11/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/08/2024 13:59
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Pre-Effective Amendment No.
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Post-Effective Amendment No.
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and/or
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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Amendment No.
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9
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With Copy to:
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Michael W. Mundt, Esq.
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J. Stephen Feinour, Jr., Esq.
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Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
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Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
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2000 K Street, N.W., Ste. 700
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2005 Market Street, Suite 2600
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Washington, DC 20006
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-7018
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
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immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
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on [Date] pursuant to paragraph (b)
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60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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on [Date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
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on [Date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
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If appropriate, check the following box:
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This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Grayscale Bitcoin Miners ETF Summary
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1
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Investment Objective
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1
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Fees and Expenses of the Fund
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1
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Expense Example
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1
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Portfolio Turnover
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1
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Principal Investment Strategy
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1
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Principal Investment Risks
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5
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Performance
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13
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Portfolio Management
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13
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Purchase and Sale of Shares
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13
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Tax Information
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13
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Financial Intermediary Compensation
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13
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
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14
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PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
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28
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MANAGEMENT
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28
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Investment Adviser
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28
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Sub-Adviser
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29
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Portfolio Managers
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29
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Manager of Managers Structure
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30
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HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES
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30
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Book Entry
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31
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Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Shares
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31
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Determination of NAV
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31
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Fair Value Pricing
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31
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Investments by Registered Investment Companies
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32
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Delivery of Shareholder Documents - Householding
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32
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DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
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32
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Dividends and Distributions
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Taxes |
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Taxes on Distributions |
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Taxes When Shares are Sold on the Exchange |
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Taxes on Purchases and Redemptions of Creation Units |
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Foreign Taxes |
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DISTRIBUTION
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36
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PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION
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36
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ADDITIONAL NOTICES
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36
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DISCLAIMERS
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36
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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37
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Management Fees
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[ ]%
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Other Expenses*
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[ ]%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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[ ]%
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* Estimated for the current fiscal year.
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1 Year
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3 Years
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$[ ]
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$[ ]
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Their listing either in a developed (including the U.S.) or emerging market based on the Index Provider's rules-based country classification system, in the form of common stock or depositary receipt (American or global). [As of August 2024, the list of developed markets includes the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea Taiwan, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and the list of emerging markets includes Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.]
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A minimum total market capitalization of $50 million USD.
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A six-month average daily turnover greater than or equal to $0.5 million.
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All securities must have a minimum free float equivalent to 10% of shares outstanding.
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Securities trading at a price of $10,000 or above are ineligible for inclusion in the Index. This rule is not applicable for existing constituents. Existing constituents shall remain in the initial universe irrespective of their stock price.
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Traded on 90% of the eligible trading days in the last six-months. In the case of initial public offerings where a security does not have a trading history of six-months, such a security must have started trading at least three-months before the start of the reconstitution and rebalancing process and should have traded on 90% of the eligible trading days for the past three-months.
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Pure-Play: Companies that derive greater than or equal to 50% revenue from bitcoin mining are considered as 'pure-play' companies.
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Quasi-Play: Companies with diversified revenue streams that generate at least 20% (but less than 50%) of their revenue from bitcoin mining are considered as 'quasi-play' companies.
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Marginal: Companies with diversified revenue streams that generate less than 20% of their revenue from bitcoin mining are considered as 'marginal' companies.
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Concentration in Bitcoin Mining Companies Risk. The Index, and consequently the Fund, is expected to concentrate its investments (i.e., hold more than 25% of its total assets) in the securities of Bitcoin Mining Companies. As a result, the value of the Fund's shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries. In addition, at times, Bitcoin Mining Companies may be out of favor and underperform other industries or groups of industries or the market as a whole. In such event, the value of the Shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries. An investment in a Bitcoin Mining Company may be subject to the following risks:
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Blockchain technology is new and many of its uses may be untested. The mechanics of using blockchain technology to transact in digital or other types of assets, such as securities or derivatives, is relatively new and untested. There is no assurance that widespread adoption will occur. A lack of expansion in the usage of blockchain technology could adversely affect Bitcoin Mining Companies.
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Theft, loss or destruction. Transacting on a blockchain depends in part specifically on the use of cryptographic keys that are required to access a user's account (or "wallet"). The theft, loss, or destruction of these keys could adversely affect a user's ownership claims over an asset or a company's business or operations if it was dependent on the blockchain.
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Competing platforms, technologies, and patents. The development and acceptance of competing platforms or technologies may cause consumers or investors to use an alternative to blockchains. Further, if one or more other persons, companies or organizations has or obtains a valid patent covering technology critical to the operation of one or more of a Bitcoin Mining Company's business lines, there can be no guarantee that such an entity would be willing to license such technology at acceptable prices or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on the Bitcoin Mining Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Cyber security incidents. Cyber security incidents may compromise an issuer, its operations, or its business. Cyber security incidents may also specifically target a user's transaction history, digital assets, or identity, thereby leading to privacy concerns. In addition, certain features of blockchain technology, such as decentralization, open source protocol, and reliance on peer-to-peer connectivity, may increase the risk of fraud or cyber-attack by potentially reducing the likelihood of a coordinated response. Additionally, blockchain functionality relies on the Internet. A significant disruption of Internet connectivity affecting large numbers of users or geographic areas could impede the functionality of blockchain technologies.
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Key personnel risk. Bitcoin Mining Companies rely on highly skilled financial service professionals and software engineers. Because of competition from other firms, Bitcoin Mining Companies may face difficulties in recruiting and retaining professionals of a caliber consistent with their business strategy in the future. The inability to successfully identify and retain qualified professionals could materially and adversely affect the growth, operations, or financial condition of the company.
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Lack of liquid markets, and possible manipulation of blockchain-based assets. Digital assets that are represented on a blockchain and trade on a digital asset exchange may not necessarily benefit from viable trading markets. Stock exchanges have listing requirements and vet issuers, and perhaps users. These conditions may not necessarily be replicated on a digital asset exchange, depending on the platform's controls and other policies. The more lenient a digital asset exchange is about vetting issuers of digital assets or users that transact on the platform, the higher the potential risk for fraud or the manipulation of digital assets. These factors may decrease liquidity or volume, or increase volatility of digital securities or other assets trading on a digital asset exchange.
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Lack of regulation. Digital commodities and their associated platforms are largely unregulated, and the regulatory environment is rapidly evolving. Because blockchain technology works by having every transaction build on every other transaction, participants can self-police any corruption, which can mitigate the need to depend on the current level of legal or government safeguards to monitor and control the flow of business transactions. As a result, companies engaged in such blockchain activities may be exposed to adverse regulatory action, fraudulent activity, or even failure. There can be no guarantee that future regulation of blockchain technology or digital assets will not have a negative impact on the value of such technologies and of the companies in which the Fund invests.
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Network amendment risk. Significant contributors to all or any digital asset network could propose amendments to the respective network's protocols and software that, if accepted and authorized by such network, could adversely affect a Bitcoin Mining Company. For example, with respect to the bitcoin network, a small group of individuals contribute to the bitcoin network's source code. Those individuals can propose refinements or improvements to the bitcoin network's source code through one or more software upgrades that alter the protocols and software that govern the bitcoin network and the properties of bitcoin, including the irreversibility of transactions and limitations on the mining of new bitcoin. To the extent that a significant majority of the users and miners on the bitcoin network install such software upgrade(s), the bitcoin network would be subject to new protocols and software that may adversely affect Bitcoin Mining Companies.
