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Bitcoin Working In Your World

The modern and financialized way of exposure is through regulated financial products through a brokerage since January 2024. The early days were self-custody & it remains the most popular for many individuals suspicious of 3rd party interference.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs - regulated security (since January 2024)​

The easiest way to participate in "number go up" exposure without the privilege of owning the bitcoin directly^.

^ Most bitcoin ETFs as at time of writing provides for redemption of the shares to be cash based. In the future, it may be possible to redeem shares for real bitcoin. Hong Kong based ETFs provide "in-kind" redemption (meaning, bitcoin redemption).

Possession is ownership​

Bitcoin is a bearer asset, meaning whoever possesses it, owns it. The phrase "not your keys not your crypto" is a popular phrase that is emblematic of possession is ownership.

Buying shares in an ETF means you own shares in an ETF, and the ETF holds the bitcoin. Splitting hairs, but it's important to some people more than others depending on circumstances. An example would be a citizen of a country owning shares in an ETF, then the citizens of that country are no longer permitted to hold those shares for political (or other) reasons. Whereas, holding the bitcoin in self-custody, makes the examples political changes irrelevant to the bearer.

Therefore, buying real bitcoin on an exchange and leaving it there - one must ask, who possesses it? Therefore, who owns it.

Transferring bitcoin bought from an exchange to a personal wallet is easy, but requires focus and understanding the power of self custody. With great power comes great responsibility - and that responsibility is to always be able to access the bitcoin (e.g. not lose access = not lose keys)

Crypto Exchanges & Financial Services Companies​

The following list is an example of global corporations with retail services, mainly based out of North America.

  • Coinbase
  • Robinhood
  • Paypal
  • Binance
  • Gemini
  • Kraken
  • 100s of other regional

Specialized valet services​

For individuals & families considering self-custody & inheritance planning, the following are examples of personal service companies

  • Swan Bitcoin
  • The Bitcoin Way
  • ...

Custodial vs non-custodial​

Both custodial & non-custodial pathways offer tremendous advantages & disadvantages depending on circumstances, including inheritance planning amongst other situations.

Mining & Turn-key Mining Services​

Not only for tech geeks anymore. Mining companies now offer turn-key solutions to buy mining equipment that use cheap/renewable industrial energy to slowly and systematically acquire pristine (uncirculated) bitcoin. Mining offers tax advantages in some jurisdictions, example 100% tax write off in year one

Indirectly through equities​

Bitcoin treasury companies (BTCTCs) aim to acquire bitcoin and put the asset on their balance sheet. Some buy once, but others are accumulating on a regular basis.

  • Strategy (MSTR) - the first & most (financially) innovative company to start a bitcoin treasury strategy
  • Sequans (SQNS) - a leveraged bitcoin equity (LBE) that uses debt to convert fiat to bitcoin as well as product licensing revenue
  • Metaplanet (3350.T) - a hotel chain with one hotel that got gazumped by the pandemic and pivoted to buying bitcoin

Real estate + bitcoin bonds​

Appearing in Q3 2025, real estate investment firms are starting to offer a hybrid REIT + Bitcoin Bond offering, where rental income is used to continually buy bitcoin.