Coinbase Asset Management to Launch Bitcoin (BTC) Yield Fund on May 1, Targeting Non-U.S. Institutional Investors

Coinbase Asset Management is preparing to launch the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund on May 1, offering non-U.S. institutional investors a new way to earn yield on their Bitcoin holdings.

Coinbase Asset Management, a subsidiary of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), is set to launch the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund on May 1, offering non-U.S. institutional investors a new way to earn yield on their Bitcoin (BTC) holdings.

As originally reported by Bloomberg, Coinbase Asset Management will launch a new investment product designed to generate yield on Bitcoin holdings. The Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund, opening on May 1, will be available exclusively to non-U.S. institutional investors.

The fund’s strategy centers around an investment technique called “basis trading”, which exploits the price difference between BTC spot price and its perps price. During periods of BTC price increase, the gap between the spot price and the perp price can widen significantly, presenting opportunities for profit.

The fund aims to deliver an annualized net return of 4% to 8%, with yields paid out in BTC. However, Coinbase has cautioned that actual returns may vary.

While basis trading is generally viewed as a relatively low-risk strategy, instances of excessive leverage have led to substantial losses. Coinbase stated that the Bitcoin Yield Fund would utilize modest leverage and prioritize security by storing assets with Coinbase and “other qualified custodians.”

“We’re committed to providing institutions with the best-in-class, compliant investment vehicles for digital assets,” said Sebastian Bea, President of Coinbase Asset Management. “With the Coinbase brand and regulatory approval in multiple jurisdictions, we believe the Bitcoin Yield Fund is particularly well suited to the task, given its conservative and compliant investment strategy.”

The fund has already secured support from firms like Aspen Digital, a wealth management platform based in Abu Dhabi, which plans to introduce the fund to its client base.

Coinbase’s move comes amid growing demand for institutional-grade Bitcoin yield products, with several new initiatives launched recently to offer returns on BTC holdings while ensuring secure custody and regulatory compliance.

Earlier this year, The Core Foundation in partnership with Maple Finance, BitGo (NASDAQ:BITO), Copper and Hex Trust launched lstBTC, which allows users to deposit BTC with custodians like BitGo or Copper and mint a liquid token that accumulates yield over time.

Similarly, Securitize Credit has recently collaborated with digital asset trading firm QCP to increase returns from BTC basis trades by using BlackRock’s (NYSE:BLK) USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund as collateral. By combining the basis trade strategy with the yield from the BUIDL fund, Securitize reported annualized returns exceeding 20%.