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Third party product defects or vulnerabilities. Where blockchain systems are built using third party products, those products may contain technical defects or vulnerabilities beyond a company's control. Open-source technologies that are used to build a blockchain application, may also introduce defects and vulnerabilities.
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Reliance on digital assets. Bitcoin Mining Companies rely heavily on the success of the digital currency industry, the development and acceptance of which is subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to evaluate. Digital assets are assets designed to act as a medium of exchange. Digital assets are an emerging asset class. There are thousands of digital assets, the most well-known of which is bitcoin. Digital assets generally operate without a central authority (such as a bank) and are not backed by any government. Digital assets are not legal tender. Federal, state and/or foreign governments may restrict the use and exchange of digital assets, and regulation in the United States is still developing. The market price of bitcoin has been subject to extreme fluctuations. Similar to fiat currencies (i.e., a currency that is backed by a central bank or a national, supra-national or quasi-national organization), digital assets are susceptible to theft, loss, and destruction. Digital asset exchanges and other trading venues on which digital assets trade are relatively new and, in most cases, largely unregulated and may therefore be more exposed to fraud and failure than established, regulated exchanges for securities, derivatives and other currencies. Digital asset exchanges may stop operating or permanently shut down due to fraud, technical glitches, hackers, or malware, which may also affect volatility. Volatility of digital assets may have a material adverse effect on a Bitcoin Mining Company's business, financial condition, and results of operation.
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Line of business risk. Some Bitcoin Mining Companies are engaged in other lines of business unrelated to blockchain and these lines of business could adversely affect their operating results. The operating results of these companies may fluctuate as a result of these additional risks and events in the other lines of business. In addition, a company's ability to engage in new activities may expose it to business risks with which it has less experience than it has with the business risks associated with its traditional businesses. Despite a company's possible success in activities linked to its use of blockchain, there can be no assurance that the other lines of business in which these companies are engaged will not have an adverse effect on a company's business or financial condition.
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Currency Exchange Rate Risk. The Fund may invest a relatively large percentage of its assets in investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies or in securities that provide exposure to such currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates and the relative value of non-U.S. currencies will affect the value of the Fund's investment and the value of your Shares. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably. As a result, the value of an investment in the Fund may change quickly and without warning and you may lose money.
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Depositary Receipt Risk. Depositary Receipts involve risks similar to those associated with investments in foreign securities, such as changes in political or economic conditions of other countries and changes in the exchange rates of foreign currencies. Depositary Receipts listed on U.S. exchanges are issued by banks or trust companies and entitle the holder to all dividends and capital gains that are paid out on the underlying foreign shares ("Underlying Shares"). When the Fund invests in Depositary Receipts as a substitute for an investment directly in the Underlying Shares, the Fund is exposed to the risk that the Depositary Receipts may not provide a return that corresponds precisely with that of the Underlying Shares.
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Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in companies organized in emerging market nations. Investments in securities and instruments traded in developing or emerging markets, or that provide exposure to such securities or markets, can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in U.S. securities and instruments or investments in more developed international markets. Such conditions may impact the ability of the Fund to buy, sell or otherwise transfer securities, adversely affect the trading market and price for Shares and cause the Fund to decline in value.
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Equity Market Risk. The equity securities held in the Fund's portfolio may experience sudden, unpredictable drops in value or long periods of decline in value. This may occur because of factors that affect securities markets generally or factors affecting specific issuers, industries, or sectors in which the Fund invests. Common stocks are generally exposed to greater risk than other types of securities, such as preferred stock and debt obligations, because common stockholders generally have inferior rights to receive payment from issuers. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on the Fund and its investments. For example, the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged disruptions to the normal business operations of companies around the world and the impact of such disruptions is hard to predict. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Such events could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund's portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets.
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ETF Risks. The Fund is an ETF, and, as a result of an ETF's structure, it is exposed to the following risks:
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Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants ("APs"). In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
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Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including brokerage commissions imposed by brokers and bid-ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
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Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of Shares will approximate the Fund's NAV, there may be times when the market price of Shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of Shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for Shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant. Because securities held by the Fund may trade on foreign exchanges that are closed when the Fund's primary listing exchange is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of a security and the security's last quoted price from the closed foreign market. This may result in premiums and discounts that are greater than those experienced by domestic ETFs.
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Trading. Although Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the "Exchange") and may be traded on U.S. exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund's underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares, and this could lead to differences between the market price of the Shares and the underlying value of those Shares.
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Financial Technology Risk. Companies that are developing financial technologies that seek to disrupt or displace established financial institutions generally face competition from much larger and more established firms. Such companies may not be able to capitalize on their disruptive technologies if they face political and/or legal attacks from competitors, industry groups or local and national governments. Laws generally vary by country, creating some challenges to achieving scale. A financial technology company may not currently derive any revenue, and there is no assurance that such company will derive any revenue from innovative technologies in the future. Additionally, financial technology companies may be adversely impacted by potential rapid product obsolescence, cybersecurity attacks, increased regulatory oversight and disruptions in the technology they depend on.
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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may be subject to different accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. Investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to withholding or other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. With respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of government intervention and expropriation or nationalization of assets. Because legal systems differ, there is also the possibility that it will be difficult to obtain or enforce legal judgments in certain countries. Since foreign exchanges may be open on days when the Fund does not price its Shares, the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell the Shares. Conversely, Shares may trade on days when foreign exchanges are closed. Each of these factors can make investments in the Fund more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.
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Geographic Investment Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies of a single country or region, it is more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country or region. For example, political and economic conditions and changes in regulatory, tax, or economic policy in a country could significantly affect the market in that country and in surrounding or related countries and have a negative impact on the Fund's performance. Currency developments or restrictions, political and social instability, and changing economic conditions have resulted in significant market volatility.
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Index Methodology Risk. The Index may not include all Bitcoin Mining Companies around the globe because the Index includes only those companies meeting the Index criteria, including liquidity and market capitalization requirements. In addition, companies that would otherwise be included in the Index might be excluded from the Index if they omit disclosure of, or do not use key terms associated with, their blockchain technology or digital asset activities in regulatory filings or otherwise keep such work hidden from public (and the Index Provider's) view.
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Index Provider Risk. There is no assurance that the Index Provider, or any agents that act on its behalf, will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. The Adviser relies upon the Index Provider and its agents to compile, determine, maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate (or arrange for an agent to calculate), and disseminate the Index accurately. Any losses or costs associated with errors made by the Index Provider or its agents generally will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders.
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Market Capitalization Risk
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Large-Capitalization Investing. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion. Large-capitalization companies may also be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes.
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Mid-Capitalization Investing. The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of large-capitalization companies, but they may also be subject to slower growth than small-capitalization companies during times of economic expansion. The securities of mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than large capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole, but they may also be nimbler and more responsive to new challenges than large-capitalization companies. Some mid-capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, financial resources, and management personnel and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to large-capitalization companies.
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Small-Capitalization Investing. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of larger-capitalization companies. The securities of small-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some small capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to larger capitalization companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning smaller-capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Small-capitalization companies also may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, government regulation, borrowing costs and earnings.
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New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decision.
