Bitcoin ETFs and Crypto Separately Managed Accounts: What RIAs Need to Know

The recent approval by the SEC of spot Bitcoin ETFs was nothing short of historic, offering a new avenue for safe and compliant access to the largest cryptocurrency. Since January 10, there have been over $10 billion in inflows, helping drive a favorable outlook for Bitcoin and the broader market. For retail investors especially, spot Bitcoin ETFs simplify access to Bitcoin backed by secure custody while removing the complexity of managing private keys themselves.

With rising interest in crypto, Bitcoin ETFs raise new questions for institutions managing client assets: How should we meet client demand for digital asset exposure? What investment vehicles are best?

If the new ETFs are part of the answer, so is the complementary investment vehicle of crypto separately managed accounts (SMAs). Crypto SMAs, or portfolios of digital assets, are quickly gaining ground with wealth managers, family offices and registered investment advisors (RIAs).

You're reading Crypto Long & Short, our weekly newsletter featuring insights, news and analysis for the professional investor. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Wednesday.

Why Crypto SMAs?

SMAs have long been a key investment vehicle across a variety of traditional asset classes, from equities to fixed income. The SMA structure allows for direct ownership of — not just direct exposure to — the underlying asset.

Crypto SMAs give access to a wide range of assets beyond bitcoin. Multi-asset support allows institutions to meet client demand for a greater depth of exposure to crypto, especially novel protocols or tokenized RWAs.

In addition, crypto SMAs are easy-to-tailor to different client types and strategies. If, for example, a family office wanted to allocate 60% of a portfolio to Bitcoin and 40% to Ethereum, an SMA could be tailored to this allocation as a streamlined avenue for crypto exposure.

Much like spot Bitcoin ETFs, crypto SMAs provide institutions with the regulatory and security profile they need to engage in the asset class. To safeguard assets, a qualified custodian should serve as the base layer of a compliant-crypto SMA.

Qualified custodians are required to segregate accounts and cannot commingle assets. And a recent SEC proposal has emphasized the importance of qualified custodians across asset classes, including crypto.

Flexibility and tax advantages

An SMA approach enables investors to customize their portfolio to include many digital assets, enabling diversification and the ability to adjust risk. Additionally, an investor may benefit from professional management that tailors their portfolio based on market analysis and their individual goals. Such flexibility may allow for sophisticated tax management strategies, such as tax-loss harvesting on an individual basis.

Wealth managers, family offices, and RIAs should consider both spot Bitcoin ETFs and crypto SMAs side-by-side as safe, secure and compliant investment vehicles.

Focusing on key areas — such as asset support, portfolio allocation, and tax status — will allow institutions to make the best decision when selecting a spot ETF, a crypto SMA, or some combination of the two.

At the end of the day, having more choices for participation in the digital asset class is a major net positive for consumers and institutions — and the ecosystem is stronger as a result.