How to invest in crypto via your retirement account
Over the last few years, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have fast emerged as a mainstream asset class with a multi-trillion dollar market capitalization. As a result, many people (especially younger generations) are searching for ways to invest in crypto via their retirement accounts.
According to a recent survey by Investopedia, nearly one in four millennials now use crypto to help fund their retirement goals.
If you’re interested in integrating crypto into your traditional retirement or brokerage accounts, our partner Grayscale offers a wide variety of options. For both individuals and institutions, Grayscale’s funds offer a convenient way to gain exposure to crypto. As of March 2022, Morgan Stanley, for example, reported owning $458 million worth of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust fund.
One of the most popular vehicles for saving for retirement is the IRA. Depending on your circumstances, traditional or Roth IRAs can help provide a tax-advantaged way to build your retirement savings. (To learn more about each, check out our comprehensive guide to retirement savings.)
If you’re searching for ways to add crypto exposure to your IRA, Grayscale’s funds cover a variety of popular and emerging cryptocurrencies. Many Grayscale funds have a publicly-quoted ticker symbol that can be searched for in brokerage accounts such as Schwab and Fidelity, or robo-advisors such as Wealthfront, and then added to your IRA mix. Others are available as private placements to accredited investors only, which can also be purchased through a number of IRA providers.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which trades under the ticker GBTC, is the most popular by far, with a market capitalization of over $20 billion as of April 2022. Others include Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE), Grayscale Litecoin Trust (LTCN), and Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC), which offers investors diversified exposure to some of the largest cryptocurrency tokens by market capitalization. Grayscale also regularly adds more cryptocurrency funds to its product family, and has products with exposure to the metaverse, DeFi and smart contract platforms to name a few.
If you’re interested in gaining exposure to crypto directly in your IRA or traditional brokerage account, type the Grayscale ticker symbol into your account or contact your financial services provider of choice. In addition, we recommend you consult a registered financial advisor about adding crypto to your retirement portfolio.
If you have questions about Grayscale’s private placement products, or if your IRA provider doesn’t provide access to them, you can email Grayscale directly: info@grayscale.com.
