How to access Fidelity’s FBTC spot Bitcoin ETF following inflows

Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) captured $103.1 million in net inflows on October 13, 2026. This single-day movement reversed the outflows from the previous day. On that same date, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) recorded $65.9 million in inflows, and MSBT added $6.7 million. Total net inflows for all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs reached $175.7 million on October 13, 2026. This rebound follows a period where five-day cumulative net flows reached a negative $597.6 million. While FBTC leads recent momentum, the broader crypto market shows volatility. Of 50 major cryptocurrencies tracked on October 14, 2026, 11 rose while 38 fell. Earlier reports indicated heavy outflows, with FBTC leading withdrawals at $245.6 million. Since launch, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have accumulated $57.288 billion in total net inflows. A study from Fidelity on May 2 found that 47 percent of institutional investors think digital assets are worth investing in. Within that study, 72 percent prefer to buy investment products that hold digital assets, while 57 percent choose to buy them directly.

Comparing FBTC and IBIT

Fidelity’s in-house custody model makes FBTC a superior choice for investors prioritizing security through vertical integration. Fidelity Digital Assets manages the Bitcoin held by the fund, whereas IBIT relies on Coinbase Global for its cryptocurrency custody. Both funds charge an expense ratio of 0.25%. The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) carries a lower expense ratio of 0.15%. FBTC holds an assets under management (AUM) of $14.437 billion, while IBIT manages $57.64 billion in assets. The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) manages $5.3 billion. Because the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund maintains Bitcoin as its primary asset, the fund’s price moves in near lockstep with the cryptocurrency while providing investors with a regulated way to hold exposure through a traditional brokerage account.

The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund is a grantor trust where Bitcoin makes up 99.99% of the portfolio. IBIT is a pure-play Bitcoin trust with 100% of its assets in Bitcoin. The BTC fund is also a grantor trust. The fund performance of FBTC and IBIT remains nearly identical with a 1-year return of -12.6%. The Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF, the underlying ETF for the Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin Fund in Canada, reduced its management fee from 0.39% to 0.32% in January 2025. This Canadian product uses a volume-weighted median price method based on a 5-minute window prior to the 4:00 p.m. (ET) close. The index price uses the price of the 50th percentile of total volume.

Using Bitcoin ETFs in retirement accounts

Investors use Bitcoin ETFs to gain exposure within 401(k) or IRA frameworks. Most retirement providers do not allow direct Bitcoin ownership. A direct rollover allows a person to move funds from a retirement plan to an IRA without paying immediate taxes. A financial institution can transfer the payment directly to another plan to avoid withholding. If you receive a distribution directly, you must deposit the full amount into a new account within 60 days to avoid taxes. If you miss this 60-day deadline, the distribution becomes taxable income. The IRS imposes a 10% penalty on early distributions for those under age 59.5, though exceptions exist for disability, death, or a first-time home purchase up to $10,000. You cannot make more than one rollover from the same IRA in a 12-month period.

A retirement plan distribution is subject to a mandatory 20% withholding. If you only roll over part of a distribution, you must use other funds to cover the 20% that the employer withheld. For example, if a $10,000 distribution has $2,000 withheld, you must contribute the full $10,000 from other sources to avoid taxing the $2,000 difference. Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free if the holder is over age 59.5 and has held the account for at least five years. You should check your brokerage’s specific fee schedule before committing large amounts of capital to these assets.

Managing price volatility and risk

The price of FBTC was $70.61 on October 23, 2026. This was a 0.18% decrease from the previous day’s close of $70.74. The fund’s value dropped 4.04% over the preceding 30 days. Over the last 12 months, the fund’s value fell 26.55%. The fund’s BTC-per-share ratio is approximately 0.0008702. This ratio decreases as the 0.25% annual fee is deducted from the assets. Bitcoin futures-backed funds often face "contango bleed," where investors lose around 20% annually due to contract renewal costs. The FBTC fund avoids these costs by holding physical Bitcoin. The price of FBTC was $73.47 on October 21, 2026, and $71.72 on October 20, 2026.

The fund holds 99.99% Bitcoin, with a negligible allocation to U.S. dollars. The fund’s beta is 2.14. An investment of $1,000 in FBTC over the last two years grew to $1,042, while $1,000 in IBIT grew to $1,040. Both funds experience similar drawdowns of 49.36% over a two-year period. The fund price was $74.48 on October 6, 2026. Will the current inflow trend lead to a sustained recovery in the total net inflows for the sector?