0002000638 iShares Ethereum Trust ETF false --12-31 Q3 2024 100.01 0.01 100.00 false false false false Based on the change in net asset value of a Share during the period. Net decrease in net assets per Share based on average shares outstanding during the period. Cost of investment in ether: $1,157,342,168. Percentage is annualized. For the period June 24, 2024 (Effective Date) to September 30, 2024. Based on average Shares outstanding during the period. For the period May 21, 2024 to September 30, 2024, the Trust’s total return was (20.36)%. The amounts reported for a Share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses on investment for the period due to the timing of Share transactions in relation to the fluctuating fair values of the Trust’s underlying investment. Percentage is not annualized. No par value, unlimited amount authorized. 1,157,342,168 0 51,200,000 00020006382024-01-012024-09-30 xbrli:shares 00020006382024-10-31 thunderdome:item iso4217:USD 00020006382024-09-30 iso4217:USDxbrli:shares 00020006382024-07-012024-09-30 00020006382024-05-222024-09-30 00020006382024-05-21 00020006382024-05-222024-06-30 00020006382024-06-30 xbrli:pure 0002000638etha:BlackrockFinancialManagementIncMember2024-05-212024-05-21 0002000638etha:BlackrockFinancialManagementIncMember2024-05-21 00020006382024-06-242024-06-24 0002000638srt:ScenarioForecastMember2024-07-242025-07-23 0002000638srt:ScenarioForecastMember2025-07-23 0002000638srt:MaximumMember2024-05-222024-09-30 0002000638etha:BlackrockFinancialManagementIncMember2024-09-30
 

 

Table of Contents

 



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024

or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                         to                           

 

Commission File Number: 001-42166

 


iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

99-6353885

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

c/o iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC
400 Howard Street
San Francisco, California 94105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(415) 670-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Shares

ETHA

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☐  No ☒  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐

 

Non-accelerated filer ☒

Smaller reporting company 

Emerging growth company 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  No ☒

 

As of October 31, 2024, the Registrant had 61,560,000 Shares outstanding.

 



 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

    Page

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

     
Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1
     
 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities at September 30, 2024

1
     
 

Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024

2
     
 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024

3
     
 

Statement of Cash Flows for the Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024

4
     
 

Schedule of Investments at September 30, 2024

5
     
 

Notes to Financial Statements

6
     
Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

12
     
Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

13
     
Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

13
   

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 
   
Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

14
     
Item 1A.

Risk Factors

14
     
Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

14
     
Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

14
     
Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

14
     
Item 5.

Other Information

14
     
Item 6.

Exhibits

15
     

SIGNATURES

16

  

 

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

 

iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)

At September 30, 2024

 

  

September 30,
2024

 

Assets

    

Investment in ether, at fair value(a)

 $1,019,423,341 
Cash  3,260 

Total Assets

  1,019,426,601 
     

Liabilities

    

Sponsor’s fees payable

  84,058 

Total Liabilities

  84,058 
     

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 6)

    
     

Net Assets

 $1,019,342,543 

Shares issued and outstanding(b)

  51,200,000 

Net asset value per Share (Note 2C)

 $19.91 

 


(a)

Cost of investment in ether: $1,157,342,168.

(b)

No par value, unlimited amount authorized.

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

  

Three Months

Ended
September 30,

  

For the Period

from May 21,

2024 (Date of

Seeding) to
September 30,

 
  

2024

  

2024

 

Expenses

        

Sponsor’s fees

 $358,491  $358,911 

Sponsor’s fees waiver

  (186,634)  (186,634)

Total expenses

  171,857   172,277 

Net investment loss

  (171,857)  (172,277)
         

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

        

Net realized loss from:

        

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (21,660)  (21,660)

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

  (138,509,122)  (137,918,827)

Net realized and unrealized loss

  (138,530,782)  (137,940,487)
         

Net (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

 $(138,702,639) $(138,112,764)
         

Net (decrease) in net assets per Share(a)

 $(4.67) $(6.69)

 


(a)

Net decrease in net assets per Share based on average shares outstanding during the period.

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited)

For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

  

For the Period

from May 21, 2024

(Date of Seeding)

to September 30,

 
  2024 

Net Assets at May 21, 2024

 $ 
     

Operations:

    

Net investment loss

  (420)

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

  590,295 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  589,875 
     

Capital Share Transactions:

    

Contributions for Shares issued

  10,000,000 

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

  10,000,000 
     

Increase in net assets

  10,589,875 
     

Net Assets at June 30, 2024

 $10,589,875 
     
Operations:    
Net investment loss  (171,857)
Net realized loss  (21,660)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation  (138,509,122)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations  (138,702,639)
     
Capital Share Transactions:    
Contributions for Shares issued  1,147,455,307 
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions  1,147,455,307 
     
Increase in net assets  1,008,752,668 
     
Net Assets at September 30, 2024 $1,019,342,543 
     

Shares issued and redeemed

    

Shares issued

  51,200,000 

Shares redeemed

   

Net increase in Shares issued and outstanding

  51,200,000 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

For the Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

  

For the Period

from May 21, 2024

(Date of Seeding)

to September 30,

 
  2024 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

 $(138,112,764)

Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Purchases of ether

  (1,157,427,156)

Proceeds from ether sold to pay expenses

  63,328 

Net realized (gain) loss

  21,660 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

  137,918,827 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Sponsor’s fees payable

  84,058 

Net cash used in operating activities

 $(1,157,452,047)
     

Cash Provided by Financing Activities

    

Proceeds from issuance of Shares

  1,157,455,307 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 $1,157,455,307 
     

Cash

    

Net increase in cash

  3,260 

Cash, beginning of period

   

Cash, end of period

  3,260 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

At September 30, 2024

 

September 30, 2024

 

Description

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

 

Ether

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341 
             

Total Investments — 100.01%

          1,019,423,341 

Other Assets less Liabilities — (0.01)%

          (80,798)

Net Assets — 100.00%

         $1,019,342,543 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

5

 

iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

September 30, 2024

 

 

1 - Organization

 

The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (the “Trust”) was organized on November 9, 2023 as a Delaware statutory trust. The trustee is BlackRock Fund Advisors (the “Trustee”), which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust. The Trust’s sponsor is iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the “Trust Administrator.” The Trust is governed by the provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) executed by the Sponsor, the Trustee and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national association (“Delaware Trustee”), as of July 3, 2024. The Trust issues units of beneficial interest (“Shares”) representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. On August 8, 2024, the Trust’s name was changed from iShares Ethereum Trust to iShares Ethereum Trust ETF.

