In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced the concept of a decentralised currency using blockchain technology in his white paper. Since then, Bitcoin has grown to become a formidable asset. It is often referred to as 'digital gold' because, like the metal, it has limited supply and is a potential store of value, offering diversification benefits and protection against inflation.

Ethereum acts as an 'open-source app store' that runs software and facilitates the transfer of value. The ecosystem is best known for its smart contract-operating apps. These programmes automatically execute a transaction when certain predetermined and agreed-upon conditions are met. Current applications include payments, banking, trading exchanges, social media and video games. A small fee is charged for each of these transactions in Ethereum's native currency, Ether, which generates revenue across the ecosystem.

Just as VanEck has been at the forefront of gold investing, the company has played a pivotal role in shaping the broader adoption of digital assets, including becoming the first established ETF issuer to file for both a Bitcoin-linked ETF and a spot ether ETF.