How to gain crypto exposure

There is more than one way to own Bitcoin, and the method matters as much as the decision to invest. In this article, we explore the main paths to crypto exposure and their practical implications for investors seeking different levels of control.

From fringe experiment to mainstream asset

The ways to gain exposure to Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market have matured dramatically over the last few years. What started as a fringe experiment in 2010 has become a menu of regulated ETFs, listed companies and institutional-grade custody options. Investors no longer need to be a cypherpunk (a technical purist) with a hardware wallet and private key storage facility.

But not all exposure is equal. Some options provide direct ownership and self-sovereignty, giving investors true control of their digital wealth. Others sacrifice some of that independence for convenience, liquidity and regulatory clarity.

The right choice depends on what you value most: control, simplicity or upside potential. Let’s break down the four main paths that now define the crypto landscape for investors.

1. Direct ownership: Buying the cryptocurrency directly

This is the original method of crypto ownership and remains the approach favoured by purists who prioritise control above all else.

How it works:

Investors buy Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies directly through a digital exchange (like Coinbase or Binance) and choose where to store them: either on the exchange or in a private wallet. A private wallet can be obtained either through a mobile app or by purchasing a physical device.

The appeal:

Direct ownership offers the purest exposure to Bitcoin. Investors hold the actual asset – not through a proxy, a fund or a share that represents it. The investor can send, receive or self-custody their holdings anywhere in the world, with no intermediaries or permissions required.

Direct ownership is the only option that allows investors to benefit fully from the principles Bitcoin was built on: decentralisation, censorship resistance and personal financial control. With private keys, your crypto is portable to anywhere in the world, provided there is an internet connection.

The trade-offs:

With full control comes full responsibility. Lost passwords or private keys may result in a permanent loss of funds. Alternatively, leaving assets on an exchange requires trusting a third party that can be exposed to hacking, withdrawal freezes or collapse (as demonstrated with FTX in 2022).

This method is also less convenient for some investors. Tax reporting, storage and security you are all the investor’s responsibility. It’s not for everyone, but for those who believe in Bitcoin’s long-term story and are comfortable with the administrative burden and risks, direct ownership remains the truest expression of conviction.

2. ETFs and managed funds

For investors seeking exposure without the complexity of direct ownership, regulated investment vehicles offer a more familiar path.

How it works:

Instead of buying Bitcoin directly, investors can access an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or an actively managed crypto fund that holds the asset on the investor’s behalf. ETFs listed on regulated exchanges mirror the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to gain exposure inside a traditional brokerage account or SMSF.

The appeal:

Convenience and regulation means an investor can buy or sell Bitcoin exposure just like any other stock, without needing to manage wallets or private keys. You get transparent pricing, liquidity and the regulatory oversight that comes with ASX-listed securities. Most ETF issuers, including Betashares, also maintain institutional-grade cold storage arrangements to prevent the fund’s crypto holdings from being hacked.

For SMSF investors or those wanting crypto exposure inside traditional portfolios, ETFs have become the most straightforward option.

The trade-offs:

The investor does not own the crypto – the fund does. This means that holdings cannot be transferred to a hardware wallet, used for payments or be held in self-custody.

ETFs and managed funds also carry management fees, which can slightly erode returns over time. In addition, an ETF or fund tracks the underlying cryptocurrency’s price closely, meaning they may not provide exposure to the broader crypto ecosystem (e.g. crypto companies). Investors also need to pick which cryptocurrency you would like exposure to, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Still, for many investors, the simplicity and compliance benefits far outweigh these limitations. ETFs have become the bridge between the old financial world and the new and offer the easiest way to obtain crypto exposure.

For those looking for Bitcoin exposure through an ETF, the QBTC Bitcoin ETF  is one compelling option. For those looking for Ethereum exposure through an ETF, the QETH Ethereum ETF .

Both QBTC and QETH bring institutional-grade security and regulatory compliance together in a format as familiar as buying shares, making crypto exposure accessible whether you’re investing through a brokerage account or SMSF. You can find out more about QBTC here and QETH here.