 

On May 21, 2024, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (the “Seed Capital Investor”) purchased 400,000 Shares for $10,000,000 at a per‑Share price of $25.00 (the “Seed Creation Baskets”). The Seed Capital Investor did not receive from the Trust, the Sponsor or any of their affiliates any fee or other compensation in connection with the purchase of Seed Creation Baskets. On June 24, 2024, the Trust purchased approximately 3,031 ether with the proceeds of the Seed Creation Baskets using Coinbase Inc. (the “Prime Execution Agent”). The costs incurred in connection with the purchase of ether with the proceeds of the Seed Creation Baskets were borne by the Trust. The Sponsor’s fee started accruing daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.25% of the net asset value of the Trust on June 24, 2024.

 

The Trust’s registration statement on Form S-1 relating to its continuous public offering of Shares was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 22, 2024 (Effective Date) and the Shares were listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) on July 23, 2024.

 

The Trust seeks to reflect generally the performance of the price of ether. The Trust seeks to reflect such performance before payment of the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Shares are intended to constitute a simple means of making an investment similar to an investment in ether.

 

The accompanying unaudited financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the interim period financial statements, have been made. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full-year period.

 

The Trust qualifies as an investment company solely for accounting purposes and not for any other purpose and follows the accounting and reporting guidance under the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies, but is not registered, and is not required to be registered, as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

 

2 - Significant Accounting Policies

 

A.

Basis of Accounting

 

The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

B.

Ether

 

Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC (the “Ether Custodian”) is responsible for safekeeping the ether owned by the Trust. The Ether Custodian is appointed by the Trustee.

 

The net asset value of the Trust equals the total assets of the Trust, which consists solely of ether and cash, less total liabilities of the Trust, each determined by the Trustee pursuant to policies established from time to time by the Trustee or its affiliates or otherwise described herein. The Trust’s periodic financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC Topic 820”) and utilize an exchange-traded price from the Trust’s principal market for ether as of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on the Trust’s financial statement measurement date. The Sponsor determines in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust’s financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Trust engages a third-party vendor to obtain a price from a principal market for ether, which is determined and designated by such third-party vendor daily based on its consideration of several exchange characteristics, including oversight, and the volume and frequency of trades. 

 

6

 

The Sponsor has the exclusive authority to determine the Trust’s net asset value, which it has delegated to the Trustee under the Trust Agreement. The Trustee has delegated to the Trust Administrator the responsibility to calculate the net asset value of the Trust and the net asset value per Share (“NAV”), based on a pricing source selected by the Trustee. In determining the Trust’s net asset value, the Trust Administrator values the ether held by the Trust based on an index (the “Index”), unless the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines that the Index is unreliable. The methodology used to calculate the Index price to value ether in determining the net asset value of the Trust may not be deemed consistent with U.S. GAAP. The CME CF Ether–Dollar Reference Rate – New York Variant for the ether – U.S. Dollar trading pair (the “CF Benchmarks Index”) shall constitute the Index, unless the CF Benchmarks Index is not available or the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines the CF Benchmarks Index is unreliable as the Index and therefore determines not to use the CF Benchmarks Index as the Index. If the CF Benchmarks Index is not available or the Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the CF Benchmarks Index is unreliable (together a “Fair Value Event”), the Trust’s holdings may be fair valued on a temporary basis in accordance with the fair value policies approved by the Trustee.

 

Additionally, the Trust Administrator monitors for unusual prices and escalates to the Trustee if detected. If the CF Benchmarks Index is not used, the Trust will notify Shareholders in a prospectus supplement, in its periodic Exchange Act reports and/or on the Trust’s website. The Trust Administrator calculates the net asset value of the Trust and the NAV once on each day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which NASDAQ is closed for regular trading (a “Business Day”). The NAV for a normal trading day will be released after 4:00 p.m. ET. Trading during the core trading session on NASDAQ typically closes at 4:00 p.m. ET. However, NAVs are not officially released until after the completion of a comprehensive review of the NAV and prices utilized to determine the NAV of the Trust by the Trust Administrator. Upon the completion of the end of day reviews by the Trust Administrator the NAV is released to the public typically by 5:30 p.m. ET and generally no later than 8:00 p.m. ET. The period between 4:00 p.m. ET and the NAV release after 5:30 p.m. ET (or later) provides an opportunity for the Trust Administrator and the Trustee to detect, flag, investigate, and correct unusual pricing should it occur and implement a Fair Value Event, if necessary. Any such correction could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

 

The Trust’s periodic financial statements may not utilize net asset value of the Trust to the extent the methodology used to calculate the Index is deemed not to be consistent with U.S. GAAP.

 

Gain or loss on sales of ether is calculated on a trade date basis using the average cost method.

 

The following table summarizes activity in ether for the three months ended September 30, 2024:

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

  3,031  $10,000,000  $10,590,295  $ 

Ether purchased

  384,840   1,147,427,156   1,147,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (138,509,122)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)

  

The following table summarizes activity in ether for the period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024:

 

Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of

Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

    $  $  $ 

Ether purchased

  387,871   1,157,427,156   1,157,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (137,918,827)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)

  

7

 

C.

Calculation of Net Asset Value

 

On each Business Day, as soon as practicable after 4:00 p.m. ET, the net asset value of the Trust is obtained by subtracting all accrued fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the total assets held by the Trust. The Trust Administrator computes the NAV by dividing the net asset value of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding on the date the computation is made.

 

D.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  

Cash includes non-interest bearing, non-restricted cash maintained with one banking institution that does not exceed U.S. federally insured limits. 

 

E.

Offering of the Shares

 

Shares are issued and redeemed continuously in aggregations of 40,000 Shares (a “Basket”) or integral multiples thereof, based on the quantity of ether attributable to each Share (net of accrued but unpaid Sponsor’s fee and any accrued but unpaid expenses or liabilities). Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. Only registered broker-dealers that are eligible to settle securities transactions through the book entry facilities of the Depository Trust Company and that have entered into a contractual arrangement with the Sponsor governing, among other matters, the creation and redemption of Shares (such broker-dealers, the “Authorized Participants”), can place orders to receive Baskets in exchange for cash. Baskets may be redeemed by the Trust in exchange for the cash proceeds from selling the amount of ether corresponding to their redemption value.

