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SEC Comment Letter 0000000000-23-010832 to WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) (CIK 0001850391) (BTCW)

WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) (CIK 0001850391)
Date: Sept. 29, 2023 · CIK: 0001850391 · Accession: 0000000000-23-010832

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 333-254134

Date
September 29, 2023
Author
Not clearly detected
Form
UPLOAD
Company
WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) (CIK 0001850391)

Letter

United States securities and exchange commission logo September 29, 2023 Jeremy Schwartz Chief Executive Officer WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust c/o WisdomTree Digital Commodity Services, LLC 250 West 34th Street, 3rd Floor New York , New York 10119 Re:WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 Filed June 20, 2023 File No. 333-254134 Dear Jeremy Schwartz: We have reviewed your registration statement and have the following comments. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your disclosure. Please respond to this letter by amending your registration statement and providing the requested information. If you do not believe our comments apply to your facts and circumstances or do not believe an amendment is appropriate, please tell us why in your response. After reviewing any amendment to your registration statement and the information you provide in response to these comments, we may have additional comments. Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 General 1.Based on our preliminary review of your registration statement, we have the following initial set of comments. Once you have amended your registration statement and responded to each of these comments, we will provide you with more detailed comments relating to your registration statement, as appropriate. 2.We note that your registration statement includes a number of blanks or omitted information, including, for example, the initial Authorized Participant, the Subcustodian, the key employees of the Trust and the Sponsor, and a number of exhibits to be filed by amendment. Please revise to include this information in your next amendment, or tell us

FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz Comapany NameWisdomTree Bitcoin Trust September 29, 2023 Page 2 FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust September 29, 2023 Page 2 when you intend to do so. Please also confirm your understanding that the staff will need sufficient time to review this information, and we may have additional comments at that time. 3.We refer you to our December 2022 Sample Letter to Companies Regarding Recent Developments in Crypto Asset Markets, located on our website at the following address: https://www.sec.gov/corpfin/sample-letter-companies-regarding-crypto-asset-markets. Please consider the issues identified in the sample letter as applicable to your facts and circumstances, and revise your disclosure accordingly. Risk Factors, page 9 4.Please revise to discuss the risk of price volatility from other parts of the crypto asset market. Risk Factors Associated with bitcoin and the Bitcoin Network Bitcoin exchanges on which bitcoin trades are relatively new and, in some cases, unregulated, page 15 5.Please expand to discuss the risks of fraud, manipulation, front-running, wash-trading, security failures or operational problems at bitcoin trading platforms. The Trust and Bitcoin Prices The Reference Rate, page 36 6.Please revise your disclosure to provide a materially complete description of the Reference Rate methodology. Please also address the following in your disclosure regarding the benchmark: •Include a table with market share and volume information for each constituent bitcoin trading platform used to calculate the CF Bitcoin US Settlement Price; •Explain how the identified constituent bitcoin trading platforms are selected; •Disclose the extent to which the Sponsor has discretion to select a different benchmark; and •Disclose whether the Sponsor will notify investors of changes to the constituent bitcoin trading platforms used to calculate the Reference Rate, and, if so, how the Sponsor will notify the investor of such changes. Calculation of NAV, page 37 7.Please include a materially complete description of the methodology to be used to calculate NAV and disclose how you will value your bitcoin holdings for GAAP purposes. Please also tell us how you intend to develop accounting and valuation policies to address significant events related to crypto assets. For example, explain to us how your valuation policies will address the potential for a blockchain for a crypto asset to diverge into different paths (i.e., a “fork”) and airdrops.

FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz Comapany NameWisdomTree Bitcoin Trust September 29, 2023 Page 3 FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust September 29, 2023 Page 3 Additional Information About the Trust, page 38 8.Please revise your disclosure to address the competition you will face in launching and sustaining your product. Please also revise your risk factors to address the risks associated with this competition, including the risk that your timing in reaching the market and your fee structure relative to other bitcoin ETPs could have a detrimental effect on the scale and sustainability of your product. Custody of the Trust's Assets, page 40 9.Please revise to provide a materially complete discussion of your bitcoin custody arrangements. For example, please consider addressing the following: •Describe the material terms of your agreement(s) with the Custodian and any Subcustodian; •Describe whether your assets custodied by the Custodian will be commingled with assets of other customers, and the geographic location where the private keys will be stored; •Identify who will have access to the private key information and disclose whether any entity will be responsible for verifying the existence of the bitcoins; and •Disclose whether and to what extent the Custodian carries insurance for any losses of the bitcoin that it custodies for you. Creation and Redemption of Shares, page 42 10.Please revise to address the following regarding the creation and redemption process: •Discuss the potential impact on the arbitrage mechanism of the price volatility, trading volume, price differentials across bitcoin trading platforms, and the closing of bitcoin trading platforms due to fraud, failures, security breaches or otherwise; and •Describe the mechanics of how the creation and redemption process will work between the Trust, the Authorized Participants and the Custodian, including a discussion of whether and to what extent transactions between the Authorized Participants and the Custodian will be settled on-chain or off-chain, and any risks associated with the settlement process. 11.Please discuss whether and to what extent the size of your creation and redemption baskets could have an impact on the arbitrage mechanism in light of the market for bitcoin. Conflicts of Interest, page 46 12.Please revise to disclose all existing and potential conflicts of interest between your Sponsor and its affiliates and the Trust. Please also clarify whether the Sponsor or any insiders have bitcoin or bitcoin-related exposure that could create conflicts of interest and disclose whether you have a code of conduct or other requirements for pre-clearance of bitcoin-related transactions that apply to your employees, the Sponsor, or any of its affiliates.

FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz Comapany NameWisdomTree Bitcoin Trust September 29, 2023 Page 4 FirstName LastName Jeremy Schwartz WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust September 29, 2023 Page 4 Experts, page 49 13.Please revise to include this information in your next amendment, or tell us when you intend to do so. Financial Statements, page 49 14.We note your disclosure that your audited financial statements will be provided by a pre- effective amendment. Please confirm you will file these audited financial statements in a pre-effective amendment as soon as they are available in order to allow the staff sufficient time to complete its review. Please also confirm your understanding that the staff will need sufficient time to review the audited financial statements and related information, and we may have additional comments at that time. We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action by the staff. Refer to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requests for acceleration. Please allow adequate time for us to review any amendment prior to the requested effective date of the registration statement. You may contact Kate Tillan at 202-551-3604 or Michelle Miller at 202-551-3368 if you have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters. Please contact Lulu Cheng at 202-551-3811 or Justin Dobbie at 202-551-3469 with any other questions. Sincerely, Division of Corporation Finance Office of Crypto Assets cc: Todd Zerega

Show Raw Text
United States securities and exchange commission logo
September 29, 2023
Jeremy Schwartz
Chief Executive Officer
WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
c/o WisdomTree Digital Commodity Services, LLC
250 West 34th Street, 3rd Floor
New York , New York 10119
Re:WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1
Filed June 20, 2023
File No. 333-254134
Dear Jeremy Schwartz:
            We have reviewed your registration statement and have the following comments.  In
some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better
understand your disclosure.
            Please respond to this letter by amending your registration statement and providing the
requested information.  If you do not believe our comments apply to your facts and
circumstances or do not believe an amendment is appropriate, please tell us why in your
response.
            After reviewing any amendment to your registration statement and the information you
provide in response to these comments, we may have additional comments.
Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1
General
1.Based on our preliminary review of your registration statement, we have the following
initial set of comments.  Once you have amended your registration statement and
responded to each of these comments, we will provide you with more detailed comments
relating to your registration statement, as appropriate.
2.We note that your registration statement includes a number of blanks or omitted
information, including, for example, the initial Authorized Participant, the Subcustodian,
the key employees of the Trust and the Sponsor, and a number of exhibits to be filed by
amendment.  Please revise to include this information in your next amendment, or tell us

 FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz
 Comapany NameWisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
 September 29, 2023 Page 2
 FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz
WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
September 29, 2023
Page 2
when you intend to do so.  Please also confirm your understanding that the staff will need
sufficient time to review this information, and we may have additional comments at that
time.
3.We refer you to our December 2022 Sample Letter to Companies Regarding Recent
Developments in Crypto Asset Markets, located on our website at the following address:
https://www.sec.gov/corpfin/sample-letter-companies-regarding-crypto-asset-markets.
Please consider the issues identified in the sample letter as applicable to your facts and
circumstances, and revise your disclosure accordingly.
Risk Factors, page 9
4.Please revise to discuss the risk of price volatility from other parts of the crypto asset
market.
Risk Factors Associated with bitcoin and the Bitcoin Network
Bitcoin exchanges on which bitcoin trades are relatively new and, in some cases, unregulated,
page 15
5.Please expand to discuss the risks of fraud, manipulation, front-running, wash-trading,
security failures or operational problems at bitcoin trading platforms.
The Trust and Bitcoin Prices
The Reference Rate, page 36
6.Please revise your disclosure to provide a materially complete description of the
Reference Rate methodology.  Please also address the following in your disclosure
regarding the benchmark:
•Include a table with market share and volume information for each constituent bitcoin
trading platform used to calculate the CF Bitcoin US Settlement Price;
•Explain how the identified constituent bitcoin trading platforms are selected;
•Disclose the extent to which the Sponsor has discretion to select a different
benchmark; and
•Disclose whether the Sponsor will notify investors of changes to the constituent
bitcoin trading platforms used to calculate the Reference Rate, and, if so, how the
Sponsor will notify the investor of such changes.
Calculation of NAV, page 37
7.Please include a materially complete description of the methodology to be used to
calculate NAV and disclose how you will value your bitcoin holdings for GAAP
purposes.  Please also tell us how you intend to develop accounting and valuation policies
to address significant events related to crypto assets.  For example, explain to us how your
valuation policies will address the potential for a blockchain for a crypto asset to diverge
into different paths (i.e., a “fork”) and airdrops.

 FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz
 Comapany NameWisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
 September 29, 2023 Page 3
 FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz
WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
September 29, 2023
Page 3
Additional Information About the Trust, page 38
8.Please revise your disclosure to address the competition you will face in launching and
sustaining your product.  Please also revise your risk factors to address the risks associated
with this competition, including the risk that your timing in reaching the market and your
fee structure relative to other bitcoin ETPs could have a detrimental effect on the scale and
sustainability of your product.
Custody of the Trust's Assets, page 40
9.Please revise to provide a materially complete discussion of your bitcoin custody
arrangements.  For example, please consider addressing the following:
•Describe the material terms of your agreement(s) with the Custodian and any
Subcustodian;
•Describe whether your assets custodied by the Custodian will be commingled with
assets of other customers, and the geographic location where the private keys will be
stored;
•Identify who will have access to the private key information and disclose whether any
entity will be responsible for verifying the existence of the bitcoins; and
•Disclose whether and to what extent the Custodian carries insurance for any losses of
the bitcoin that it custodies for you.
Creation and Redemption of Shares, page 42
10.Please revise to address the following regarding the creation and redemption process:
•Discuss the potential impact on the arbitrage mechanism of the price volatility,
trading volume, price differentials across bitcoin trading platforms, and the closing of
bitcoin trading platforms due to fraud, failures, security breaches or otherwise; and
•Describe the mechanics of how the creation and redemption process will work
between the Trust, the Authorized Participants and the Custodian, including a
discussion of whether and to what extent transactions between the Authorized
Participants and the Custodian will be settled on-chain or off-chain, and any risks
associated with the settlement process.
11.Please discuss whether and to what extent the size of your creation and redemption
baskets could have an impact on the arbitrage mechanism in light of the market for
bitcoin.
Conflicts of Interest, page 46
12.Please revise to disclose all existing and potential conflicts of interest between your
Sponsor and its affiliates and the Trust.  Please also clarify whether the Sponsor or any
insiders have bitcoin or bitcoin-related exposure that could create conflicts of interest and
disclose whether you have a code of conduct or other requirements for pre-clearance of
bitcoin-related transactions that apply to your employees, the Sponsor, or any of its
affiliates.

 FirstName LastNameJeremy Schwartz
 Comapany NameWisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
 September 29, 2023 Page 4
 FirstName LastName
Jeremy Schwartz
WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust
September 29, 2023
Page 4
Experts, page 49
13.Please revise to include this information in your next amendment, or tell us when you
intend to do so.
Financial Statements, page 49
14.We note your disclosure that your audited financial statements will be provided by a pre-
effective amendment.  Please confirm you will file these audited financial statements in a
pre-effective amendment as soon as they are available in order to allow the staff sufficient
time to complete its review.  Please also confirm your understanding that the staff will
need sufficient time to review the audited financial statements and related information,
and we may have additional comments at that time.
            We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy
and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of
action by the staff.
            Refer to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requests for acceleration.  Please allow adequate
time for us to review any amendment prior to the requested effective date of the registration
statement.
            You may contact Kate Tillan at 202-551-3604 or Michelle Miller at 202-551-3368 if you
have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters.  Please
contact Lulu Cheng at 202-551-3811 or Justin Dobbie at 202-551-3469 with any other questions.
Sincerely,
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Crypto Assets
cc:       Todd Zerega