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Why We’re Committed to Investing in Digital Credit

Most investors have already settled the debate about if digital assets are worth investing in. The natural next question, and one that we regularly discuss, is how do you invest in them responsibly?

That question is a large part of the reason why we launched the Digital Asset Debt Strategy ETF (NASDAQ: DADS). It’s also the reason we remain committed to digital credit as a distinct, durable investment approach.

The Sector Is Too Large to Ignore

Digital assets have graduated from speculative curiosity to institutional infrastructure. In 2025, public companies began the year collectively holding approximately 3.3% of total Bitcoin supply, with over 90 listed companies maintaining more than 1,000 BTC in treasury.[1] We continue to see further integration of blockchain technology into mainstream financial infrastructure is accelerating.

For professional allocators, the strategic question is no longer whether to engage with this sector. It’s how?

Digital Credit as an Entry Point

We believe that the fixed-income securities of digital asset companies represent a structurally efficient way to access this sector, particularly for investors who need to balance growth potential with portfolio risk discipline.

The volatility hierarchy is well-established: fixed-income instruments are less volatile than equities, and equities are less volatile than cryptocurrencies. Owning the debt of companies integral to the digital asset landscape, rather than their equity, means sitting higher in the capital structure, with contractual cash flows and defined recovery priority. It’s also a meaningfully different risk profile from spot crypto exposure, and still captures the momentum of the sector’s growth.

Critically, credit investors get paid to wait. Many companies in the digital asset ecosystem are capital-intensive and growth-stage, which creates a yield premium that compensates for complexity and perception risk. The DADS ETF seeks to generate income for its investors thanks to its exposure to these assets designed to generate income, and provide a distinct, diversifying exposure and return profile that is otherwise difficult to find elsewhere in a traditional fixed-income allocation.

A Framework Built for This Asset Class

Digital credit is a niche and nuanced exposure. Our portfolio management team has identified four distinct economic segments within the digital asset ecosystem, each with different revenue drivers, credit dynamics, and risk exposures.

  1. Digital Asset Miners & Data Centers. Infrastructure providers with recurring revenue tied to blockchain operations.
  2. Platform & Payment Companies. Issuers that power digital asset trading and transaction rails.
  3. Global Asset Managers & Financial Service Providers. Institutions driving adoption through tokenized products, digital financing, and exchange services.
  4. Direct Holders of Digital Assets. Corporate and government issuers with at least 1,000 BTC on their balance sheet.

Diversifying across these four segments (with a maximum of 25% allocation to any single sector) allows the portfolio to behave differently from any one company or token, and adds a layer of cross-sector diversification that we believe is genuinely additive from a portfolio construction standpoint.

Active Management in a Dynamic Sector

Investing in debt securities adjacent to digital assets is not well-suited for passive investment strategies. The digital asset credit universe is evolving rapidly with changing regulatory developments, unending corporate refinancing risks, and credit quality changes that can shift quickly and asymmetrically.

Our portfolio management team continues to regularly meet and review market conditions, issuer credit quality, sector-level developments, and the regulatory environment. We employ a disciplined sell framework: positions are exited when credit quality deteriorates beyond acceptable parameters, refinancing risks become elevated, or better opportunities emerge elsewhere in the ecosystem. In stressed conditions, the portfolio can rotate toward more defensive positions, like bonds from established financial firms with stronger balance sheets and credit ratings.

This level of ongoing oversight is, we believe, a prerequisite for investing responsibly in an emerging market.

ETF Structure is Key

The DADS ETF was thoughtfully constructed to provide investors optimal access to digital credit. As a Regulated Investment Company (RIC), the ETF offers single-layer taxation and standard 1099 reporting, without the K-1 complexity funds utilizing the C-Corp structure. DADS carries a management fee of 0.75% and a total expense ratio of 1.04%, which is below the average total expense ratio of approximately 1.23% for comparable actively managed digital-asset debt and income ETFs.[2] [3] [4]

And its actively managed and diversified approach looks to fit within the compliance and risk parameters of professional investor portfolios.

Our Commitment

The AlphaBit team remains committed to investing in digital credit, because we believe the approach provides an important, prudent, durable, and investor-aligned way to participate in the growth of the digital asset economy. We believe that it’s important to own the companies building this infrastructure through the lens of careful evaluation and active management.

For investors who have been waiting for a responsible on-ramp, we believe the Digital Asset Debt Securities ETF (NYSE: DADS) could be the solution.

Sources

  1. Nik, “Corporate Bitcoin Holdings Hit Record High in Q1 2025 as Public Companies Accelerate Accumulation,” Bitcoin Magazine, April 17, 2025, published on Nasdaq.com
  2. Tidal ETF Trust, “Digital Asset Debt Strategy ETF Prospectus,”
    filed May 16, 2025, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001742912/000199937125006330/dads-497_051525.htm.
  3. ETF Opportunities Trust, “REX Bitcoin Corporate Treasury
    Convertible Bond ETF Prospectus,” filed May 15, 2025, U.S. Securities
    and Exchange Commission,
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001771146/000199937125006229/bmax-497_051525.htm.
  4. Simplify Exchange Traded Funds, “Simplify Bitcoin Strategy PLUS
    Income ETF: Supplement to the Prospectus and Summary Prospectus Dated
    November 1, 2025,” filed May 4, 2026, U.S. Securities and Exchange
    Commission, https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001810747/000182912626004446/maxi_497.htm.

https://ownbetf.com/
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/corporate-bitcoin-holdings-hit-record-high-in-q1-2025-as-public-companies-accelerate-accumulation
Fidelity
Bitwise Asset Management
CoinTelegraph
State Street Global Advisors
AlphaBit Investments Research
ETF.com

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Logo for “ALPHABIT.” The design features a stylized white letter “A” icon on the left with an angled cutout and diagonal stroke, followed by the word “ALPHABIT” in bold white uppercase letters.

