ARKB vs BITB: Two Spot Bitcoin ETFs With Near-Identical Costs
ARKB and BITB both hold spot Bitcoin, approved by the SEC in January 2024. The fees are nearly identical. The real differences are issuer, AUM, and what you believe about each company's long-term role in the Bitcoin ecosystem.
ARKB (ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF) and BITB (Bitwise Bitcoin ETF Trust) are both spot Bitcoin ETFs approved by the SEC in January 2024. Both hold physical Bitcoin in custody, both track the spot price of Bitcoin, and both expose investors to Bitcoin's full upside and downside without requiring a crypto wallet or exchange account. ARKB charges 0.21% and is managed jointly by ARK Invest (Cathie Wood's firm) and 21Shares, a Swiss crypto ETP specialist with years of European crypto ETF experience. BITB charges 0.20% and is managed by Bitwise Asset Management, a crypto-focused asset manager founded in 2017 with a longer U.S. crypto track record. The 1 basis point fee difference is negligible — on $100,000 that is $10 per year. The more meaningful considerations are AUM (iShares IBIT and Fidelity FBTC dominate the market; ARKB and BITB are smaller players) and your view on which issuer is more aligned with Bitcoin as an asset class. Both are legitimate options for Bitcoin exposure through a brokerage account. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Bitcoin is a high-risk, high-volatility asset — historical drawdowns of 70-80% have occurred.
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
Both funds trade commission-free at every major brokerage. How the major brokerages compare →
📋 ARKB vs BITB — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | ARKB | BITB |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF | Bitwise Bitcoin ETF Trust |
| Issuer | ARK Invest / 21Shares | Bitwise Asset Management |
| Tracks Index | Spot Bitcoin (Physical) | Spot Bitcoin (Physical) |
| Expense Ratio | 0.21% | 0.20% ✓ |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $21.00 | $20.00 |
| AUM | $4B | $4B |
| Holdings | 1 | 1 |
| Inception | 2024 | 2024 |
| 1-Year Return | +68.00% | +68.20% |
| 3-Year Return | — | — |
| 5-Year Return | — | — |
| Holdings Overlap | See holdings overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.02% | 0.02% |
Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated Aug 1, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 ARKB vs BITB — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?
- already use ARK Invest / 21Shares and prefer staying within one fund family
- want the lowest fees: saves ~$1/yr per $10K vs ARKB
- already use Bitwise Asset Management and prefer staying within one fund family
💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs
Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.
Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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❓ ARKB vs BITB — Frequently Asked Questions
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