 

The Trust engages in ether transactions for converting cash into ether (in association with purchase orders) and ether into cash (in association with redemption orders) by choosing, in its sole discretion, to trade directly with third parties (each, a “Ether Trading Counterparty”), who are not registered broker-dealers pursuant to written agreements between such Ether Trading Counterparties and the Trust, or choosing to trade through Coinbase, Inc. (the “Prime Execution Agent”) acting in an agency capacity with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service pursuant to the Prime Execution Agent Agreement.

 

F.

Federal Income Taxes

 

The Trust is treated as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required. Any interest, expenses, gains and losses are passed through to the holders of Shares of the Trust. The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust as of September 30, 2024 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

 

 

3 - Trust Expenses

 

The Sponsor’s fee is accrued daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.25% of the net asset value of the Trust and is payable at least quarterly in arrears in U.S. dollars or in-kind or any combination thereof. For the period ended September 30, 2024, the Sponsor’s fee was $358,911.

 

The Sponsor may, at its sole discretion and from time to time, waive all or a portion of the Sponsor’s fee for stated periods of time. The Sponsor is under no obligation to waive any portion of its fees and any such waiver shall create no obligation to waive any such fees during any period not covered by the waiver. For a twelve-month period, starting July 23, 2024, the Sponsor will waive a portion of the Sponsor’s fee so that the Sponsor’s fee after the fee waiver will be equal to 0.12% of the net asset value of the Trust for the first $2.5 billion of the Trust’s assets. In the future, if the Sponsor decides to waive all or a portion of the Sponsor’s fee, Shareholders will be notified in a prospectus supplement, in its periodic Exchange Act reports and/or on the Trust’s website. For the period ended September 30, 2024, the amount waived was $186,634.

 

The Sponsor has agreed to assume the marketing and the following administrative expenses of the Trust: the fees of the Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Trust Administrator, the Ether Custodian, and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Cash Custodian”), NASDAQ listing fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, tax reporting fees, audit fees, license fees and expenses and up to $500,000 per annum in ordinary legal fees and expenses. The Sponsor may determine in its sole discretion to assume legal fees and expenses of the Trust in excess of the $500,000 per annum required under the Trust Agreement. To the extent that the Sponsor does not voluntarily assume such fees and expenses, they will be the responsibility of the Trust. The Sponsor will also pay the costs of the Trust’s organization and the initial sale of the Shares, including applicable SEC registration fees. The Trust is not obligated to repay any such costs related to the Trust’s organization and offering paid by the Sponsor.

 

 

4 - Related Parties

 

The Sponsor and the Trustee are considered to be related parties to the Trust. The Trustee’s fee is paid by the Sponsor and is not a separate expense of the Trust.

 

As of September 30, 2024, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., an affiliate of the Sponsor, owned 400,000 Shares of the Trust, or 0.78%, of the Trust.

 

8

 
 

5 - Indemnification

 

The Trust Agreement provides that the Sponsor shall indemnify the Trustee, its directors, employees, delegees and agents against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liability, claim, cost, expense or judgment of any kind whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that is incurred by any of them and that arises out of or is related to (1) any offer or sale by the Trust of Baskets, (2) acts performed or omitted pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement, (A) by the Trustee, its directors, employees, delegees and agents or (B) by the Sponsor or (3) any filings with or submissions to the SEC in connection with or with respect to the Shares, except that the Sponsor shall not have any obligations to pay any indemnification amounts incurred as a result of and attributable to (x) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of, or material breach of the terms of the Trust Agreement by, the Trustee, (y) information furnished in writing by the Trustee to the Sponsor expressly for use in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto, filed with the SEC relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor or (z) any misrepresentations or omissions made by an authorized participant (other than the Sponsor) in connection with such authorized participant’s offer and sale of Shares.

 

The Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee shall indemnify the Sponsor, its directors, employees, delegees and agents against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liability, claim, cost, expense or judgment of any kind whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) (1) caused by the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of the Trustee or (2) arising out of any information furnished in writing to the Sponsor by the Trustee expressly for use in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto or periodic report, filed with the SEC relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor.

 

The Trust Agreement provides that the Sponsor and its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, affiliates (as such term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and subsidiaries and agents shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability, claim, cost, expense or judgment of any kind whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with the performance of their obligations under the Trust Agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement and incurred without their (1) willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith or (2) reckless disregard of their obligations and duties under the Trust Agreement.

 

The Trust has agreed that the Cash Custodian will only be responsible for any loss or damage suffered by the Trust as a direct result of the Cash Custodian’s negligence, fraud or willful default in the performance of its duties.

 

The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Trust, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

 

6 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

 

In the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

 

7 - Concentration Risk

 

Substantially all of the Trust’s assets are holdings of ether, which creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the price of ether. Accordingly, a decline in the price of ether will have an adverse effect on the value of the Shares of the Trust. Factors that may have the effect of causing a decline in the price of ether include a negative perception of digital assets; a lack of stability and standardized regulation in the digital asset markets; the closure or temporary shutdown of digital asset platforms due to fraud, business failure, security breaches or government mandated regulation; and a loss of investor confidence.

 

9

  
 

8 - Financial Highlights

 

The following financial highlights relate to investment performance and operations for a Share outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024.

 

  

Three Months

Ended
September 30,

  

Period from

May 21, 2024 (Date

of Seeding) to
September 30,

 
  

2024

  

2024

 

Net asset value per Share, beginning of period

 $26.47  $25.00 
         

Net investment loss(a)

  (0.01)  (0.01)

Net realized and unrealized loss(b)

  (6.55)  (5.08)

Net decrease in net assets from operations

  (6.56)  (5.09)

Net asset value per Share, end of period

 $19.91  $19.91 
         

Total return, at net asset value(c)(d)

  (24.78)% 

(20.20

)%(e)(f)
         

Ratio to average net assets:

        

Net investment loss(g)

  (0.12)%  (0.12)%

Total Expenses(g)

  0.24%  0.24%
Total expenses after fees waived(g)  0.12   0.12%

 


(a)

Based on average Shares outstanding during the period.

(b)

The amounts reported for a Share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses on investment for the period due to the timing of Share transactions in relation to the fluctuating fair values of the Trust’s underlying investment.

(c)

Based on the change in net asset value of a Share during the period.

