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StashAway launches crypto ETFs in Malaysia
Regulated platform offers simplified, secure way to invest in bitcoin and ethereum
The Asset   23 Jan 2025

StashAway Malaysia has added bitcoin and ethereum exchange-traded funds ( ETFs ) to its digital investment platform, enabling investors to access the two largest cryptocurrencies through a regulated vehicle. 

The launch comes at a pivotal moment in the crypto market, marked by growing institutional adoption as the price of bitcoin crosses the US$100,000 milestone. With the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump’s administration signalling support for crypto-friendly regulations, investors have shown renewed interest in the growing asset class, StashAway says in a statement.

“Many of our clients have expressed interest in the long-term potential of major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin but have been hesitant because of security concerns or the complexities of navigating crypto exchanges. We’re now offering them a familiar and safe way to diversify their portfolios by incorporating crypto through a platform they already know and trust,” says Wong Wai Ken, StashAway’s country manager for Malaysia.

While the mainstream and institutional adoption of crypto has been growing, there are still many investors who are wary about the complexities of owning crypto, such as the risk of losing their funds due to a lost or compromised private key for a crypto wallet. Crypto exchanges also often have complex fee structures, including trading fees, withdrawal fees, and gas fees which can fluctuate unpredictably. 

To allow investors to easily and securely calibrate their crypto exposure, StashAway is adding bitcoin and ethereum ETFs to its Flexible Portfolios, an existing offering where clients build and customize their own portfolio from over 70 ETFs representing different asset classes. With this, clients can build diversified portfolios with exposure to both crypto and traditional asset classes like equities, bonds, and gold. 

Flexible Portfolios has a transparent, straightforward management fee of 0.2% to 0.8% per annum, with no lock-ins or minimum investment required, the firm says. In addition, a portfolio with only a single ETF has a flat management fee of 0.3% p.a. The crypto ETFs available on Flexible Portfolios – Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund and Fidelity Ethereum Fund – have an expense ratio of 0.25% p.a.

Launched in Singapore in 2017, StashAway expanded to Malaysia in 2018 and was the first digital investment platform to be awarded a capital markets services licence by the Securities Commission of Malaysia. Today, the company holds over 1 billion ringgit ( US$ ) of assets under management for over 50,000 clients in Malaysia.