3. Crypto equities: Investing in the picks and shovels

A third option involves gaining exposure through traditional equities rather than the cryptocurrency itself.

How it works:

Rather than buying cryptocurrency itself, investors could invest in the companies shaping the crypto economy. These include exchanges such as Coinbase, stablecoin issuers such as Circle, miners including Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital, and infrastructure providers that enable blockchain networks.

The appeal:

Crypto equities offer a way to tap into industry growth without directly holding volatile tokens, although the equities could be volatile themselves. Investors own part of the business model – earning revenues from trading volumes, mining rewards or blockchain services. This also means investors don’t need to be a believer in just one coin, only in industry itself and the companies behind its infrastructure.

Some investors also prefer this method because they can value the companies using traditional metrics like cash flow, balance sheets and price-to-earnings ratios while still capturing crypto’s upside.

The trade-offs:

These stocks are highly correlated to the performance of the broader cryptocurrency market but with added layers of company-specific risk. These include management execution, regulatory changes and capital costs. All can affect a company’s valuations independently of the crypto market.

During bull markets (for instance, 2013 or 2017), cryptocurrency companies can outperform Bitcoin itself, but in downturns (such as during 2021-2022), these share prices tend to fall harder, as earnings and sentiment both contracts.

These companies also remain equity market instruments – subject to broader macro factors like interest rates and equity risk premiums.

For investors who like to express a thesis through listed companies, crypto equities provide a dynamic, equity-friendly approach with the potential for outperformance. If an investor prefers not to take on company specific risk, then considering an ETF such as CRYP Crypto Innovators ETF  may work for you. CRYP provides exposure to the largest publicly traded companies in the global crypto sector.

4. Bitcoin treasury companies

The final category represents a hybrid approach: listed companies that hold substantial Bitcoin as part of their corporate treasury strategy.

How it works:

A growing number of US public companies hold Bitcoin on their balance sheet as a strategic reserve asset. Companies such as Strategy and Metaplanet have effectively become leveraged plays on Bitcoin by using debt or cash reserves to buy and hold it long-term.

The appeal:

When investors buy shares in these firms, they are effectively gaining exposure to Bitcoin’s performance as well as the company’s underlying operations. For instance, Strategy has turned its stock into a quasi-Bitcoin ETF with its business intelligence operations now dwarfed by its Bitcoin holdings, totalling over US$10 billion.¹

These stocks can outperform Bitcoin during bullish periods because they often use leverage. For example, if Bitcoin rises 50% over a given period, a company holding large amounts of it with debt financing could see its equity multiply faster.

The trade-offs:

Leverage works both ways. When Bitcoin falls, these companies’ share prices can be punished far more severely. Investors also add business and governance risk, meaning exposure depends not just on Bitcoin’s performance but on management’s capital strategy as well as the market’s perception of its performance.

Essentially, these companies represent a turbocharged Bitcoin proxy with corporate risk baked in. It may be exciting on the way up, but it may also be brutal on the way down.

Source: Bloomberg. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Putting it all together

For retail investors, the choice of how to get crypto exposure depends on individual priorities and risk tolerance.

Direct ownership is volatile but represents the cleanest bet on scarcity and monetary independence.

For simple, regulated access that slots neatly into a portfolio or SMSF, an ETF provides a tidy, compliant and liquid solution.

For growth exposure that still respects traditional valuation metrics, consider crypto equities or an ETF that invests in crypto companies.

Finally, Bitcoin-treasury companies like Strategy deliver leveraged exposure, although this comes with amplified risk and reliance on management execution.

Many investors adopt a blended approach. For instance, an investor may hold a small amount of Bitcoin directly for conviction, an ETF for convenience and crypto equities for growth potential. This blended model captures different forms of exposure without over-concentrating risk.

Sources:

1. https://www.strategy.com/btc, as at October 2025. ↑