First spot Bitcoin ETF closes its doors: Hashdex liquidates DEFI fund

Hashdex is closing the Hashdex Bitcoin ETF, listed on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol DEFI. It is the first spot Bitcoin ETF to close its doors. The fund still had approximately $14.7 million in assets under management on 30 July 2026. That is according to GlobeNewswire.

Bitcoin is available at OKX and Bybit.

In brief:

• Hashdex is liquidating the Bitcoin ETF DEFI, the first spot Bitcoin ETF to close.
• Trading stops on 17 August; investors will receive their money around 28 August.
• Hashdex cites fund size, liquidity and costs as reasons for the closure.

Trading stops on 17 August

From 17 August, investors will no longer be able to trade in the fund and no new subscriptions will be accepted. After that date, the ETF will also be removed from the NYSE Arca. Investors still holding shares in the fund at that time are expected to receive the liquidation proceeds in cash around 28 August.

It is a notable step in the world of Bitcoin ETFs, which have in fact gained considerable popularity in recent years. The Bitcoin price currently stands at $64.700, up 0.7% in the past 24 hours.

Fund size and strategy decisive

Hashdex cites several reasons for its decision to close the fund. These include the fund’s limited size, liquidity, operational costs, investor demand and the company’s broader product strategy. With only $14.7 million in assets under management, the fund was considerably smaller than competing Bitcoin ETFs on the US market.

Hashdex itself remains active in the US. The company still manages more than $200 million in assets through other products available to US investors. The closure of DEFI therefore does not mean the end of Hashdex in the US, but it does mean the end of this specific product.