My parents once dismissed Bitcoin as “made-up internet money”, yet they are increasingly asking me how to gain exposure to the digital currency. The launch this week of a 2x long Coinbase ETF is the latest example of how Wall Street recognizes demand from traditional equity investors.
Owning crypto outright is out of the question for my parents and is likely the case for many others. But, investors are hungry for exposure from Wall Street. In 2022 I recommended buying the first ever Bitcoin ETF (Purpose Bitcoin ETF) and in mid-2024 I suggested buying shares of Robinhood.
Both turned out to be very profitable trades, although the Bitcoin ETF certainly had its ups and downs (more downs than ups for a while).
With the rise of spot Bitcoin and other altcoin ETFs, digital assets are making a bigger push into the financial mainstream. Indeed, the tides are shifting. Even cautious investors, like my parents whose risk tolerance is lower as they are both retired, are warming up to the idea of owning more exposure to crypto.
That’s why I was intrigued by the launch of the Leverage Shares 2X Long Coinbase ETF (Ticker: COIG), which began trading on Nasdaq this week. Issued by Themes ETFs, COIG offers double the daily performance of Coinbase stock (COIN), one of the most prominent names in the U.S. crypto infrastructure.
It’s not a direct bet on the performance of any one crypto or the industry as a whole. Rather it is a way to express conviction in Coinbase as the go-to exchange for both retail and institutional crypto investors. The logic is sound: Coinbase generates higher revenue when more people are investing and trading in cryptos.
Leveraged ETFs like COIG aren’t your typical long-term investments. They’re designed for traders who want to amplify short-term market moves, whether it’s to seize a rally, hedge an existing position, or simply bet on momentum.
As is the case with all leveraged ETF, these aren’t “set it and forget it” tools. Investors who don’t understand how daily resets and compounding can impact returns will be frustrated to lose money even if the underlying asset inches higher.
To get a better understanding of how COIG works, why Themes ETFs launched it now, and what’s coming next, I spoke with Paul Marino, Chief Revenue Officer at Themes ETFs.
Below is a transcript of our interview:
The COIG ETF launch coincides with the recent downturn in both crypto and equity markets. What makes you confident that now is the right time to launch a 2X long Coinbase ETF (stock is down 25% ytd). Are you seeing any specific market trends or shifts in investor demand that reinforces now is the right time to launch?
Our long term view on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency is bullish and we believe that Coinbase will benefit as one of the world’s largest and most secure crypto platform. COIN trades with significant interest and volume and the decision to launch COIG was not an attempt to time the upside in the market, but rather to provide a way for retail and professional traders, a way gain leverage in the form of a daily liquid ETF wrapper.
How should a leveraged product like COIG fit into an investor’s broader portfolio? What should traders expect during periods of rapid price movements (either up or down) in Coinbase stock and how should it be balanced with core long-term holdings?
If an investor is active and looking to add leverage to Coinbase exposure, COIG is an easy way to do that without margin requirements or using options. The goal is to provide 200% the daily performance of COIN. Because of the daily reset of leveraged ETFs we do not recommend holding them for long periods of time,but instead use it tactically in anticipation of big moves or to hedge short positions.
While Coinbase stock would benefit from increased crypto adoption, the movement doesn’t always correlate with Bitcoin price. How should investors think about the correlation between COIG and broader crypto market trends?
As crypto adoption increases in the US and around the world, COIN should stand to benefit as one of the worlds premier platforms. We don’t think about it as a 1-to-1 correlation with Bitcoin, but we do believe as the Bitcoin tide rises, it will lift all crypto boats. And again, we believe the long term trend for crypto and Coinbase are positive.
Leveraged ETFs sound all fun and games but many investors don’t understand the math behind it. Due to daily compounding, a 2X fund would lose value if the underlying stock stays roughly flat. What key risks should investors understand before trading COIG (or any 2X fund)
There is risk in every investment and we recommend all investors understand the instruments and underlying securities they invest in before they begin trading. Simply put you are getting more upside opportunity based on the leverage factor, but equally risking more to the downside if the underlying stock goes down. We don’t recommend a “set and forget” type of approach with these instruments. And because of the daily reset, a trader could potentially lose capital in a choppy or flat market.
The prospectus notes that these funds are intended for “knowledgeable investors.” Can you explain what qualifies someone as being “knowledgeable”?
We believe its important for all investors and traders to understand what they invest in and what the risks are.
We are seeing increasing institutional adoption of crypto with many investors (i.e even my parents) planning or have already boosted their crypto allocations. Many prefer using more familiar vehicles like equities and ETFs over holding crypto directly. How is this trend influencing the crypto ETF landscape and do you consider your COIG product to be a ‘competitor’ to crypto investments?
COIG is a levered ETF, and the underlying security happens to be tied to crypto. It is not a “crypto” investment in the same way that a spot bitcoin ETF is or the same hold the actual coins It is simply a way to gain 2x exposure to Coinbase, up or down, in a daily liquid ETF wrapper. And COIN base is a proxy for crypto and BTC.
How is Themes ETFs positioning itself and differentiating its products in the leveraged ETF space. I see the expense ratio stands at 0.75% which is one of the lowest-cost ETFs of its kind. What other advantages does Themes offer, be it structure or strategy that would convince investors to choose COIG over other alternatives?
The experience of the management team and the low fee is a major differentiator and we are starting to see daily volumes and flows increase and more traders realize there is a reliable alternative at a better cost.
What can you tell us about Themes ETFs future crypto roadmap and product pipeline? Are there other themes/sectors within the crypto universe you are looking to introduce?
The ETF market is very fluid and we are always looking to provide innovative and first to market products that traders and investors want. We do have plans for more crypto related products that we will be announcing in the near future.
