Carson Group, a significant $30 billion registered investment adviser (RIA) platform, has recently announced its approval to offer four spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to its clients, according to a Bloomberg report. Out of the recent batch of US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs, Carson Group has greenlit BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, Bitwise Bitcoin ETF, and the Franklin Bitcoin ETF.
JUST IN – $30 billion RIA platform Carson Group has approved to offer these four spot #Bitcoin ETFs to their clients:
– BlackRock
– Franklin
– Bitwise
– Fidelity— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) February 23, 2024
Grant Engelbart, Carson Group’s vice president and investment strategist, highlighted the criteria for selection, emphasizing the “significant asset growth” and trading volume of BlackRock and Fidelity’s ETFs. “We feel it is important to offer these products as a result from two of the largest asset managers in the industry,” stated Engelbart.
Additionally, Carson Group has prioritized the cost-effectiveness of offerings, acknowledging the appeal of the $1.2 billion Bitwise Bitcoin ETF and the $100 million Franklin Bitcoin ETF, which boast relatively low fees.
“Bitwise and Franklin Templeton have committed to being the lowest-cost providers in the space, and have also seen large inflows and trading volumes,” Engelbart continued. “Both firms also have established in-house digital asset research teams and expertise that we feel are beneficial to the continuing growth and management of the products, as well as advisor research and education.”
Access to platforms catering to financial advisors and their retail clients is pivotal for spot Bitcoin ETF issuers aiming to tap into new markets. Approval by platforms like Carson Group can serve as a catalyst for fund growth, given the vast wealth managed by financial advisors. As Carson Group moves forward with offering these Bitcoin ETFs to its clients, it positions itself as a forward-thinking player in the financial advisory space, unlike $7 trillion investment manager Vanguard, who blocked its clients from being able to purchase the SEC approved ETFs.