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, 2025 .
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 ETF
(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)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former
fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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 51,000,000 outstanding shares as of April
30, 2025.
VanEck Bitcoin ETF
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.
11
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.
13
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
13
Part II. OTHER INFORMATION.
14
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
14
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
14
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
14
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
14
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
14
Item 5. Other Information.
14
Item 6. Exhibits.
14
SIGNATURES.
16
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements.
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
March 31, 2025
(Unaudited)
December 31,
2024
Assets
Investment in bitcoin, at fair value (cost $ 975,750,516 and $ 895,843,577 , respectively)
$ 1,184,241,939
$ 1,280,450,332
Total assets
1,184,241,939
1,280,450,332
Liabilities
Total liabilities
—
—
Net assets
$ 1,184,241,939
$ 1,280,450,332
Shares issued and outstanding ( no par value, unlimited amount authorized)
50,475,000
48,500,000
Net Asset Value per Share
$ 23.46
$ 26.40
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these financial statements.
1
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2025
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2024
Expenses
Sponsor fee, related party
$ 658,254
$ 122,669
Total expenses
658,254
122,669
Sponsor fee waiver, related party
( 658,254 )
( 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
21,138,420
5,947,470
Bitcoin distributed for Sponsor fee, related party
—
10,977
Net realized gain on investments in bitcoin
21,138,420
5,958,447
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments in bitcoin
( 176,115,332 )
103,409,916
Net realized gain and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
( 154,976,912 )
109,368,363
Net
increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
$ ( 154,976,912 )
$ 109,304,792
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these financial statements.
2
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited)
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2025
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2024
Net
increase (decrease) from operations
Net investment loss
$ —
$ ( 63,571 )
Net realized gain from investment in bitcoin
21,138,420
5,958,447
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments in bitcoin
( 176,115,332 )
103,409,916
Net
increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
( 154,976,912 )
109,304,792
Capital Share transactions
Contributions for shares issued
141,284,030
530,072,065
Withdrawals for shares redeemed
( 82,515,511 )
( 20,426,829 )
Total
capital share transactions
58,768,519
509,645,236
Net
increase (decrease) in net assets
( 96,208,393 )
618,950,028
Net
assets:
Beginning of period
1,280,450,332
100,000
End
of period
$ 1,184,241,939
$ 619,050,028
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these financial statements.
3
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Schedule of Investment
March 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
Quantity
of Bitcoin
Cost
Fair
Value
% of Net Assets
Investment in bitcoin
14,275.40
$ 975,750,516
$ 1,184,241,939
100.00 %
Net Assets
$ 1,184,241,939
100.00 %
December 31, 2024
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 %
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these financial statements.
4
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
March 31, 2025
Note 1. Organization:
The VanEck Bitcoin ETF (the “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 net 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,
and March 31, 2025, 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 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 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
5
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (continued)
March 31, 2025
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, 2025, and December 31, 2024:
March 31, 2025
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets
Investment in bitcoin
$ 1,184,241,939
$ —
$ —
$ 1,184,241,939
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, 2025
13,716.83
$ 1,280,450,332
Bitcoin contributed
1,463.60
141,284,030
Bitcoin withdrawn
( 905.03 )
( 82,515,511 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investment in bitcoin
—
( 176,115,332 )
Net realized gain on investment in bitcoin
—
21,138,420
Ending balance as of March 31, 2025
14,275.40
$ 1,184,241,939
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 (depreciation) from 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
6
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (continued)
March 31, 2025
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 for the period presented and has determined
that no provision for income tax is required in the Trust’s financial statements.
G. Segment Reporting
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.
H. Interim financial statements
The financial statements included herein were prepared without
audit according to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures
normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP may be omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.
The financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary that were of a normal and recurring nature
and adequate disclosures to present fairly the financial position and results of operations as of and for the periods indicated.
The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, are not necessarily indicative of the results to
be expected for the full year or for any other period.
T hese financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10‑K previously
filed with the SEC.
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% of
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.
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Trust’s
administrator, transfer agent and cash custodian.
7
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (continued)
March 31, 2025
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 and March 31, 2025, the Seed Capital Investor’s ownership in the Trust represents
approximately 9 % and 7 %, respectively 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 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:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 (a)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 (a)
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Beginning of
period
48,500,000
$
861,481,884
8,000
$
100,000
Shares issued
5,175,000
141,289,180
31,900,000
530,072,065
Shares redeemed
( 3,200,000
)
( 82,520,661
)
( 1,108,000
)
( 20,426,829
)
End of period
50,475,000
$
920,250,403
30,800,000
$
509,745,236
(a) Shares amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 4 for 1 share split that occurred on February 14, 2025.
