Key Takeaways

• Grayscale Investments has selected BNY Mellon as an asset servicing provider.
• The move helps prepare Grayscale for converting its Bitcoin trust into an ETF.
• Grayscale is one of at least nine companies competing to offer the first Bitcoin ETF in the U.S.

Grayscale Investments has selected the Bank of New York Mellon as its asset servicing provider for the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust. The move is part of the firm’s commitment to converting its Bitcoin trust into an exchange-traded fund.
Grayscale Aiming for Bitcoin ETF
Grayscale has moved one step closer to converting its Bitcoin Trust into America’s first Bitcoin ETF. 
The asset management giant announced a partnership with the BNY Mellon Tuesday, making the bank an asset servicing provider for the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, effective October 2021. Grayscale also indicated that BNY Mellon would provide transfer agency and ETF Services for the trust upon its planned conversion to an ETF.
BNY Mellon has become actively involved in the cryptocurrency space in recent months. It began offering Bitcoin custody in February, claiming that crypto was “mainstream” at the time. It also invested in Fireblocks, an industry-leading custody and settlement platform for digital assets. 

We have selected @BNYMellon as an asset servicing provider for Grayscale #Bitcoin Trust, an important milestone as part of our commitment to converting $GBTC into an #ETF. Learn more here. #BitcoinETF https://t.co/lItCbk7NFX pic.twitter.com/Gq6sCK3RHH

— Grayscale (@Grayscale) July 13, 2021

Grayscale’s latest announcement comes just 24 hours after the company obtained approval from the SEC for its Digital Large Cap Fund, marking its first SEC-regulated venture outside of Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

Michael Sonnenshein, CEO of Grayscale Investments, said of the partnership with BNY Mellon:

“We are pleased that BNY Mellon will join a group of Grayscale’s best-in-class service providers, helping us deliver a seamless, industry-leading investment experience.”

Sonnenshein also added that the engagement with BNY Mellon is an important milestone in the company’s commitment to converting the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust into an ETF. 

While the firm first applied for a Bitcoin ETF back in 2016, the firm did not follow through due to the lack of regulatory guidance on crypto assets. Now that the regulatory landscape has shifted, it’s once again making moves towards a Bitcoin ETF. 
In February, Canadian regulators approved the world’s first direct-custody Bitcoin ETF from Purpose Investments. Despite this, the SEC is yet to approve a Bitcoin ETF in the United States.  
Grayscale is not the only firm aiming to offer the first Bitcoin ETF in America. At least nine other companies have submitted applications, including Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. and Fidelity Investments. With competition intensifying, an American Bitcoin ETF approval before the end of 2021 seems more likely than ever. 
Disclaimer: At the time of writing this feature, the author owned BTC and ETH.