(d)

Percentage is not annualized.

(e)

For the period June 24, 2024 (Effective Date) to September 30, 2024.

(f)

For the period May 21, 2024 to September 30, 2024, the Trust’s total return was (20.36)%.

(g)

Percentage is annualized.

   

10

  
 

9 - Investment Valuation

 

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price the Trust would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Trust’s policy is to value its investment at fair value.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of assets and liabilities. Inputs may be based on independent market data (“observable inputs”) or they may be internally developed (“unobservable inputs”). These inputs are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes. The level of a value determined for an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

 

Level 1  − 

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

 

Level 2  − 

Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means; and

 

 

Level 3  − 

Unobservable inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability, including the Trust’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments.

 

At September 30, 2024, the value of the ether held by the Trust is categorized as Level 1.

 

11

   
 

Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10‑Q. The discussion and analysis that follows may contain statements that relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, such forward‑looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses made by the Sponsor on the basis of its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to the Sponsor’s expectations and predictions, however, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations discussed below, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning taxes, made by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and other world economic and political developments. Although the Sponsor does not make forward-looking statements unless it believes it has a reasonable basis for doing so, the Sponsor cannot guarantee their accuracy. Except as required by applicable disclosure laws, neither the Trust nor the Sponsor is under a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or to a change in the Sponsor’s expectations or predictions.

 

Introduction

 

The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (the “Trust”) is a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust does not have any officers, directors, or employees, and is administered by the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of July 3, 2024, among iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), BlackRock Fund Advisors (the “Trustee”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national association (the “Delaware Trustee”). The Trust issues shares (“Shares”) representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. The assets of the Trust consist primarily of ether held by a custodian on behalf of the Trust.

 

The Trust is a passive investment vehicle and seeks to reflect generally the performance of the price of ether. The Trust seeks to reflect such performance before payment of the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Trust does not engage in any activities designed to obtain a profit from, or ameliorate losses caused by, changes in the price of ether.

 

The Trust issues and redeems Shares only in aggregations of 40,000 Shares (a “Basket”) or integral multiples thereof, based on the quantity of ether attributable to each Share (net of accrued but unpaid Sponsor’s fee and any accrued but unpaid expenses or liabilities). Only registered broker‑dealers that have previously entered into an agreement with the Sponsor governing the terms and conditions of such issuance (such broker‑dealer, the “Authorized Participants”), can place orders to receive Baskets in exchange for cash. Baskets may be redeemed by the Trust in exchange for the cash proceeds from selling the amount of ether corresponding to their redemption value.

 

The Trust engages in ether transactions for converting cash into ether (in association with purchase orders) and ether into cash (in association with redemption orders) by choosing, in its sole discretion, to trade directly with third parties (each, a “Ether Trading Counterparty”), who are not registered broker‑dealers pursuant to written agreements between such Ether Trading Counterparties and the Trust, or choosing to trade through Coinbase Inc. (the “Prime Execution Agent”) acting in an agency capacity with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service pursuant to the Prime Execution Agent Agreement.

 

Shares of the Trust trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) under the ticker symbol ETHA.

 

Valuation of Ether; The CF Benchmark Index

 

On each day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which NASDAQ is closed for regular trading (a “Business Day”), as soon as practicable after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”), the Trust evaluates the ether held by the Trust as reflected by the CME CF Ether–Dollar Reference Rate – New York Variant for the ether – U.S. Dollar trading pair (the “CF Benchmarks Index”) and determines the net asset value of the Trust and the net asset value per Share (“NAV”).

 

CF Benchmarks Index is calculated as of 4:00 p.m. ET. The CF Benchmarks Index is designed based on the IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks and is a Registered Benchmark under UK Benchmark Regulations (“BMR”). The administrator of the CF Benchmarks Index is CF Benchmarks Ltd. (the “Index Administrator”) a UK incorporated company, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) of the UK as a Benchmark Administrator, under UK BMR.

 

Liquidity

 

The Trust is not aware of any trends, demands, conditions or events that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to its liquidity needs. In exchange for a fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume most of the expenses incurred by the Trust. As a result, the only ordinary expense of the Trust during the period covered by this report was the Sponsor’s fee. The Trust’s only source of liquidity is its sales of ether.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements relies on estimates and assumptions that impact the Trust’s financial position and results of operations. These estimates and assumptions affect the Trust’s application of accounting policies. A description of the valuation of ether, a critical accounting policy that the Trust believes is important to understanding its results of operations and financial position, is provided in the section entitled “Valuation of Ether; The CF Benchmark Index,” above. In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the financial statements included in this report for further discussion of the Trust’s accounting policies.

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The Quarter Ended September 30, 2024

 

The Trust’s net asset value increased from $10,589,875 at June 30, 2024 to $1,019,342,543 at September 30, 2024. The increase in the Trust’s net asset value resulted primarily from an increase in the number of outstanding Shares, which rose from 400,000 Shares at June 30, 2024 to 51,200,000 Shares at September 30, 2024, a consequence of 50,800,000 Shares (1,270 Baskets) being created. The increase in the Trust’s net asset value was partially offset by a decrease in the price of ether, which fell 24.78% from $3,494.31 at June 30, 2024 to $2,628.44 at September 30, 2024.  

 

The 24.78% decrease in the NAV for purposes of the Trust’s periodic financial statements (the “Financial Statement NAV”) from $26.47 at June 30, 2024 to $19.91 at September 30, 2024 is directly related to the 24.78% decrease in the price of ether.

 

The NAV of $26.70 on July 19, 2024 was the highest during the quarter, compared with a low during the quarter of $16.85 on September 6, 2024.

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $138,702,639, resulting from an unrealized loss on investment in ether of $138,509,122, a net investment loss of $171,857, and a net realized loss of $21,660 from ether sold to pay expenses. Other than the net Sponsor’s fee of $171,857, the Trust had no expenses during the quarter.

 

The Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

On May 21, 2024, the Seed Capital Investor, an affiliate of the Sponsor, subject to conditions, purchased the Seed Creation Baskets, comprising 400,000 Shares at a per-Share price equal to $25.00. Total proceeds to the Trust from the sale of the Seed Creation Baskets were $10,000,000. On June 24, 2024, the Trust purchased approximately 3,031 ether with the proceeds of the Seed Creation Baskets using the Prime Execution Agent. With the above transaction on June 24, 2024, the Trust commenced operations and the Sponsor’s fee started accruing daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.25% of the net asset value of the Trust.

