PERTH: DigitalX Ltd announced the establishment of its second asset management product –the DigitalX Bitcoin Fund. The Bitcoin Fund is available through a standard unlisted fund structure to allow sophisticated investors including family offices and high net worth individuals a low-cost and familiar vehicle to gain exposure to this growing asset class.
The opening of this fund will additionally provide DigitalX investors with further exposure to upside in the price of bitcoin. DigitalX has been involved in the Bitcoin ecosystem since 2014 when it first commenced its bitcoin mining operations, prior to expanding those services into bitcoin trading and a deeper understanding and development of blockchain technology generally.
DigitalX has also been a holder of bitcoin since 2013, and as previously disclosed to ASX, currently holds 431 bitcoin. In order to establish and launch the Bitcoin Fund, the Company will seed the fund with 215 of its bitcoin, effectively swapping its interest in those bitcoin for an equivalent interest in the fund.
The Company’s intention in launching the Fund is to grow the funds under management within the Fund at a rapid rate to ensure that the Fund achieves critical mass and the Company benefits from the fees receivable from the Fund. The Fund also represents a good opportunity for the Company to utilise its own bitcoin holding.
The approximate value of the Company’s investment into the fund will be AUD$2.75 million,based on a price per bitcoin of AUD$12,800. The week commencing 25 November 2019, the Company will be undertaking a roadshow through Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to meet potential investors and promote the fund to qualifying investors.
“DigitalX has held its bitcoin position through the 2017 bull market and 2018 drawdown because of our fundamental long-term belief in the value of the asset. What has become more and more apparent to us as we speak to investors and market participants generally, is that there is a growing interest in accessing bitcoin from people who have traditionally not considered investment in digital assets,” explained Executive Director, Leigh Travers.
The fund will offer a management fee of 1.65% per annum and no performance fees.
The Australian wholesale unit trust structure will utilise institutional grade custody and the bitcoin holdings will be secured in the highest-grade wallet security system available through provider ‘BitGo’. BitGo as a bitcoin custodian is insured up to US$100 million.
The Company also intends to offer blockchain-based security for the registration and transfer of units in the unit trust, marking a significant development in the security and registration of the interests in the Fund and in unit trusts generally.
The Bitcoin Fund will be an unlisted fund and as outlined above will be available to qualifying wholesale and professional investors only.