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Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is considered to be non-diversified, which means that it may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it were a diversified fund. As a result, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer or a smaller number of issuers than a fund that invests more widely. This may increase the Fund's volatility and cause the performance of a relatively smaller number of issuers to have a greater impact on the Fund's performance. However, the Fund intends to satisfy the diversification requirements for qualifying as a regulated investment company (a "RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
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Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively managed, and its sub-adviser would not sell shares of an equity security due to current or projected underperformance of a security, industry, or sector, unless that security is removed from the Index or the selling of shares of that security is otherwise required upon a reconstitution or rebalancing of the Index in accordance with the Index methodology.
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Sector Risk. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the following sectors and, therefore, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting each of these sectors.
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Financial Sector Risk. This sector can be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, government regulation, the rate of defaults on corporate, consumer and government debt, the availability and cost of capital, and fallout from the housing and sub-prime mortgage crisis. Insurance companies, in particular, may be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, catastrophic events, price and market competition, the imposition of premium rate caps, or other changes in government regulation or tax law and/or rate regulation, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. This sector has experienced significant losses in the recent past, and the impact of more stringent capital requirements and of recent or future regulation on any individual financial company or on the sector as
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a whole cannot be predicted. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology malfunctions and failures have become increasingly frequent in this sector and have caused significant losses.
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Information Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability.
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Tax Risk. To qualify for the favorable tax treatment generally available to a RIC, the Fund must satisfy, among other requirements described in the SAI, certain diversification requirements. Given the concentration of the Index in a relatively small number of securities, it may not always be possible for the Fund to fully implement a replication strategy or a representative sampling strategy while satisfying these diversification requirements. The Fund's efforts to replicate or represent the Index may cause it inadvertently to fail to satisfy the diversification requirements. If the Fund were to fail to satisfy the diversification requirements, it could be eligible for relief provisions if the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.
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Tracking Error Risk. As with all index funds, the performance of the Fund and the Index may differ from each other for a variety of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses and portfolio transaction costs not incurred by the Index. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested in the securities of the Index at all times or may hold securities not included in the Index.
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Adviser
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Grayscale Advisors, LLC (the "Adviser")
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Sub-Adviser
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Vident Asset Management, LLC ("Vident" or the "Sub-Adviser")
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Portfolio Managers
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[Austin Wen, CFA, Portfolio Manager of Vident, and Rafael Zayas, CFA, SVP, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading of Vident, have each been a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in [ ] 2025.]
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Their listing either in a developed (including the U.S.) or emerging market based on the Index Provider's rules-based country classification system, in the form of common stock or depositary receipt (American or global). [As of August 2024, the list of developed markets includes the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea Taiwan, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and the list of emerging markets includes Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.]
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A minimum total market capitalization of $50 million USD.
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A six-month average daily turnover greater than or equal to $0.5 million.
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All securities must have a minimum free float equivalent to 10% of shares outstanding.
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Securities trading at a price of $10,000 or above are ineligible for inclusion in the Index. This rule is not applicable for existing constituents. Existing constituents shall remain in the initial universe irrespective of their stock price.
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Traded on 90% of the eligible trading days in the last six-months. In the case of initial public offerings where a security does not have a trading history of six-months, such a security must have started trading at least three-months before the start of the reconstitution and rebalancing process and should have traded on 90% of the eligible trading days for the past three-months.
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Pure-Play: Companies that derive greater than or equal to 50% revenue from bitcoin mining are considered as 'pure-play' companies.
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Quasi-Play: Companies with diversified revenue streams that generate at least 20% (but less than 50%) of their revenue from bitcoin mining are considered as 'quasi-play' companies.
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Marginal: Companies with diversified revenue streams that generate less than 20% of their revenue from bitcoin mining are considered as 'marginal' companies.
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Concentration in Bitcoin Mining Companies Risk. The Index, and consequently the Fund, is expected to concentrate its investments (i.e., hold more than 25% of its total assets) in the
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securities of Bitcoin Mining Companies. As a result, the value of the Fund's shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries. In addition, at times, Bitcoin Mining Companies may be out of favor and underperform other industries or groups of industries or the market as a whole. In such event, the value of the Shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries. An investment in a Bitcoin Mining Company may be subject to the following risks:
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Blockchain technology is new and many of its uses may be untested. The mechanics of using blockchain technology to transact in digital or other types of assets, such as securities or derivatives, is relatively new and untested. There is no assurance that widespread adoption will occur. A lack of expansion in the usage of blockchain technology could adversely affect Bitcoin Mining Companies. A breach to one blockchain could cause investors, and the public generally, to lose trust in blockchain technology and increase reluctance to issue and invest in assets recorded on blockchains. Furthermore, blockchain technology is subject to a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape in the United States and in other countries, which might include security, privacy, or other regulatory concerns that could require changes to blockchain networks.
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Theft, loss or destruction. Transacting on a blockchain depends in part specifically on the use of cryptographic keys that are required to access a user's account (or "wallet"). The theft, loss, or destruction of these keys could adversely affect a user's ownership claims over an asset or a company's business or operations if it was dependent on the blockchain.
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Competing platforms, technologies, and patents. The development and acceptance of competing platforms or technologies may cause consumers or investors to use an alternative to blockchains. Further, if one or more other persons, companies or organizations has or obtains a valid patent covering technology critical to the operation of one or more of a Bitcoin Mining Company's business lines, there can be no guarantee that such an entity would be willing to license such technology at acceptable prices or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on the Bitcoin Mining Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, if for any reason a Bitcoin Mining Company were to fail to comply with its obligations under an applicable agreement, it may be unable to operate, which would also have a material adverse effect on that Bitcoin Mining Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Due to the fundamentally open-source nature of blockchain technology, a Bitcoin Mining Company may not always be able to determine that it is using or accessing protected information or software. For example, there could be issued patents of which a Bitcoin Mining Company is not aware that its products infringe. Moreover, patent applications are in some cases maintained in secrecy until patents are issued. The publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature frequently occurs substantially later than the date on which the underlying discoveries were made and patent applications were filed. Because patents can take many years to issue, there may currently be pending applications of which a Bitcoin Mining Company is unaware that may later result in issued patents that its products infringe. A Bitcoin Mining Company could expend significant resources defending against patent infringement and other intellectual property right claims, which could require it to
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divert resources away from operations. Any damages a Bitcoin Mining Company is required to pay or injunctions against its continued use of such intellectual property in resolution of such claims may cause a material adverse effect to its business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Cyber security incidents. Cyber security incidents may compromise an issuer, its operations, or its business. Cyber security incidents may also specifically target a user's transaction history, digital assets, or identity, thereby leading to privacy concerns. In addition, certain features of blockchain technology, such as decentralization, open source protocol, and reliance on peer-to-peer connectivity, may increase the risk of fraud or cyber-attack by potentially reducing the likelihood of a coordinated response. Additionally, blockchain functionality relies on the Internet. A significant disruption of Internet connectivity affecting large numbers of users or geographic areas could impede the functionality of blockchain technologies.
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Key personnel risk. Bitcoin Mining Companies rely on highly skilled financial service professionals and software engineers. Because of competition from other firms, Bitcoin Mining Companies may face difficulties in recruiting and retaining professionals of a caliber consistent with their business strategy in the future. The inability to successfully identify and retain qualified professionals could materially and adversely affect the growth, operations, or financial condition of the company.
