If it came about, the licensing of a BTC spot ETF would obviously be a huge accolade for Bitcoin and the like and bring crypto assets a step closer to the mass market. Whether the astronomical targets of up to USDmn 1 that Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood, for instance, reckons will be reached by 2030 will actually be hit remains uncertain. Nevertheless, rising demand for Bitcoin could certainly have a positive impact on its price. With a sophisticated strategy, it might even be possible to surpass the performance of the crypto heavyweight. The Swissquote Bitcoin Active 2.0 Index developed by Swissquote Bank has left Bitcoin trailing in its wake since it was launched in July 2020. Having risen 247%, the cryptocurrency strategy outperformed the digital coin by 17 percentage points. That is far from all, however: at the heart of the strategy is the reduction in volatility. Anyone who has followed Bitcoin over the last few years will know how quickly price trends can turn and how high the fluctuations can be. Swissquote’s more conservative management ensures that the adrenalin rush for investors remains within limits. This is achieved by stocking up cash holdings in uncertain phases and downward trends. Ultimately, the aim is to achieve more consistent potential returns over the long term.
The clever concept is based on artificial intelligence – or machine learning, to be more precise. In this process data from a variety of sources are captured in order to form quality indicators. These are made of up the average of the changes, the actual volatility, the buy-side and sell-side pressure and a social index for the market mood. The algorithm compiles and interprets this wealth of data, identifies the development of future returns at an early stage and then structures the portfolio based on this comprehensive analysis. To limit volatility, Bitcoin accounts for at least 60% and not more than 100% of the holdings, while US dollars make up the remaining 40% to 0%. The corresponding tracker certificate (ISN CH0542378622) on the Swissquote Bitcoin Active 2.0 enables prospective investors to bring this promising strategy into their portfolio at low cost. Despite the elaborate process, the product comes with an annual fee of just 1.5%. The tracker also has an open-ended structure, allowing holders to choose their investment period to suit.
Alongside the Swissquote Bitcoin Active 2.0 Index, Leonteq also has a “smaller” version to offer: the Bitcoin Active 2.0 Mini certificate (ISIN CH0596607769). This likewise aims at mitigating volatility while at the same time profiting from the short upticks in the sector, which it does by boosting cash holdings in times of uncertainty and downturns so that more consistent earnings can be achieved in the long term. The only risks are in Bitcoin and cash: between 60% and 100% of the portfolio is invested in Bitcoin, depending on the market conditions and confidence, with the rest of the capital being held in Swiss francs. Although the product has been in negative territory since it was issued almost exactly two years ago, the loss is not as great as that suffered by the most valuable virtual currency in the world. While Bitcoin has dropped by a little more than a fifth, the Bitcoin Active 2.0 Mini certificate has shed only around 13% of its value. The product also has an unlimited term, and the fees for active management (1.00% p.a.), calculation of the index (0.35% p.a.) and rebalancing (0.15% p.a.) correspond to those of the maxi version.
The trackers combine a number of advantages. For one thing, investors have the best protection against theft, a key consideration given that holders of Bitcoin often fall victim to cyber criminals. The certificates, though, offer protected and convenient access to the crypto asset because the security is held securely in the portfolio of your house bank as usual. Furthermore, the two Bitcoin indices brought into being by Swissquote are better protected against fluctuation, which will continue to be an important factor going forward. That is because current regulatory efforts could have a considerable impact on both the value of digital currencies and the operation of crypto exchanges.
We look forward to answering all of your questions about our products and how they are traded. Please don't hesitate to get in touch! Phone: 058 800 11 11, email info@leonteq.com or contact us here.