 

The 20.36% decrease in the NAV for purposes of the Financial Statement NAV from $25.00 at May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to $19.91 at September 30, 2024 is directly related to the 20.34% decrease in the price of ether. The Financial Statement NAV decreased slightly more than the price of ether on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s fee, which was $172,277 for the period, or 0.04% of the Trust’s average weighted assets of $405,270,976 during the period.

 

The NAV of $26.70 on July 19, 2024 was the highest during the period, compared with a low during the period of $16.85 on September 6, 2024.

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations for the period from May 21, 2024 to September 30, 2024 was $138,112,764, resulting from an unrealized loss on investment in ether of $137,918,827, a net realized loss of $21,660 from ether sold to pay expenses, and a net investment loss of $172,277. Other than the net Sponsor’s fee of $172,277, the Trust had no expenses during the quarter.

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

The duly authorized officers of the Sponsor performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had any officers, with the participation of the Trustee, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, and have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Trust files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to the duly authorized officers of the Sponsor performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had any officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures.

 

There were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

None.

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors last reported under Risk Factors of the registrant’s Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S‑1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17, 2024 and declared effective on July 22, 2024.

 

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

a) None.

 

b) Not applicable.

 

c) None.

 

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1

   

Certificate of Trust of iShares Ethereum Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S‑1 (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on November 16, 2023

       

3.2

   

Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of iShares Ethereum Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S‑1/A (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on May 29, 2024

       
3.3     Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of iShares Ethereum Trust incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S‑1/A (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on June 21, 2024
       

4.1

   

Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on July 8, 2024

       

4.2

   

Form of Authorized Participant Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on May 29, 2024

       

10.1

   

Third Amended and Restated Coinbase Prime Broker Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S‑1/A (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on May 29, 2024

       

10.2

   

Coinbase Custody Custodial Services Agreement (included as Exhibit A in Exhibit 10.1) incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on May 29, 2024)

       

10.3

   

Services Agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon, as cash custodian and trust administrator incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-275583) filed by the Registrant on May 29, 2024

       

10.4

   

ETF Services Agreement with BRIL incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333‑275583) filed by the Registrant on May 29, 2024

       
10.5     Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Coinbase Prime Broker Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form of 8-K (File No. 001-42166 filed by the Registrant on September 19, 2024
       

31.1*

   

Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

       

31.2*

   

Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

       

32.1*

   

Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002

       

32.2*

   

Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002

 

101.INS*

 

Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

     

101.SCH*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

     

101.CAL*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

     

101.DEF*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

     

101.LAB*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

     

101.PRE*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

     

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File included as Exhibit 101 (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 


*    Filed herewith

  

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned in the capacities* indicated thereunto duly authorized.

 

iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC,
Sponsor of the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (registrant)

 

 

/s/ Shannon Ghia

Shannon Ghia
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal executive officer)

 

Date: November 7, 2024

 

 

/s/ Bryan Bowers

Bryan Bowers
Director and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal financial and accounting officer)

 

Date: November 7, 2024

   


*    The registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their respective capacities as officers of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

  

16

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Shannon Ghia, certify that:

 

 

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of iShares Ethereum Trust ETF;

 

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

 

a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 7, 2024

 

/s/ Shannon Ghia

Shannon Ghia*
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal executive officer)

 


*    The registrant is a trust and Ms. Ghia is signing in her capacity as an officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Bryan Bowers, certify that:

 

 

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of iShares Ethereum Trust ETF;

 

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

 

a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 7, 2024

 

/s/ Bryan Bowers

Bryan Bowers*
Director and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal financial and accounting officer)

 


*    The registrant is a trust and Mr. Bowers is signing in his capacity as an officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (the “Trust”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Shannon Ghia, Chief Executive Officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the Trust, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

 

1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

 

2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Trust.

 

It is not intended that this statement be deemed to be filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Date: November 7, 2024

 

/s/ Shannon Ghia

Shannon Ghia*
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal executive officer)

 


*    The registrant is a trust and Ms. Ghia is signing in her capacity as an officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (the “Trust”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Bryan Bowers, Chief Financial Officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the Trust, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

 

1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

 

2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Trust.

 

It is not intended that this statement be deemed to be filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Date: November 7, 2024

 

/s/ Bryan Bowers

Bryan Bowers*
Director and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal financial and accounting officer)

 


*    The registrant is a trust and Mr. Bowers is signing in his capacity as an officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

 