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Lack of liquid markets, and possible manipulation of blockchain-based assets. Digital assets that are represented and trade on a blockchain may not necessarily benefit from viable trading markets. Stock exchanges have listing requirements and vet issuers, and perhaps users. These conditions may not necessarily be replicated on a blockchain, depending on the platform's controls and other policies. The more lenient a blockchain is about vetting issuers of digital assets or users that transact on the platform, the higher the potential risk for fraud or the manipulation of digital assets. These factors may decrease liquidity or volume, or increase volatility of digital securities or other assets trading on a blockchain.
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Lack of regulation. Digital commodities and their associated platforms are largely unregulated, and the regulatory environment is rapidly evolving. Because blockchain technology works by having every transaction build on every other transaction, participants can self-police any corruption, which can mitigate the need to depend on the current level of legal or government safeguards to monitor and control the flow of business transactions. As a result, companies engaged in such blockchain activities may be exposed to adverse regulatory action, fraudulent activity, or even failure. There can be no guarantee that future regulation of blockchain technology or digital assets will not have a negative impact on the value of such technologies and of the companies in which the Fund invests.
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Network amendment risk. Significant contributors to all or any digital asset network could propose amendments to the respective network's protocols and software that, if accepted and authorized by such network, could adversely affect a Bitcoin Mining Company. For example, with respect to the bitcoin network, a small group of individuals contribute to the
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bitcoin network's source code. Those individuals can propose refinements or improvements to the bitcoin network's source code through one or more software upgrades that alter the protocols and software that govern the bitcoin network and the properties of bitcoin, including the irreversibility of transactions and limitations on the mining of new bitcoin. Proposals for upgrades and discussions relating thereto take place on online forums. For example, in the past there have been ongoing debates regarding altering the blockchain of a given digital asset by increasing the size of blocks to accommodate a larger volume of transactions. Although some proponents support such increases, other market participants oppose such increases to the block size as it may deter miners from confirming transactions and concentrate power into a smaller group of miners. To the extent that a significant majority of the users and miners on a digital asset network install such software upgrade(s), such digital asset network would be subject to new protocols and software that may adversely affect Bitcoin Mining Companies. In the event a developer or group of developers proposes a modification to a given digital asset network that is not accepted by a majority of such network's miners and users, but that is nonetheless accepted by a substantial plurality of miners and users, two or more competing and incompatible blockchain implementations could result. This is known as a "hard fork." In such a case, the "hard fork" in the blockchain could materially and adversely affect the perceived value of digital assets as reflected on one or both incompatible blockchains, which may adversely affect Bitcoin Mining Companies.
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Third party product defects or vulnerabilities. Where blockchain systems are built using third party products, those products may contain technical defects or vulnerabilities beyond a company's control. Open-source technologies that are used to build a blockchain application, may also introduce defects and vulnerabilities.
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Reliance on digital assets. Bitcoin Mining Companies rely heavily on the success of the digital currency industry, the development and acceptance of which is subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to evaluate. Digital assets are assets designed to act as a medium of exchange. Digital assets are an emerging asset class. There are thousands of digital assets , the most well-known of which is bitcoin. Digital assets generally operate without a central authority (such as a bank) and are not backed by any government. Digital assets are not legal tender. Federal, state and/or foreign governments may restrict the use and exchange of digital assets, and regulation in the United States is still developing. The market price of bitcoin has been subject to extreme fluctuations. Similar to fiat currencies (i.e., a currency that is backed by a central bank or a national, supra-national or quasi-national organization), digital assets are susceptible to theft, loss, and destruction. Digital asset exchanges and other trading venues on which digital assets trade are relatively new and, in most cases, largely unregulated and may therefore be more exposed to fraud and failure than established, regulated exchanges for securities, derivatives and other currencies. Digital asset exchanges may stop operating or permanently shut down due to fraud, technical glitches, hackers, or malware, which may also affect volatility. Volatility of digital assets may have a material adverse effect on a Bitcoin Mining Company's business, financial condition, and results of operation.
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Line of business risk. Some Bitcoin Mining Companies are engaged in other lines of business unrelated to blockchain and these lines of business could adversely affect their operating results. The operating results of these companies may fluctuate as a result of these additional risks and events in the other lines of business. In addition, a company's ability to engage in new activities may expose it to business risks with which it has less experience than it has with the business risks associated with its traditional businesses. Despite a company's possible success in activities linked to its use of blockchain, there can be no assurance that the other lines of business in which these companies are engaged will not have an adverse effect on a company's business or financial condition.
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Currency Exchange Rate Risk. Changes in currency exchange rates and the relative value of non-U.S. currencies will affect the value of the Fund's investments and the value of your Shares. Because the Fund's NAV is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, the U.S. dollar value of your investment in the Fund may go down if the value of the local currency of the non-U.S. markets in which the Fund invests depreciates against the U.S. dollar. This is true even if the local currency value of securities in the Fund's holdings goes up. Conversely, the dollar value of your investment in the Fund may go up if the value of the local currency appreciates against the U.S. dollar. The value of the U.S. dollar measured against other currencies is influenced by a variety of factors. These factors include: national debt levels and trade deficits, changes in balances of payments and trade, domestic and foreign interest and inflation rates, global or regional political, economic or financial events, monetary policies of governments, actual or potential government intervention, and global energy prices. Political instability, the possibility of government intervention and restrictive or opaque business and investment policies may also reduce the value of a country's currency. Government monetary policies and the buying or selling of currency by a country's government may also influence exchange rates. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably. As a result, the value of an investment in the Fund may change quickly and without warning, and you may lose money.
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Depositary Receipt Risk. The Fund may hold the securities of non-U.S. companies in the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"). ADRs are negotiable certificates issued by a U.S. financial institution that represent a specified number of shares in a foreign stock and trade on a U.S. national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange. Sponsored ADRs are issued with the support of the issuer of the foreign stock underlying the ADRs and carry all of the rights of common shares, including voting rights. GDRs are similar to ADRs but may be issued in bearer form and are typically offered for sale globally and held by a foreign branch of an international bank. The underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. Issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not contractually obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. and, therefore, such information may not correlate to the market value of the unsponsored depositary receipt. The underlying securities of the ADRs and GDRs in the Fund's portfolio are usually denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. As a result, changes in foreign currency exchange rates may affect the value of the Fund's portfolio. In addition, because the underlying securities of ADRs and GDRs trade
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on foreign exchanges at times when the U.S. markets are not open for trading, the value of the securities underlying the ADRs and GDRs may change materially at times when the U.S. markets are not open for trading, regardless of whether there is an active U.S. market for Shares.
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Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in securities and instruments traded in developing or emerging markets, or that provide exposure to such securities or markets, can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in U.S. securities and instruments. For example, developing and emerging markets may be subject to (i) greater market volatility, (ii) lower trading volume and liquidity, (iii) greater social, political and economic uncertainty, (iv) governmental controls on foreign investments and limitations on repatriation of invested capital, (v) lower disclosure, corporate governance, auditing and financial reporting standards, (vi) fewer protections of property rights, (vii) fewer investor rights and limited legal or practical remedies available to investors against emerging market companies, (viii) restrictions on the transfer of securities or currency, and (ix) settlement and trading practices that differ from those in U.S. markets. Each of these factors may impact the ability of the Fund to buy, sell or otherwise transfer securities, adversely affect the trading market and price for Shares and cause the Fund to decline in value. Additionally, limitations on the availability of financial and business information about companies in emerging markets may affect the Index Provider's ability to accurately determine the companies meeting the Index's criteria.
