Bitcoin has been struggling in 2018, losing more than 60% of its value so far this year after 2017's massive bull run, and the only bitcoin investment trust in the U.S. is doing even worse.
Grayscale Bitcoin Investment Trust's (GBTC) shares are down around 80% since December last year — wiping billions of dollars from its market capitalisation.
GBTC's valuation decline has been blamed on its expense fees, according to a Bloomberg report.
The trust charges $20 for every $1,000 invested, which works out at 2%, compared to the average equity mutual fund expense ratio of just 0.59%, according to the Investment Company Institute.
"Expense ratios are insane for these funds and the current bitcoin price is creating more problems," London-based chief market analyst at TF Global Markets, Naeem Aslam told Bloomberg.
But the way investors are buying into bitcoin and cryptocurrency is changing.
It has been reported institutional investors, such as hedge funds, earlier this year replaced high net-worth individuals as the biggest buyers of bitcoin and cryptocurrency transactions worth over $100,000.
Traditional investors and hedge funds have reportedly become more involved in the $220 billion crypto market through private transactions while miners have begun scheduling regular coin sales instead of holding or offloading them during market rallies.
GBTC shares have been sold off heavily so far this year.
GoogleMuch of bitcoin's declines so far this year have been put down to waning expectations that institutional money will flood into bitcoin.
Throughout last year there was much talk of how big banks, including the likes of Goldman Sachs, were gearing up to bet big on bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. As 2018 as rolled on these murmurings have continued but investor patience is beginning to wear thin.
The GBTC share price has tracked the bitcoin price so far this year and investors will be banking on... [+]
Elsewhere, other established financial industry players have enjoyed bitcoin and cryptocurrencies' wild swings this year.
Chicago’s proprietary trading industry is getting deeper into bitcoin and crypto markets, according to a recent Financial Times report.
“Despite the fact that volumes are lower, more firms are trading [bitcoin and cryptocurrencies],” Mike Unetich, vice-president of cryptocurrencies at software vendor Trading Technologies, told the FT.
