Skip to main content
Learn

What Is the Difference between a ‘Spot’ Bitcoin ETF and a ‘Futures’ Bitcoin ETF?

Spot ETF holds physical Bitcoin, tracking the spot price. Futures ETF holds futures contracts, tracking the futures price and introducing 'roll risk' due to basis difference.
Greeks.Live08.11.25

What Is the Difference between a ‘Spot’ Bitcoin ETF and a ‘Futures’ Bitcoin ETF?

A spot Bitcoin ETF directly holds the underlying Bitcoin, tracking its current market price. A futures Bitcoin ETF holds cash-settled Bitcoin futures contracts, primarily traded on regulated exchanges like the CME.

The futures ETF tracks the price of the futures contracts, which can differ from the spot price due to contango or backwardation, introducing 'roll risk' that the spot ETF does not have.

What Is the Potential Tracking Error Risk in a Bitcoin Futures ETF?
Why Is Off-Chain Governance Risk Often Categorized as “Basis Risk” for Derivatives?
How Can a Cryptocurrency-Focused ETF Be Structured to Track the Price of Bitcoin?
How Does Backwardation Affect the Profitability of a ‘Roll Yield’ Strategy?

About

Contact

Editorial Policy

Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

© 2025 Greeks.Live

All Rights Reserved

Greeks.Live RFQ

Build by Noo on Engine

Source: The content on this website is produced by Greeks.live's proprietary analysis systems, which utilize advanced Large Language Models (LLMs). This information might not be subject to a full human review before publication and may contain errors.
Responsibility: You should not make any financial decisions based solely on the content presented here. We strongly urge you to conduct your own rigorous due diligence and to consult a qualified, independent financial advisor.
Purpose: All information is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as financial, investment, trading, or any other form of professional advice. News and data are not trading signals.
Risk: The cryptocurrency, derivatives, and options markets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. By using this site, you acknowledge these risks and agree that Greeks.live and its affiliates are not responsible for any financial losses you may incur.