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Equity Market Risk. Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors including: expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic expansion or contraction; and global or regional political, economic, public health, and banking crises. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer because common stockholders, or holders of equivalent interests, generally have inferior rights to receive payments from issuers in comparison with the rights of preferred stockholders, bondholders, and other creditors of such issuers.
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Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, financial markets in the United States and around the world experienced extreme and, in many cases, unprecedented volatility and severe losses due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, a novel coronavirus. The pandemic has resulted in a wide range of social and economic disruptions, including closed borders, voluntary or compelled quarantines of large populations, stressed healthcare systems, reduced or prohibited domestic or international travel, and supply chain disruptions affecting the United States and many other countries. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses as a result of these disruptions, and such disruptions may continue for an extended period of time or reoccur in the future to a similar or greater extent. In response, the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary actions to support the domestic economy and financial markets, resulting in very low interest rates and in some cases negative yields. It is unknown how long circumstances related to the pandemic will persist,
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whether they will reoccur in the future, whether efforts to support the economy and financial markets will be successful, and what additional implications may follow from the pandemic. The impact of these events and other epidemics or pandemics in the future could adversely affect Fund performance.
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Exchange-Traded Fund ("ETF") Risks. The Fund is an ETF, and, as a result of an ETF's structure, it is exposed to the following risks:
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APs, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as APs. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
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Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Investors buying or selling Shares in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers, as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of Shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price at which an investor is willing to buy Shares (the "bid" price) and the price at which an investor is willing to sell Shares (the "ask" price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the "spread" or "bid-ask spread." The bid-ask spread varies over time for Shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and the spread is generally lower if Shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if Shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, a relatively small investor base in the Fund, asset swings in the Fund, and/or increased market volatility may cause increased bid-ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including bid-ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
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Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of Shares will approximate the Fund's NAV, there may be times when the market price of Shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of Shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for Shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant. Because securities held by the Fund may trade on foreign exchanges that are closed when the Fund's primary listing exchange is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of a security and the security's last quoted price from the closed foreign market. This may result in premiums and discounts that are greater than those experienced by domestic ETFs.
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Trading. Although Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange and may be listed or traded on U.S. and non-U.S. stock exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such Shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Shares may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to Exchange "circuit breaker" rules, which temporarily halt trading on the Exchange when a decline in the S&P 500® Index during a single day reaches certain thresholds (e.g., 7%, 13%, and 20%). Additional rules applicable to the Exchange may halt trading in Shares when extraordinary volatility causes sudden, significant swings in the market price of Shares. There can be no assurance that Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund's underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares, and this could lead to differences between the market price of the Shares and the underlying value of those Shares.
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Financial Technology Risk. Companies that are developing financial technologies that seek to disrupt or displace established financial institutions generally face competition from much larger and more established firms. Such companies may not be able to capitalize on their disruptive technologies if they face political and/or legal attacks from competitors, industry groups or local and national governments. Laws generally vary by country, creating some challenges to achieving scale. A financial technology company may not currently derive any revenue, and there is no assurance that such company will derive any revenue from innovative technologies in the future. Additionally, financial technology companies may be adversely impacted by potential rapid product obsolescence, cybersecurity attacks, increased regulatory oversight and disruptions in the technology they depend on.
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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may be subject to different accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. Investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to withholding or other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. With respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of government intervention and expropriation or nationalization of assets. Because legal systems differ, there is also the possibility that it will be difficult to obtain or enforce legal judgments in certain countries. Since foreign exchanges may be open on days when the Fund does not price its Shares, the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell the Shares. Conversely, Shares may trade on days when foreign exchanges are closed. Each of these factors can make investments in the Fund more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.
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Geographic Investment Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies of a single country or region, it is more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country or region. For example, political and economic conditions and changes in regulatory, tax, or economic policy in a country could significantly affect the market in that country and in surrounding or related countries and have a negative impact on the Fund's performance. Currency developments or restrictions, political and social instability, and changing economic conditions have resulted in significant market volatility.
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Index Methodology Risk. The Index may not include all Bitcoin Mining Companies around the globe because the Index includes only those companies meeting the Index criteria, including liquidity and market capitalization requirements. In addition, companies that would otherwise be included in the Index might be excluded from the Index if they omit disclosure of, or do not use key terms associated with, their blockchain technology or digital asset activities in regulatory filings or otherwise keep such work hidden from public (and the Index Provider's) view.
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Index Provider Risk. There is no assurance that the Index Provider, or any agents that act on its behalf, will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. The Adviser relies upon the Index Provider and its agents to compile, determine, maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate (or arrange for an agent to calculate), and disseminate the Index accurately. Any losses or costs associated with errors made by the Index Provider or its agents generally will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. To correct any such error, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out an unscheduled rebalance of the Index or other modification of Index constituents or weightings. When the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose the Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy, and completeness of the data used to compile the Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index's other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser can offer assurances that the Index's calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers.
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Market Capitalization Risk
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Large-Capitalization Investing. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion. Large-capitalization companies may also be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes.
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Mid-Capitalization Investing. The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of large-capitalization companies, but they may also be subject to slower growth than small-capitalization companies during times of economic expansion. The securities of mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than large capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole, but they may also be nimbler and more responsive to new challenges than large-capitalization companies. Some mid-capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, financial resources, and management personnel and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to large-capitalization companies.
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Small-Capitalization Investing. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of larger-capitalization companies. The securities of small-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some small capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to larger capitalization companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning smaller-capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Small-capitalization companies also may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, government regulation, borrowing costs and earnings.
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New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decision.
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Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is considered to be non-diversified, which means that it may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it were a diversified fund. As a result, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer or a smaller number of issuers than a fund that invests more widely. This may increase the Fund's volatility and cause the performance of a relatively smaller number of issuers to have a greater impact on the Fund's performance. However, the Fund intends to satisfy the diversification requirements for qualifying as a RIC under the Code.
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Passive Investment Risk. The Fund invests in the securities included in, or representative of, the Index regardless of their investment merit. The Fund does not attempt to outperform the Index or take defensive positions in declining markets. As a result, the Fund's performance may be adversely affected by a general decline in the market segments relating to the Index. The returns from the types of securities in which the Fund invests may underperform returns from the various general securities markets or different asset classes. This may cause the Fund to underperform other investment vehicles that invest in different asset classes. Different types of securities (for example, large-, mid- and small-capitalization stocks) tend to go through cycles of doing better - or worse - than the general securities markets. In the past, these periods have lasted for as long as several years.
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Sector Risk. The Fund's investing approach may result in an emphasis on certain sectors or sub-sectors of the market at any given time. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector or sub-sector of the market, it thereby presents a more concentrated risk and its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors or sub-sectors. In addition, the value of Shares may change at different rates compared to the value of shares of a fund with investments in a more diversified mix of sectors and industries. An individual sector or sub-sector of the market may have above-average performance during particular periods, but it may also move up and down more than the broader market. The several industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events. The Fund's performance could also be affected if the sectors or sub-sectors do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or sub-sectors may adversely affect performance.
