OBTC vs. ETHW

Last updated Aug 5, 2026

OBTC (Osprey Bitcoin Trust) and ETHW (Bitwise Ethereum ETF) are both Cryptocurrency funds. OBTC is passively managed, while ETHW is actively managed. Over the past year, OBTC returned -36.66% vs -48.97% for ETHW. Their 0.79 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. OBTC charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for ETHW.

Performance

OBTC vs. ETHW - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Osprey Bitcoin Trust (OBTC) and Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, OBTC achieves a -26.66% return, which is significantly higher than ETHW's -36.91% return.

OBTC

• 1D: 0.95%
• 1M: 4.80%
• 6M: -16.02%
• YTD: -26.66%
• 1Y: -36.66%
• 3Y*: 42.55%
• 5Y*: 5.44%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: -6.65%

ETHW

• 1D: 0.45%
• 1M: 10.27%
• 6M: -18.32%
• YTD: -36.91%
• 1Y: -48.97%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: -26.62%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
ETHW Bitwise Ethereum ETF	$14.55M	$11.99M	$10.80M
OBTC Osprey Bitcoin Trust	$131.03K	$187.41K	$211.76K

OBTC vs. ETHW - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
OBTC Osprey Bitcoin Trust	-26.66%	-1.87%	36.98%
ETHW Bitwise Ethereum ETF	-36.91%	-11.26%	-4.77%

Correlation

The correlation between OBTC and ETHW is 0.88, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.88
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2024	0.79

The correlation between OBTC and ETHW has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.79 to 0.88 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

OBTC vs. ETHW — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

OBTC

OBTC Risk / Return Rank: 3
OBTC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3
OBTC Sortino Ratio Rank: 3
OBTC Omega Ratio Rank: 3
OBTC Calmar Ratio Rank: 3
OBTC Martin Ratio Rank: 3

ETHW

ETHW Risk / Return Rank: 3
ETHW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3
ETHW Sortino Ratio Rank: 3
ETHW Omega Ratio Rank: 3
ETHW Calmar Ratio Rank: 3
ETHW Martin Ratio Rank: 4

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

OBTC vs. ETHW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Osprey Bitcoin Trust (OBTC) and Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	OBTC	ETHW	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.82	-0.74	-0.08
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.10	-0.95	-0.15
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.88	0.89	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.74	-0.72	-0.02
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.18	-1.07	-0.10

OBTC vs. ETHW - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current OBTC Sharpe Ratio is -0.82, which is comparable to the ETHW Sharpe Ratio of -0.74. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of OBTC and ETHW, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

OBTC vs. ETHW - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OBTC drawdown since its inception was -94.50%, which is greater than ETHW's maximum drawdown of -67.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OBTC and ETHW.

Drawdown Indicators

	OBTC	ETHW	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-94.50%	-67.89%	-26.61%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-49.62%	-67.89%	+18.27%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-49.62%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-83.76%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-63.37%	-61.31%	-2.06%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-69.41%	-35.30%	-34.11%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	31.21%	45.70%	-14.49%

Volatility

OBTC vs. ETHW - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Osprey Bitcoin Trust (OBTC) is 8.17%, while Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) has a volatility of 11.18%. This indicates that OBTC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ETHW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	OBTC	ETHW	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.17%	11.18%	-3.01%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	33.39%	43.60%	-10.21%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	44.92%	66.89%	-21.97%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	56.36%	71.00%	-14.64%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	76.18%	71.00%	+5.18%

OBTC vs. ETHW - Expense Ratio Comparison

OBTC has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than ETHW's 0.20% expense ratio.

Dividends

OBTC vs. ETHW - Dividend Comparison

Neither OBTC nor ETHW has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both OBTC and ETHW in my portfolio?

OBTC and ETHW have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, OBTC or ETHW?

ETHW has higher volatility (11.18%) compared to OBTC (8.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OBTC dropped -94.50% vs ETHW's -67.89%.

Which ETF is better, OBTC or ETHW?

On 1-year performance, OBTC leads with -36.66% vs -48.97% for ETHW. On fees, ETHW is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, OBTC has been the lower-risk option at 8.17%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, OBTC or ETHW?

Over the 1-year period, OBTC has performed better with a -36.66% return vs -48.97%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, OBTC or ETHW?

ETHW is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for OBTC.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, OBTC or ETHW?

OBTC and ETHW have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between OBTC and ETHW?

They also come from different issuers: Osprey and Bitwise. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for OBTC and 0.20% for ETHW.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ETHW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.74 vs -0.82), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.