Share and capital activity is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2024 (a)
For the Period December 21, 2023 (Date
of Seeding) to December 31, 2023 (a)
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Beginning of period
8,000
$ 100,000
—
$ —
Shares issued
63,100,000
1,145,143,775
8,000
100,000
Shares redeemed
( 14,608,000 )
( 283,761,891 )
—
—
Ending of period
48,500,000
$ 861,481,884
8,000
$ 100,000
(a) Shares amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 4 for 1 share split that occurred on February 14, 2025.
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 a 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 platforms are relatively new and may be unregulated or may be subject to regulation in a relevant jurisdiction,
but may not be complying, 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
F- 12
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2024
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. At December 31, 2024, bitcoin with a fair value of $ 1,155,082,800 and $ 125,367,532 was held by the Bitcoin
Custodian and Additional Bitcoin Custodian, respectively.
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.
Note 8. Financial Highlights (a)(b)
The financial highlights summarize certain per share operating
information and financial ratios of net investment income (loss) and expenses, to daily average net assets for the year ended December
31, 2024. An individual investor’s return and ratios may vary based on the timing of capital transactions:
F- 13
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2024
Year
Ended
December 31, 2024
Net asset value per share, beginning
of period
$ 12.50
From investment operations:
Net investment loss (c)
( 0.00 ) (d)
Net realized gain and change in
unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments in bitcoin (e)
13.90
Total increase resulting from operations
13.90
Net asset value per share, end of period (f)
$ 26.40
Total return (g)
111.20 %
Ratios to average net assets (h)
Expenses before fee waiver
0.20 % (i)
Expenses after fee waiver
0.01 % (i)
Net investment loss
( 0.01 )% (i)
Portfolio turnover rate (g)
40.03 %
(a) No prior year comparative financial statements have been provided as the Trust did not have any operations as of December 31, 2023.
(b) On February 14, 2025 the Trust effected a 4 for 1 share split. Per share data has been adjusted to reflect the share split.
(c) Net investment loss per share has been calculated based upon an average of daily shares outstanding.
(d) Amount rounds to greater than ($0.005)
(e) The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the year may not agree with the change in the aggregate gains and losses for the year because of the timing of sales and repurchases of the Trust’s shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Trust.
(f) Returns are not annualized and include adjustments required by GAAP. Returns for financial statements purposes may differ from net asset values and performance reported elsewhere by the Trust.
(g) Non-annualized.
(h) Annualized.
(i) Calculated based upon daily average net assets from January 10, 2024 (Date of Effectiveness) to December 31, 2024.
Note 9. Subsequent Event Review
The Trust completed a 4-for-1 share split for shareholders as follows:
Record Date Pay Date Ex-Date
2/12/2025 2/13/2025 2/14/2025
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
other material events that would require disclosure in the financial statements.
F- 14
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 Bitcoin ETF
By:
VanEck Digital Assets, LLC, as Sponsor of the Trust (registrant)
By:
/s/ Jonathan R. Simon
Name: Jonathan R. Simon
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Date:
March 26, 2025
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1933, this Report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities* and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
Jan F. van Eck
/s/ Jan F. van Eck
President and Chief Executive Officer
March 26, 2025
(Principal Executive Officer)
John J. Crimmins
/s/ John J. Crimmins
Vice President, Chief Financial
March 26, 2025
Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
*
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.
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.