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Financial Sector Risk. Companies in the financial sector of an economy are often subject to extensive governmental regulation and intervention, which may adversely affect the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Governmental regulation may change frequently and may have significant adverse consequences for companies in the financial sector, including effects not intended by such regulation. The impact of recent or future regulation in various countries on any individual financial company or on the sector as a whole cannot be predicted.
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Certain risks may impact the value of investments in the financial sector more severely than those of investments outside this sector, including the risks associated with companies that operate with substantial financial leverage. Companies in the financial sector may also be adversely affected by increases in interest rates and loan losses, decreases in the availability of money or asset valuations, credit rating downgrades and adverse conditions in other related markets.
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Insurance companies, in particular, may be subject to severe price competition and/or rate regulation, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. Insurance companies are subject to extensive government regulation in some countries and can be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, price and marketing competition, the imposition of premium rate caps, or other changes in government regulation or tax law. Different segments of the insurance industry can be significantly
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affected by mortality and morbidity rates, environmental clean-up costs and catastrophic events such as earthquakes, hurricanes and terrorist acts.
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The financial sector is also a target for cyber attacks and may experience technology malfunctions and disruptions. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology failures have become increasingly frequent and have caused significant losses.
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Information Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
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Tax Risk. To qualify for the favorable tax treatment generally available to RICs, the Fund must satisfy, among other requirements described in the SAI, certain diversification requirements. In particular, at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. While the weighting of the Index is not inconsistent with these rules, given the concentration of the Index in a relatively small number of securities, it may not always be possible for the Fund to fully implement a replication strategy or a representative sampling strategy while satisfying these diversification requirements. The Fund's efforts to satisfy the diversification requirements may affect the Fund's execution of their investment strategy and may cause the Fund's return to deviate from that of the Index, and the Fund's efforts to replicate or represent the Index may cause it inadvertently to fail to satisfy the diversification requirements. If the Fund were to fail to satisfy the diversification requirements, it could be eligible for relief provisions if the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain
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de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such case, the Fund's shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.
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Tracking Error Risk. As with all index funds, the performance of the Fund and the Index may vary somewhat for a variety of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses and portfolio transaction costs not incurred by the Index. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested in the securities of the Index at all times or may hold securities not included in the Index. The Fund may use a representative sampling strategy to achieve its investment objective, if the Fund's Sub-Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund, which generally can be expected to produce a greater non-correlation risk.
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Adviser
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Grayscale Advisors, LLC
290 Harbor Drive
4th Floor
Stamford, CT 06902 |
Index Provider
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Indxx
470 Park Avenue South
Floor 8 South
New York, NY 10016
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Sub-Adviser
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Vident Asset Management
1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
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Administrator and Transfer Agent
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U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
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Custodian
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U.S. Bank National Association
U.S. Bank Tower, 425 Walnut Street,
Cincinnati, OH 45202
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Distributor
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Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 1000 Portland, ME 04101
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Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm |
Cohen & Company, Ltd.
342 N. Water Street, Suite 830,
Milwaukee, WI 53202 |
Legal Counsel
|
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
2000 K Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, DC 20006
|
• |
Free of charge from the SEC's EDGAR database on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov; or
|
•
|
Free of charge from the Fund's Internet website at https://etfs.Grayscale.com/[ ]; or
|
•
|
For a fee, by e-mail request to [email protected].
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
|
2
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND RELATED RISKS
|
2
|
Non-Diversification
|
2 |
General Risks
|
3 |
Description of Permitted Investments
|
3
|
Types of Equity Securities
|
5
|
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
|
12
|
EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING
|
14
|
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
|
14
|
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS, CONTROL PERSONS, AND MANAGEMENT OWNERSHIP
|
20
|
CODES OF ETHICS
|
20
|
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
|
20
|
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER
|
21
|
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
|
22
|
THE DISTRIBUTOR
|
23
|
THE ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN, AND TRANSFER AGENT
|
25
|
LEGAL COUNSEL
|
26
|
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
26
|
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
|
26
|
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
|
26
|
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES' LIABILITY
|
27
|
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
|
28
|
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE
|
29
|
BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM
|
30
|
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS
|
31
|
DETERMINATION OF NAV
|
38
|
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
|
39
|
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
|
39
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
48
|
APPENDIX A
|
A-1
|
|
1. |
Concentrate its investments (i.e., hold more than 25% of its total assets) in any industry or group of related industries, except that the Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that the Index concentrates in the securities of such particular industry or group of related industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, registered investment companies, and tax-exempt securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.
|
|
2. |
Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC.
|
|
3. |
Issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC.
|
|
4. |
Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC.
|
|
5. |
Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments. This shall not prevent the Fund from investing in (i) issuers that invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, (ii) real estate investment trusts or (iii) securities or other instruments that are secured by real estate or interests therein.
|
|
6. |
Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC.
|
|
7. |
Underwrite securities issued by other persons. This restriction does not prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, regardless of whether the Fund may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act.
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
Position Held with the Trust
|
Term of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
Independent Trustees
|
|||||
James E. Farmer III
Born: 1967
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite term;
since 2024
|
Chief of Index Administration, Morningstar (2021-present); Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Capital Markets, S&P Down Jones Indices (2006 - 2021).
|
[1]
|
N/A
|
Richard M. Goldman
Born: 1961
|
Lead Independent Trustee
|
Indefinite term;
since 2024
|
Managing Member, Becket Capital, LLC (2012 - present).
|
[1]
|
Marblegate Acquisition Corporation (2022 - Present)
|
Donna Milia
Born: 1974
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite term;
since 2024
|
Senior Advisor (2019-2022) and CFO, Galaxy Digital (2017 - 2019); CFO, BlackRock Capital Investment Corp, (2015 - 2017).
|
[1]
|
HPS Funds 2
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
Position Held with the Trust
|
Term of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
Interested Trustees
|
|||||
David LaValle*
Born: 1977
|
Chairman and Trustee
|
Indefinite term;
since 2024
|
Global Head of ETFs at Grayscale Investments 2021-present; Chief Executive Officer at Alerian and S-Network Global Indices (2019 to 2021).
|
[1]
|
N/A
|
Edward McGee*
Born: 1983
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite term; since 2024
|
Chief Financial Officer, Grayscale Investments, LLC (2019 to present); Vice President for Accounting Policy, Goldman, Sachs & Co. (2014 - 2019).
|
[1]
|
N/A
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
Position(s) Held
with the Trust |
Term of Office and
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
David LaValle
Born: 1977
|
President
|
Indefinite term; since 2024
|
Global Head of ETFs at Grayscale Investments 2021-present; Chief Executive Officer at Alerian and S-Network Global Indices 2019 to 2021.
|
Craig Salm
Born: 1988
|
Secretary
|
Indefinite term; since 2024
|
General Counsel at Grayscale Investments, LLC since 2022; Director, Legal at Grayscale 2020-2021; and Associate, Legal at Grayscale 2018-2019.
|
Edward McGee
Born: 1983
|
Treasurer
|
Indefinite term; since 2024
|
Chief Financial Officer at Grayscale Investments, LLC since 2019; Vice President Accounting Policy at Goldman, Sachs & Co. 2014 to 2019.
