Bitwise was founded in 2017 by Hunter Horsley and Hong Kim in San Francisco, United States of America (USA) as a cryptocurrency asset management firm focused on institutional investors.
Key developments:
- 2017: Founded and launched first crypto index fund
- 2019: Filed early Bitcoin ETF proposal (rejected)
- 2021: Reached $1 billion in assets under management
- 2024: Launched spot Bitcoin ETF following Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval
Key features:
- Specializes in:
- Crypto index funds
- Bitcoin and crypto ETFs
- Institutional crypto products
- Crypto research and education
- Digital asset management
Ownership:
- Privately held company
- Backed by:
- Khosla Ventures
- General Catalyst
- Electric Capital
- Other venture capital firms
The company has positioned itself as a leading crypto-focused asset manager, known for its institutional-grade investment products and crypto market research.