The Fund does not invest directly in digital assets; however, it will be subject to the risks associated with digital assets by virtue of this investment. The fund is subject to significant risks that are not typically present in other investments, including possible loss of principal.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please call 866-379-6199 or visit our website at www.DADSETF.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

As used herein, Digital Asset Debt Securities, or DAD Securities, means debt securities of issuers that are directly involved in digital asset-related activities, such as mining digital assets, holding digital assets in their corporate treasury or government treasury, and/or working on platforms to facilitate payment with, or the transfer of, digital assets.

Bitcoin & Digital Assets Risk. While the Fund will not directly invest in digital assets, it will be subject to the risks associated with bitcoin by virtue of its investments in DAD Securities that hold bitcoin or other digital assets. Investing in digital assets exposes investors to significant risks that are not typically present in other investments. These risks include the uncertainty surrounding new technology, limited evaluation due to bitcoin’s short trading history, and the potential decline in adoption and value over the long term. The extreme volatility of the price of bitcoin and other digital assets is also a risk factor.

Fixed Income Securities Risk. The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuer’s credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Changes in government intervention may have adverse effects on investments, volatility, and illiquidity in debt markets. These changes could cause the Fund’s net asset value to fluctuate or make it more difficult for the Fund to accurately value its securities.

Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments, such as futures contracts, options and swaps, that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation, and legal restrictions. The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of derivatives may result in larger losses or smaller gains than directly investing in securities. When the Fund uses derivatives, there may be imperfect correlation between the value of the underlying instrument and the derivative, which may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.

Convertible Securities Risk. The Fund will invest in convertible securities of companies which are preferred stocks or bonds that pay a fixed dividend or interest payment and are convertible into common stock or other equity interests at a specified price or conversion ratio during a specified period. Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain than common stocks. Also, convertible bonds generally pay less income than non-convertible bonds. Convertible securities tend to provide higher yields than common stocks. However, a higher yield may not protect investors against the risk of loss or adequately mitigate any loss associated with a decline in the price of a convertible security.

Digital Asset Treasury Companies Risk. Issuers whose business is holding bitcoin or other digital assets in their corporate treasury face unique risks as a result of holding digital assets in their corporate treasury. The speculative perception of digital assets may overshadow the fundamentals of such companies, leading to exaggerated price movements based on hype or fear. The value of the Fund’s investments in instruments that provide exposure to bitcoin corporate treasury companies – and therefore the value of an investment in the Fund – could decline significantly and without warning. If you are not prepared to accept significant and unexpected changes in the value of the Fund, you should not invest in the Fund.

Foreign and Emerging Markets Risks. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation. Investing in emerging markets involves different and greater risks, as these countries are substantially smaller, less liquid, and more volatile than securities markets in more developed markets.

Liquidity. The Fund may lose money or be prevented from earning capital gains if it cannot sell security at the time and price that is most beneficial to the Fund.

High Yield Bonds. High-yield bonds have a higher risk of default or other adverse credit events but have the potential to pay higher earnings over investment grade bonds. The higher risk of default, or the inability of the creditor to repay its debt, is the primary reason for the higher interest rates on high-yield bonds. Examples of other adverse credit events are interest rate risk (when interest rates rise, bond prices fall) and economic risk (the risk associated with downturns in the economy).

Credit Risk. A bond’s credit rating reflects the issuer’s ability to make timely payments of interest or principal—the lower the rating, the higher the risk of default. If the issuer’s financial strength deteriorates, the issuer’s rating may be lowered, and the bond’s value may decline.

Municipal Securities Risk. Funds that invest in municipal obligations of issuers will be affected by economic, political, or other events affecting municipal issuers, which may affect the Fund’s ability to acquire and dispose of municipal obligations at desirable yield and price levels.

Other Investment Companies Risk. The Fund will incur higher and duplicative expenses when it invests in ETFs and other investment companies. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company and bears its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the other investment company. There is also the risk that the Fund may suffer losses due to the investment practices of the underlying funds as the Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of securities held by such investment companies. ETFs may be less liquid than other investments, and thus their share values are more volatile than the values of the investments they hold.

Mid/Small Capitalization. Investments made in small and mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and less liquid than large company stocks due to limited resources or product lines and greater sensitivity to adverse economic conditions.

New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized, giving prospective investors a limited track record on which to base their investment decision.

New Sub-Adviser Risk. Although the Sub-Adviser’s principals and the Fund’s portfolio managers have experience managing investments in the past, the Sub-Adviser has no experience managing investments for an ETF, which may limit the Sub-Adviser’s effectiveness.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

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