|
Name
|
Aggregate Compensation From Fund
|
Total Compensation From Fund
Complex Paid to Trustees |
Interested Trustee
|
||
David LaValle
|
$0
|
$0
|
Edward McGee
|
$0
|
$0
|
Independent Trustees
|
||
Richard A. Goldman
|
[$20,000]
|
[$20,000]
|
James E. Farmer III
|
$0
|
$0
|
Donna Milia
|
[$20,000]
|
[$20,000]
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
Other Accounts
|
||||
Portfolio Managers
|
Number of Accounts
|
Total Assets in the Accounts
|
Number of Accounts
|
Total Assets in the Accounts
|
Number of Accounts
|
Total Assets in the Accounts
|
Rafael Zayas, CFA
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
Austin Wen, CFA
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
|
a. |
process all proxies received in connection with underlying portfolio securities held by the Advisor's clients;
|
|
b. |
apply ISS' proxy voting procedures, which the Advisor has reviewed and determined to be consistent with the views of the Advisor on the various types of proxy proposals;
|
|
c. |
maintain appropriate records of proxy voting that are easily-accessible by appropriate authorized persons of ISS; and
|
|
d. |
in cases where ISS cannot provide a recommendation, they will notify the Advisor, or otherwise will vote "No."
|
• |
The Firm will attempt to consider all aspects of the vote that could affect the value of the issuer or that of the Client, including the costs associated with voting;
|
• |
The Firm may choose not to vote securities where it determines the issues being voted on are immaterial to the value of the issuer;
|
• |
The Firm will vote in a manner that it believes is consistent with the Client's stated objectives; and
|
• |
The Firm will generally vote in accordance with the recommendation of the issuing company's management on routine and administrative matters, unless the Firm has a particular reason to vote to the contrary.
|
(a) |
Articles of Incorporation.
|
|
(i) |
|
(ii) |
(b) |
Bylaws.
|
|
(i) |
(c) |
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. None other than those contained in Exhibits (a)(i) and (a)(ii).
|
(d) |
Investment Advisory Contracts.
|
|
(i) |
|
(ii) |
(e) |
Underwriting Contracts.
|
|
(i) |
|
(ii) |
(f) |
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts. Not applicable
|
(g) | Custodian Agreements. |
|
(i) |
(h) | Other Material Contracts. |
|
(i) |
|
(ii) |
|
(iii) |
|
(iv) |
(i) | Legal Opinion. |
|
(i) |
Opinion and Consent of Counsel to be filed by amendment.
|
(j) | Other Opinions. |
|
(i) |
(k) | Omitted Financial Statements. Not Applicable. |
(l) | Initial Capital Agreements. |
|
(i) |
(m) | Rule 12b-1 Plan. |
|
(i) |
(n) | Rule 18f-3 Plan. Not Applicable. |
(o) | Reserved. |
(p) | Code of Ethics. |
|
(i) |
|
(ii) |
|
(iii) |
(q) |
Other.
|
|
(i) |
(a) |
Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the "Distributor") serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:
|
1.
|
AB Active ETFs, Inc.
|
2.
|
ABS Long/Short Strategies Fund
|
3.
|
Absolute Shares Trust
|
4.
|
ActivePassive Core Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
5.
|
ActivePassive Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
6.
|
ActivePassive International Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
7.
|
ActivePassive U.S. Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
8.
|
Adaptive Core ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
9.
|
AdvisorShares Trust
|
10.
|
AFA Multi-Manager Credit Fund
|
11.
|
AGF Investments Trust
|
12.
|
AIM ETF Products Trust
|
13.
|
Alexis Practical Tactical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
14.
|
AlphaCentric Prime Meridian Income Fund
|
15.
|
American Century ETF Trust
|
16.
|
Amplify ETF Trust
|
17.
|
Applied Finance Dividend Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
18.
|
Applied Finance Explorer Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
19.
|
Applied Finance Select Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
20.
|
ARK ETF Trust
|
21.
|
ARK Venture Fund
|
22.
|
Bitwise Funds Trust
|
23.
|
Bluestone Community Development Fund
|
24.
|
BondBloxx ETF Trust
|
25.
|
Bramshill Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
|
26.
|
Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
|
27.
|
Brinker Capital Destinations Trust
|
28.
|
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.
|
29.
|
Build Funds Trust
|
30.
|
Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund
|
31.
|
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund
|
32.
|
Calamos Dynamic Convertible and Income Fund
|
33.
|
Calamos ETF Trust
|
34.
|
Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund
|
35.
|
Calamos Global Total Return Fund
|
36.
|
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund
|
37.
|
Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund
|
38.
|
Cascade Private Capital Fund
|
39.
|
Center Coast Brookfield MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
|
40.
|
Clifford Capital Focused Small Cap Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
41.
|
Clifford Capital International Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
42.
|
Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
43.
|
Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund
|
44.
|
Cliffwater Enhanced Lending Fund
|
45.
|
Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.
|
46.
|
Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
47.
|
CornerCap Small-Cap Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
|
48.
|
CrossingBridge Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
49.
|
Curasset Capital Management Core Bond Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
50.
|
Curasset Capital Management Limited Term Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
51.
|
CYBER HORNET S&P 500® and Bitcoin 75/25 Strategy ETF, Series of ONEFUND Trust
|
52.
|
Davis Fundamental ETF Trust
|
53.
|
Defiance Daily Short Digitizing the Economy ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
54.
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
55.
|
Defiance Israel Bond ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
56.
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
57.
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
58.
|
Defiance Quantum ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
59.
|
Denali Structured Return Strategy Fund
|
60.
|
Direxion Funds
|
61.
|
Direxion Shares ETF Trust
|
62.
|
Dividend Performers ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
63.
|
Dodge & Cox Funds
|
64.
|
DoubleLine ETF Trust
|
65.
|
DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund
|
66.
|
DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund
|
67.
|
DoubleLine Yield Opportunities Fund
|
68.
|
DriveWealth ETF Trust
|
69.
|
EIP Investment Trust
|
70.
|
Ellington Income Opportunities Fund
|
71.
|
ETF Opportunities Trust
|
72.
|
Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund
|
73.
|
Exchange Listed Funds Trust
|
74.
|
FlexShares Trust
|
75.
|
Forum Funds
|
76.
|
Forum Funds II
|
77.
|
Forum Real Estate Income Fund
|
78.
|
Goose Hollow Enhanced Equity ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
79.
|
Goose Hollow Multi-Strategy Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
80.
|
Goose Hollow Tactical Allocation ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
81.
|
Grayscale Future of Finance ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
82.
|
Guinness Atkinson Funds
|
83.
|
Harbor ETF Trust
|
84.
|
Horizon Kinetics Blockchain Development ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
85.
|
Horizon Kinetics Energy and Remediation ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
86.
|
Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
87.
|
Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
88.
|
Horizon Kinetics SPAC Active ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
89.
|
IDX Funds
|
90.
|
Innovator ETFs Trust
|
91.
|
Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
|
92.
|
Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
|
93.
|
John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
|
94.
|
LDR Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
95.
|
Mairs & Power Balanced Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
96.
|
Mairs & Power Growth Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
97.
|
Mairs & Power Minnesota Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
98.
|
Mairs & Power Small Cap Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
99.
|
Manor Investment Funds
|
100.
|
Milliman Variable Insurance Trust
|
101.
|
Mindful Conservative ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
102.
|
Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
|
103.
|
Mohr Growth ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
104.
|
Mohr Industry Nav ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
105.
|
Mohr Sector Nav ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
106.
