ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF Announces 3-for-1 Share Split to Boost Retail Access

21Shares US LLC has announced a 3-for-1 share split for its flagship ARK 21Shares Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), ARKB. This strategic move is aimed at making the fund more accessible to a broader base of investors, particularly retail investors, and enhancing trading efficiency. The share split, which will take effect at the opening of markets on June 16, will triple the number of shares available, thereby reducing the price per share without affecting the fund’s overall value. ARKB will continue to trade under its current ticker, with no changes to its net asset value, investment strategy, or underlying Bitcoin (BTC) holdings.

The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF is a physically backed spot Bitcoin ETF that tracks the New York Variant of the Chicago Mercentile Exchange CF Bitcoin Reference Rate. It provides direct access to Bitcoin in a regulated investment environment. The fund is currently valued at approximately $4.82 billion, holding 45,410 Bitcoin. Coinbase Custody serves as the main custodian, with BitGo and Anchorage Digital Bank assisting in lowering counterparty risk.

The share split comes at a time when interest in crypto ETFs is rapidly growing, following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s landmark approval of spot Bitcoin funds in January 2024. Since then, the ETF market has expanded significantly, with $125 billion now held across 11 U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs. The sector has drawn substantial net inflows over the past month, indicating a strong appetite for Bitcoin investments.

21Shares is positioning the split as part of a broader strategy to drive retail participation. With Bitcoin recently climbing above $100,000, lowering the per-share cost could attract new investors while maintaining institutional appeal. The company launched the first physically-backed crypto exchange-traded product in 2018. In addition to ARKB, its U.S. offerings include the ARK 21Shares Active Bitcoin Futures Strategy ETF, which trades Bitcoin futures, and the ARK 21Shares Blockchain and Digital Payments ETF, which targets companies building products in blockchain infrastructure and digital finance.