 
v3.24.3
Document And Entity Information - shares
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2024
Document Information [Line Items]    
Entity Central Index Key 0002000638  
Entity Registrant Name iShares Ethereum Trust ETF  
Amendment Flag false  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q3  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2024  
Document Type 10-Q  
Document Quarterly Report true  
Document Period End Date Sep. 30, 2024  
Document Transition Report false  
Entity File Number 001-42166  
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE  
Entity Tax Identification Number 99-6353885  
Entity Address, Address Line One 400 Howard Street  
Entity Address, City or Town San Francisco  
Entity Address, State or Province CA  
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 94105  
City Area Code 415  
Local Phone Number 670-2000  
Title of 12(b) Security Shares  
Trading Symbol ETHA  
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ  
Entity Current Reporting Status No  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Filer Category Non-accelerated Filer  
Entity Small Business true  
Entity Emerging Growth Company true  
Entity Ex Transition Period true  
Entity Shell Company false  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   61,560,000
v3.24.3
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Assets  
Investment in ether, at fair value $ 1,019,423,341 [1]
Cash 3,260
Total Assets 1,019,426,601
Liabilities  
Sponsor’s fees payable 84,058
Total Liabilities 84,058
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 6)
Net Assets $ 1,019,342,543
Shares issued and outstanding (in shares) | shares 51,200,000 [2]
Net asset value per Share (Note 2C) (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 19.91
[1] Cost of investment in ether: $1,157,342,168.
[2] No par value, unlimited amount authorized.
v3.24.3
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited) (Parentheticals)
$ / shares in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Investment in ether, at cost | $ $ 1,157,342,168
Shares, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0
Shares, issued (in shares) | shares 51,200,000
v3.24.3
Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Expenses    
Sponsor’s fees $ 358,491 $ 358,911
Sponsor’s fees waiver (186,634) (186,634)
Total expenses 171,857 172,277
Net investment loss (171,857) (172,277)
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)    
Ether sold to pay expenses (21,660) (21,660)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation (138,509,122) (137,918,827)
Net realized and unrealized loss (138,530,782) (137,940,487)
Net (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ (138,702,639) $ (138,112,764)
Net (decrease) in net assets per Share (in dollars per share) [1] $ (4.67) $ (6.69)
[1] Net decrease in net assets per Share based on average shares outstanding during the period.
v3.24.3
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited) - USD ($)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Net Assets at May 21, 2024 $ 0 $ 10,589,875 $ 0
Operations:      
Net investment loss (420) (171,857) (172,277)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation 590,295 (138,509,122) (137,918,827)
Net (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 589,875 (138,702,639) (138,112,764)
Ether sold to pay expenses   (21,660) (21,660)
Capital Share Transactions:      
Contributions for Shares issued 10,000,000 1,147,455,307  
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions 10,000,000 1,147,455,307  
Increase in net assets 10,589,875 1,008,752,668  
Net Assets, End of Period $ 10,589,875 $ 1,019,342,543 $ 1,019,342,543
Shares issued and redeemed      
Shares issued (in shares)     51,200,000
Shares redeemed (in shares)     0
Net increase in Shares issued and outstanding (in shares)     51,200,000
v3.24.3
Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Cash Flows from Operating Activities      
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations $ 589,875 $ (138,702,639) $ (138,112,764)
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:      
Purchases of ether     (1,157,427,156)
Proceeds from ether sold to pay expenses     63,328
Net realized (gain) loss   21,660 21,660
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation (590,295) 138,509,122 137,918,827
Change in operating assets and liabilities:      
Sponsor’s fees payable     84,058
Net cash used in operating activities     (1,157,452,047)
Cash Provided by Financing Activities      
Proceeds from issuance of Shares     1,157,455,307
Net cash provided by financing activities     1,157,455,307
Cash      
Net increase in cash     3,260
Cash, beginning of period $ 0   0
Cash, end of period   $ 3,260 $ 3,260
v3.24.3
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Schedule of Investments [Text Block]

 

iShares® Ethereum Trust ETF

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

At September 30, 2024

 

September 30, 2024

 

Description

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

 

Ether

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341 
             

Total Investments — 100.01%

          1,019,423,341 

Other Assets less Liabilities — (0.01)%

          (80,798)

Net Assets — 100.00%

         $1,019,342,543 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

v3.24.3
Note 1 - Organization
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

1 - Organization

 

The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (the “Trust”) was organized on November 9, 2023 as a Delaware statutory trust. The trustee is BlackRock Fund Advisors (the “Trustee”), which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust. The Trust’s sponsor is iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the “Trust Administrator.” The Trust is governed by the provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) executed by the Sponsor, the Trustee and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national association (“Delaware Trustee”), as of July 3, 2024. The Trust issues units of beneficial interest (“Shares”) representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. On August 8, 2024, the Trust’s name was changed from iShares Ethereum Trust to iShares Ethereum Trust ETF.

 

On May 21, 2024, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (the “Seed Capital Investor”) purchased 400,000 Shares for $10,000,000 at a per‑Share price of $25.00 (the “Seed Creation Baskets”). The Seed Capital Investor did not receive from the Trust, the Sponsor or any of their affiliates any fee or other compensation in connection with the purchase of Seed Creation Baskets. On June 24, 2024, the Trust purchased approximately 3,031 ether with the proceeds of the Seed Creation Baskets using Coinbase Inc. (the “Prime Execution Agent”). The costs incurred in connection with the purchase of ether with the proceeds of the Seed Creation Baskets were borne by the Trust. The Sponsor’s fee started accruing daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.25% of the net asset value of the Trust on June 24, 2024.

 

The Trust’s registration statement on Form S-1 relating to its continuous public offering of Shares was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 22, 2024 (Effective Date) and the Shares were listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) on July 23, 2024.

 

The Trust seeks to reflect generally the performance of the price of ether. The Trust seeks to reflect such performance before payment of the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Shares are intended to constitute a simple means of making an investment similar to an investment in ether.

 

The accompanying unaudited financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the interim period financial statements, have been made. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full-year period.

 

The Trust qualifies as an investment company solely for accounting purposes and not for any other purpose and follows the accounting and reporting guidance under the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies, but is not registered, and is not required to be registered, as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

v3.24.3
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2 - Significant Accounting Policies

 

A.

Basis of Accounting

 

The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

B.

Ether

 

Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC (the “Ether Custodian”) is responsible for safekeeping the ether owned by the Trust. The Ether Custodian is appointed by the Trustee.

 

The net asset value of the Trust equals the total assets of the Trust, which consists solely of ether and cash, less total liabilities of the Trust, each determined by the Trustee pursuant to policies established from time to time by the Trustee or its affiliates or otherwise described herein. The Trust’s periodic financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC Topic 820”) and utilize an exchange-traded price from the Trust’s principal market for ether as of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on the Trust’s financial statement measurement date. The Sponsor determines in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust’s financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Trust engages a third-party vendor to obtain a price from a principal market for ether, which is determined and designated by such third-party vendor daily based on its consideration of several exchange characteristics, including oversight, and the volume and frequency of trades. 

 

The Sponsor has the exclusive authority to determine the Trust’s net asset value, which it has delegated to the Trustee under the Trust Agreement. The Trustee has delegated to the Trust Administrator the responsibility to calculate the net asset value of the Trust and the net asset value per Share (“NAV”), based on a pricing source selected by the Trustee. In determining the Trust’s net asset value, the Trust Administrator values the ether held by the Trust based on an index (the “Index”), unless the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines that the Index is unreliable. The methodology used to calculate the Index price to value ether in determining the net asset value of the Trust may not be deemed consistent with U.S. GAAP. The CME CF Ether–Dollar Reference Rate – New York Variant for the ether – U.S. Dollar trading pair (the “CF Benchmarks Index”) shall constitute the Index, unless the CF Benchmarks Index is not available or the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines the CF Benchmarks Index is unreliable as the Index and therefore determines not to use the CF Benchmarks Index as the Index. If the CF Benchmarks Index is not available or the Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the CF Benchmarks Index is unreliable (together a “Fair Value Event”), the Trust’s holdings may be fair valued on a temporary basis in accordance with the fair value policies approved by the Trustee.