|
Morgan Stanley ETF Trust
|
107.
|
Morningstar Funds Trust
|
108.
|
Mutual of America Investment Corporation
|
109.
|
NEOS ETF Trust
|
110.
|
Niagara Income Opportunities Fund
|
111.
|
North Square Investments Trust
|
112.
|
OTG Latin American Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
113.
|
Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
114.
|
Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
115.
|
Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
116.
|
Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
117.
|
Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
118.
|
Overlay Shares Short Term Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
119.
|
Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
120.
|
Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
|
121.
|
Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC
|
122.
|
Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
123.
|
Perkins Discovery Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
124.
|
Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
125.
|
Plan Investment Fund, Inc.
|
126.
|
PMC Core Fixed Income Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
127.
|
PMC Diversified Equity Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
|
128.
|
Point Bridge America First ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
|
129.
|
Preferred-Plus ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
130.
|
Putnam ETF Trust
|
131.
|
Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
132.
|
Rareview Systematic Equity ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
133.
|
Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
134.
|
Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
|
135.
|
Reynolds Funds, Inc.
|
136.
|
RiverNorth Enhanced Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
137.
|
RiverNorth Patriot ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
138.
|
RMB Investors Trust
|
139.
|
Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
|
140.
|
Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
|
141.
|
Roundhill Alerian LNG ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
142.
|
Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
143.
|
Roundhill Cannabis ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
144.
|
Roundhill ETF Trust
|
145.
|
Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
146.
|
Roundhill S&P Global Luxury ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
147.
|
Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
148.
|
Roundhill Video Games ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
149.
|
Rule One Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
150.
|
Securian AM Real Asset Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
|
151.
|
Six Circles Trust
|
152.
|
Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
|
153.
|
SP Funds Trust
|
154.
|
Sparrow Funds
|
155.
|
Spear Alpha ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
156.
|
STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
157.
|
STF Tactical Growth ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
158.
|
Strategic Trust
|
159.
|
Strategy Shares
|
160.
|
Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
161.
|
Syntax ETF Trust
|
162.
|
Tekla World Healthcare Fund
|
163.
|
Tema ETF Trust
|
164.
|
Teucrium Agricultural Strategy No K-1 ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
165.
|
Teucrium AiLA Long-Short Agriculture Strategy ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
166.
|
Teucrium AiLA Long-Short Base Metals Strategy ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
167.
|
The 2023 ETF Series Trust
|
168.
|
The 2023 ETF Series Trust II
|
169.
|
The Community Development Fund
|
170.
|
The Finite Solar Finance Fund
|
171.
|
The Private Shares Fund
|
172.
|
The SPAC and New Issue ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
|
173.
|
Third Avenue Trust
|
174.
|
Third Avenue Variable Series Trust
|
175.
|
Tidal ETF Trust
|
176.
|
Tidal Trust II
|
177.
|
TIFF Investment Program
|
178.
|
Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
|
179.
|
Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
|
180.
|
Timothy Plan International ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
|
181.
|
Timothy Plan Market Neutral ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
|
182.
|
Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
|
183.
|
Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Core Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
|
184.
|
Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
|
185.
|
Total Fund Solution
|
186.
|
Touchstone ETF Trust
|
187.
|
TrueShares Eagle Global Renewable Energy Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
188.
|
TrueShares Low Volatility Equity Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
189.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (April) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
190.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (August) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
191.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (December) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
192.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (February) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
193.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (January) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
194.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (July) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
195.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (June) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
196.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (March) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
197.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (May) ETF, Listed Funds Trust
|
198.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (November) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
199.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (October) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
200.
|
TrueShares Structured Outcome (September) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
201.
|
TrueShares Technology, AI & Deep Learning ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
|
202.
|
U.S. Global Investors Funds
|
203.
|
Union Street Partners Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
204.
|
Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
205.
|
Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
206.
|
Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
207.
|
Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
208.
|
Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
209.
|
Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
|
210.
|
VictoryShares Core Intermediate Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
211.
|
VictoryShares Core Plus Intermediate Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
212.
|
VictoryShares Corporate Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
213.
|
VictoryShares Developed Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
214.
|
VictoryShares Dividend Accelerator ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
215.
|
VictoryShares Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
216.
|
VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
217.
|
VictoryShares International High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
218.
|
VictoryShares International Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
219.
|
VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
220.
|
VictoryShares NASDAQ Next 50 ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
221.
|
VictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
222.
|
VictoryShares THB Mid Cap ESG ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
223.
|
VictoryShares US 500 Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
224.
|
VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
225.
|
VictoryShares US Discovery Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
226.
|
VictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
227.
|
VictoryShares US Large Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
228.
|
VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
229.
|
VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
230.
|
VictoryShares US Small Cap Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
231.
|
VictoryShares US Small Mid Cap Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
232.
|
VictoryShares US Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
233.
|
VictoryShares WestEnd US Sector ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
|
234.
|
Volatility Shares Trust
|
235.
|
West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
|
236.
|
Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc.
|
237.
|
Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust
|
238.
|
WisdomTree Digital Trust
|
239.
|
WisdomTree Trust
|
240.
|
WST Investment Trust
|
241.
|
XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term Trust
|
(b) |
The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor, the Registrant's underwriter. The Distributor's main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.
|
Name
|
Address
|
Position with Underwriter
|
Position with Registrant
|
Teresa Cowan
|
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101
|
President/Manager
|
None
|
Chris Lanza
|
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101
|
Vice President
|
None
|
Kate Macchia
|
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101
|
Vice President
|
None
|
Nanette K. Chern
|
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101
|
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
|
None
|
Kelly B. Whetstone
|
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101
|
Secretary
|
None
|
Susan L. LaFond
|
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101
|
Treasurer
|
None
|
Weston Sommers
|
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101
|
Financial and Operations Principal and Chief Financial Officer
|
None
|
(c)
|
Not applicable.
|
Records Relating to:
|
Are located at:
|
|
Registrant's Fund Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent
|
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
d/b/a U.S. Bank Global Fund Services 615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 |
|
Registrant's Custodian
|
U.S. Bank, National Association
1555 N. Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212 |
|
Registrant's Principal Underwriters
|
Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100 Portland, Maine 04101 |
|
Registrant's Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
|
Grayscale Advisors, LLC
290 Harbor Drive, 4th Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06902
|
Vident Asset Management, LLC
1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515 Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 |
SIGNATURE
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Stamford and the State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of November, 2024.
|
GRAYSCALE FUNDS TRUST
|
|||
(Registrant) |
|||
By:
|
/s/ David LaValle
|
||
David LaValle
|
|||
Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer
|
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
/s/ David LaValle
|
||||
David LaValle
|
Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer
|
November 8, 2024
|
||
/s/ Edward McGee
|
||||
Edward McGee
|
Trustee, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
|
November 8, 2024
|
||
/s/ James E. Farmer III*
|
||||
James E. Farmer III
|
Trustee
|
November 8, 2024
|
||
/s/ Richard M. Goldman*
|
||||
Richard M. Goldman
|
Trustee
|
November 8, 2024
|
||
/s/ Donna M. Milia*
|
||||
Donna M. Milia
|
Trustee
|
November 8, 2024
|
||
/s/ Craig Salm
|
||||
Craig Salm
|
Secretary
|
November 8, 2024
|
*By:
|
/s/ Craig Salm
|
||
Craig Salm
|
|||
Attorney-in-Fact
(Pursuant to Power of Attorney dated January 23, 2024 filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 4 on February 20, 2024)
|