Core Insights - Bitcoin has decreased approximately 25% from its November 2025 peak of $116,410, currently trading around $87,300, while the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) has experienced a significant decline of about 52% year-to-date, dropping from $23.74 in early January to $12.16 by late December [1] Group 1: BITO Structure and Performance - BITO provides exposure to Bitcoin through futures contracts instead of directly holding the cryptocurrency, allowing it to be traded in standard brokerage accounts and qualify for retirement accounts [2] - The fund relies on rolling Bitcoin futures contracts, which involves selling expiring contracts and purchasing new ones each month, leading to value erosion when futures prices exceed spot prices (contango) [3] - BITO's 0.95% expense ratio adds an additional cost layer, contributing to its underperformance compared to Bitcoin, which has only seen a modest decline year-to-date [3] Group 2: Tracking Gap and Market Inefficiencies - The significant tracking gap between BITO and Bitcoin is attributed to its futures-based structure, which results in buying high and selling low during contango periods, exacerbated by market volatility [4] - Long-term holders of BITO face compounding structural headwinds, as they not only pay the expense ratio but also absorb hidden costs from futures market inefficiencies that can exceed 10% annually [5] Group 3: Tradeoffs of BITO - BITO offers advantages such as regulatory familiarity, eligibility for retirement accounts, and no need for crypto custody infrastructure, but these come with substantial tradeoffs [6] - The fund's performance has significantly lagged behind Bitcoin, with a 52% drop year-to-date compared to Bitcoin's 25% decline from its peak, primarily due to futures contango costs [6] - In contrast, another fund (IBIT) holds actual Bitcoin with a lower fee of 0.25% and has attracted $67.6 billion in assets, highlighting the competitive landscape [6]