 

Additionally, the Trust Administrator monitors for unusual prices and escalates to the Trustee if detected. If the CF Benchmarks Index is not used, the Trust will notify Shareholders in a prospectus supplement, in its periodic Exchange Act reports and/or on the Trust’s website. The Trust Administrator calculates the net asset value of the Trust and the NAV once on each day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which NASDAQ is closed for regular trading (a “Business Day”). The NAV for a normal trading day will be released after 4:00 p.m. ET. Trading during the core trading session on NASDAQ typically closes at 4:00 p.m. ET. However, NAVs are not officially released until after the completion of a comprehensive review of the NAV and prices utilized to determine the NAV of the Trust by the Trust Administrator. Upon the completion of the end of day reviews by the Trust Administrator the NAV is released to the public typically by 5:30 p.m. ET and generally no later than 8:00 p.m. ET. The period between 4:00 p.m. ET and the NAV release after 5:30 p.m. ET (or later) provides an opportunity for the Trust Administrator and the Trustee to detect, flag, investigate, and correct unusual pricing should it occur and implement a Fair Value Event, if necessary. Any such correction could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

 

The Trust’s periodic financial statements may not utilize net asset value of the Trust to the extent the methodology used to calculate the Index is deemed not to be consistent with U.S. GAAP.

 

Gain or loss on sales of ether is calculated on a trade date basis using the average cost method.

 

The following table summarizes activity in ether for the three months ended September 30, 2024:

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

  3,031  $10,000,000  $10,590,295  $ 

Ether purchased

  384,840   1,147,427,156   1,147,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (138,509,122)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)

  

The following table summarizes activity in ether for the period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024:

 

Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of

Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

    $  $  $ 

Ether purchased

  387,871   1,157,427,156   1,157,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (137,918,827)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)

  

C.

Calculation of Net Asset Value

 

On each Business Day, as soon as practicable after 4:00 p.m. ET, the net asset value of the Trust is obtained by subtracting all accrued fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the total assets held by the Trust. The Trust Administrator computes the NAV by dividing the net asset value of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding on the date the computation is made.

 

D.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  

Cash includes non-interest bearing, non-restricted cash maintained with one banking institution that does not exceed U.S. federally insured limits. 

 

E.

Offering of the Shares

 

Shares are issued and redeemed continuously in aggregations of 40,000 Shares (a “Basket”) or integral multiples thereof, based on the quantity of ether attributable to each Share (net of accrued but unpaid Sponsor’s fee and any accrued but unpaid expenses or liabilities). Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. Only registered broker-dealers that are eligible to settle securities transactions through the book entry facilities of the Depository Trust Company and that have entered into a contractual arrangement with the Sponsor governing, among other matters, the creation and redemption of Shares (such broker-dealers, the “Authorized Participants”), can place orders to receive Baskets in exchange for cash. Baskets may be redeemed by the Trust in exchange for the cash proceeds from selling the amount of ether corresponding to their redemption value.

 

The Trust engages in ether transactions for converting cash into ether (in association with purchase orders) and ether into cash (in association with redemption orders) by choosing, in its sole discretion, to trade directly with third parties (each, a “Ether Trading Counterparty”), who are not registered broker-dealers pursuant to written agreements between such Ether Trading Counterparties and the Trust, or choosing to trade through Coinbase, Inc. (the “Prime Execution Agent”) acting in an agency capacity with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service pursuant to the Prime Execution Agent Agreement.

 

F.

Federal Income Taxes

 

The Trust is treated as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required. Any interest, expenses, gains and losses are passed through to the holders of Shares of the Trust. The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust as of September 30, 2024 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

v3.24.3
Note 3 - Trust Expenses
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Trust Expenses [Text Block]

3 - Trust Expenses

 

The Sponsor’s fee is accrued daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.25% of the net asset value of the Trust and is payable at least quarterly in arrears in U.S. dollars or in-kind or any combination thereof. For the period ended September 30, 2024, the Sponsor’s fee was $358,911.

 

The Sponsor may, at its sole discretion and from time to time, waive all or a portion of the Sponsor’s fee for stated periods of time. The Sponsor is under no obligation to waive any portion of its fees and any such waiver shall create no obligation to waive any such fees during any period not covered by the waiver. For a twelve-month period, starting July 23, 2024, the Sponsor will waive a portion of the Sponsor’s fee so that the Sponsor’s fee after the fee waiver will be equal to 0.12% of the net asset value of the Trust for the first $2.5 billion of the Trust’s assets. In the future, if the Sponsor decides to waive all or a portion of the Sponsor’s fee, Shareholders will be notified in a prospectus supplement, in its periodic Exchange Act reports and/or on the Trust’s website. For the period ended September 30, 2024, the amount waived was $186,634.

 

The Sponsor has agreed to assume the marketing and the following administrative expenses of the Trust: the fees of the Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Trust Administrator, the Ether Custodian, and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Cash Custodian”), NASDAQ listing fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, tax reporting fees, audit fees, license fees and expenses and up to $500,000 per annum in ordinary legal fees and expenses. The Sponsor may determine in its sole discretion to assume legal fees and expenses of the Trust in excess of the $500,000 per annum required under the Trust Agreement. To the extent that the Sponsor does not voluntarily assume such fees and expenses, they will be the responsibility of the Trust. The Sponsor will also pay the costs of the Trust’s organization and the initial sale of the Shares, including applicable SEC registration fees. The Trust is not obligated to repay any such costs related to the Trust’s organization and offering paid by the Sponsor.

v3.24.3
Note 4 - Related Parties
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

4 - Related Parties

 

The Sponsor and the Trustee are considered to be related parties to the Trust. The Trustee’s fee is paid by the Sponsor and is not a separate expense of the Trust.

 

As of September 30, 2024, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., an affiliate of the Sponsor, owned 400,000 Shares of the Trust, or 0.78%, of the Trust.

 

v3.24.3
Note 5 - Indemnification
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Indemnification [Text Block]

5 - Indemnification

 

The Trust Agreement provides that the Sponsor shall indemnify the Trustee, its directors, employees, delegees and agents against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liability, claim, cost, expense or judgment of any kind whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that is incurred by any of them and that arises out of or is related to (1) any offer or sale by the Trust of Baskets, (2) acts performed or omitted pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement, (A) by the Trustee, its directors, employees, delegees and agents or (B) by the Sponsor or (3) any filings with or submissions to the SEC in connection with or with respect to the Shares, except that the Sponsor shall not have any obligations to pay any indemnification amounts incurred as a result of and attributable to (x) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of, or material breach of the terms of the Trust Agreement by, the Trustee, (y) information furnished in writing by the Trustee to the Sponsor expressly for use in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto, filed with the SEC relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor or (z) any misrepresentations or omissions made by an authorized participant (other than the Sponsor) in connection with such authorized participant’s offer and sale of Shares.