8
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (continued)
March 31, 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 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. Bitcoin with a fair value of $ 1,280,450,332 and $ 1,184,241,939 were held by the Bitcoin Custodians at December
31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, 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.
9
VANECK BITCOIN ETF
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements (continued)
March 31, 2025
Note 8. Financial Highlights (a)
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 three months
ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. An individual investor’s return and ratios may vary based on the timing of capital
transactions:
Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2025
Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2024
Net asset value per share, beginning of period
$ 26.40
$ 12.50
From investment operations:
Net investment loss (b)
0.00
( 0.00 ) (c)
Net realized gain and change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from
investments in bitcoin (d)
( 2.94 )
7.60
Total increase resulting from operations
( 2.94 )
7.60
Net asset value per share, end of period
$ 23.46
$ 20.10
Total return (e)(f)
( 11.14 )%
60.80 %
Ratios to average net assets (g)
Expenses before fee waiver
0.20 %
0.21 %
Expenses after fee waiver
0.00 %
0.11 %
Net investment loss
0.00 %
( 0.11 )%
Portfolio turnover rate (f)
6.44 %
6.06 %
(a) On February 14, 2025 the Trust effected a 4 for 1 share split. Per share data prior to that date has been adjusted to reflect the share split.
(b) Net investment loss per share has been calculated based upon an average of daily shares outstanding.
(c) Amount rounds to greater than ($0.005)
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) Non-annualized.
(g) 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.
10
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 Custodians’ 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.
11
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.
Results of Operations
The Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 (a)
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 8,000 Shares at December 31, 2023 to 30,800,000
Shares at March 31, 2024, a consequence of 31,900,000 Shares (964 Baskets) being created and 1,108,000 Shares (36 Baskets) being
redeemed during the period and an increase in the price of bitcoin, which grew 60.17 % from $44,182 at January 4, 2024 to $70,766
at March 31, 2024.
The 60.80% increase in the NAV from $12.50 at December 31, 2023
to $20.10 at March 31, 2024 is directly related to the 66.17 % increase in the price of bitcoin 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 $20.68 on March 13, 2024, was the highest
during the quarter, compared with a low during the quarter of $11.10 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 a net unrealized appreciation 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.
(a) Shares outstanding, baskets and Net Asset Value per share
have been adjusted to reflect the 4 for 1 share split that took place on February 14, 2025.
The Quarter Ended March 31, 2025
The Trust’s NAV decreased from $1,280,450,332 at December
31, 2024 to $1,184,241,939 at March 31, 2025, a 7.51% decrease. The decrease in the Trust’s net asset value resulted primarily
from a decrease in the price of bitcoin, which contracted 11.13% from $93,349 at December 31, 2024 to $82,957 at March 31, 2025,
offset by the impact of capital share transactions, as the number of outstanding shares increased from 48,500,000 Shares at December
31, 2024 to 50,475,000 Shares at March 31, 2025. This is the net result of 5,175,000 Shares (207 Baskets) being created and 3,200,000
Shares (128 Baskets) being redeemed during the period.
The 11.14 % decrease in the NAV per Share from $26.40 at December
31, 2024 to $23.46 at March 31, 2025 is directly related to the 11.13% decrease in the price of bitcoin during this period.
The NAV per Share of $30.16 on January 21, 2025, was the highest
during the quarter, compared with a low during the quarter of $22.21 on March 10, 2025.
12
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations for the
quarter ended March 31, 2025, was $154,976,912 resulting from a net unrealized depreciation on investment in bitcoin of $176,115,332,
and a net realized gain of $21,138,420 on bitcoin sold for the redemption of Shares and a net investment loss of $0. The Trust
had no expenses during the quarter as they were all waived by the Sponsor.
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 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.
There were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during 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.
13
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, 2024, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2025.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds.
a) None.
b) Not applicable.
c) 3,200,000 Shares (128 Baskets) were redeemed during the quarter
ended March 31, 2025.
Period
Total Number of Shares
Redeemed
Average Per
Share
01/01/25 to 01/31/25
200,000
$
28.41
02/01/25 to 02/28/25
2,650,000
25.69
03/01/25 to 03/31/25
350,000
25.05
Total
3,200,000
$
25.79
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.
14
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
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
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
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 with Embedded Linkbase Documents
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File included as Exhibit 101 (embedded
within the Inline XBRL document)
* Filed herewith.
15
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 ETF
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 14, 2025
* 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.
16
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.