Investment Advisor Reports $10.4 Million in Bitcoin Holdings via Spot ETFs
Tampa, Florida-based registered investment advisor Unique Wealth, LLC has disclosed approximately $10.4 million in Bitcoin holdings in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired its Bitcoin exposure not through direct coin purchases, but via spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a method increasingly favored by wealth managers for integrating cryptocurrency into client portfolios.
Q3 2026 Filing Details Bitcoin ETF Investments
The filing, submitted on October 16, 2026, covers the third quarter of 2026. Form 13F-HR, a mandatory quarterly report for institutional investment managers, details the securities held by such entities. Unique Wealth’s report reveals its Bitcoin exposure is distributed across several spot Bitcoin ETFs. The largest allocation, valued at roughly $5.3 million, is in the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB). Following this is BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), with an approximate value of $2.1 million. Combined, these two ETFs constitute the majority of the firm’s reported Bitcoin position.
Bitwise ETF Preferred Over BlackRock’s Offering
Notably, Unique Wealth’s investment leans more heavily towards the Bitwise ETF than BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, a decision that stands out in the current spot ETF market. While IBIT has garnered significant attention, Unique Wealth allocated a larger portion of its capital to BITB.
A spot Bitcoin ETF directly holds Bitcoin and issues shares that are traded on traditional stock exchanges. This structure allows advisors to purchase ETF shares within the same brokerage accounts used for conventional investments like index funds and bonds, simplifying the process of gaining exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements.
Bitcoin Holdings Represent Small Fraction of Firm’s Assets
Despite the substantial dollar amount, Unique Wealth’s Bitcoin holdings represent a modest portion of its overall portfolio. As of the second quarter of 2026, the firm’s total reported portfolio value stood at approximately $858 million. Unique Wealth manages a broader $966 million in assets under management, according to its SEC registration number 801-120294. The $858 million figure reflects the value reported in the quarterly filing, while the $966 million encompasses the firm’s total assets under management.
The firm has experienced consistent growth, with its assets increasing from under $200 million in late 2022 to nearly $1 billion by early 2026. Unique Wealth serves both retail and high-net-worth clients.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs Facilitate Traditional Advisor Access
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024 has been instrumental in enabling traditional financial advisors to offer clients exposure to Bitcoin’s price performance through regulated avenues, without the complexities of direct digital currency custody. Unique Wealth’s disclosure aligns with a broader trend among registered investment advisors (RIAs) who are opting to increase their Bitcoin exposure through ETF shares rather than making large direct purchases of the cryptocurrency.
The choices made by firms like Unique Wealth are significant for ETF issuers, as the preference for Bitwise over BlackRock suggests that brand recognition alone is not the sole determinant of where advisor capital is deployed. Future quarterly 13F-HR filings will provide valuable insights into whether firms like Unique Wealth continue to increase, maintain, or reduce their stakes in Bitcoin ETFs.