 

The Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee shall indemnify the Sponsor, its directors, employees, delegees and agents against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liability, claim, cost, expense or judgment of any kind whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) (1) caused by the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of the Trustee or (2) arising out of any information furnished in writing to the Sponsor by the Trustee expressly for use in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto or periodic report, filed with the SEC relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor.

 

The Trust Agreement provides that the Sponsor and its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, affiliates (as such term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and subsidiaries and agents shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability, claim, cost, expense or judgment of any kind whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with the performance of their obligations under the Trust Agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement and incurred without their (1) willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith or (2) reckless disregard of their obligations and duties under the Trust Agreement.

 

The Trust has agreed that the Cash Custodian will only be responsible for any loss or damage suffered by the Trust as a direct result of the Cash Custodian’s negligence, fraud or willful default in the performance of its duties.

 

The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Trust, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

v3.24.3
Note 6 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

6 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

 

In the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

v3.24.3
Note 7 - Concentration Risk
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block]

7 - Concentration Risk

 

Substantially all of the Trust’s assets are holdings of ether, which creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the price of ether. Accordingly, a decline in the price of ether will have an adverse effect on the value of the Shares of the Trust. Factors that may have the effect of causing a decline in the price of ether include a negative perception of digital assets; a lack of stability and standardized regulation in the digital asset markets; the closure or temporary shutdown of digital asset platforms due to fraud, business failure, security breaches or government mandated regulation; and a loss of investor confidence.

 

v3.24.3
Note 8 - Financial Highlights
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Financial Highlights [Text Block]

8 - Financial Highlights

 

The following financial highlights relate to investment performance and operations for a Share outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024.

 

  

Three Months

Ended
September 30,

  

Period from

May 21, 2024 (Date

of Seeding) to
September 30,

 
  

2024

  

2024

 

Net asset value per Share, beginning of period

 $26.47  $25.00 
         

Net investment loss(a)

  (0.01)  (0.01)

Net realized and unrealized loss(b)

  (6.55)  (5.08)

Net decrease in net assets from operations

  (6.56)  (5.09)

Net asset value per Share, end of period

 $19.91  $19.91 
         

Total return, at net asset value(c)(d)

  (24.78)% 

(20.20

)%(e)(f)
         

Ratio to average net assets:

        

Net investment loss(g)

  (0.12)%  (0.12)%

Total Expenses(g)

  0.24%  0.24%
Total expenses after fees waived(g)  0.12   0.12%

 


(a)

Based on average Shares outstanding during the period.

(b)

The amounts reported for a Share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses on investment for the period due to the timing of Share transactions in relation to the fluctuating fair values of the Trust’s underlying investment.

(c)

Based on the change in net asset value of a Share during the period.

(d)

Percentage is not annualized.

(e)

For the period June 24, 2024 (Effective Date) to September 30, 2024.

(f)

For the period May 21, 2024 to September 30, 2024, the Trust’s total return was (20.36)%.

(g)

Percentage is annualized.

   

v3.24.3
Note 9 - Investment Valuation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

9 - Investment Valuation

 

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price the Trust would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Trust’s policy is to value its investment at fair value.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of assets and liabilities. Inputs may be based on independent market data (“observable inputs”) or they may be internally developed (“unobservable inputs”). These inputs are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes. The level of a value determined for an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

 

Level 1  − 

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

 

Level 2  − 

Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means; and

 

 

Level 3  − 

Unobservable inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability, including the Trust’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments.

 

At September 30, 2024, the value of the ether held by the Trust is categorized as Level 1.

 

v3.24.3
Insider Trading Arrangements
4 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Insider Trading Arr Line Items  
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated [Flag] false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted [Flag] false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated [Flag] false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted [Flag] false
v3.24.3
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

A.

Basis of Accounting

 

The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

B.

Ether

 

Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC (the “Ether Custodian”) is responsible for safekeeping the ether owned by the Trust. The Ether Custodian is appointed by the Trustee.

 

The net asset value of the Trust equals the total assets of the Trust, which consists solely of ether and cash, less total liabilities of the Trust, each determined by the Trustee pursuant to policies established from time to time by the Trustee or its affiliates or otherwise described herein. The Trust’s periodic financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC Topic 820”) and utilize an exchange-traded price from the Trust’s principal market for ether as of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on the Trust’s financial statement measurement date. The Sponsor determines in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust’s financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Trust engages a third-party vendor to obtain a price from a principal market for ether, which is determined and designated by such third-party vendor daily based on its consideration of several exchange characteristics, including oversight, and the volume and frequency of trades. 

 

The Sponsor has the exclusive authority to determine the Trust’s net asset value, which it has delegated to the Trustee under the Trust Agreement. The Trustee has delegated to the Trust Administrator the responsibility to calculate the net asset value of the Trust and the net asset value per Share (“NAV”), based on a pricing source selected by the Trustee. In determining the Trust’s net asset value, the Trust Administrator values the ether held by the Trust based on an index (the “Index”), unless the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines that the Index is unreliable. The methodology used to calculate the Index price to value ether in determining the net asset value of the Trust may not be deemed consistent with U.S. GAAP. The CME CF Ether–Dollar Reference Rate – New York Variant for the ether – U.S. Dollar trading pair (the “CF Benchmarks Index”) shall constitute the Index, unless the CF Benchmarks Index is not available or the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines the CF Benchmarks Index is unreliable as the Index and therefore determines not to use the CF Benchmarks Index as the Index. If the CF Benchmarks Index is not available or the Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the CF Benchmarks Index is unreliable (together a “Fair Value Event”), the Trust’s holdings may be fair valued on a temporary basis in accordance with the fair value policies approved by the Trustee.

 

Additionally, the Trust Administrator monitors for unusual prices and escalates to the Trustee if detected. If the CF Benchmarks Index is not used, the Trust will notify Shareholders in a prospectus supplement, in its periodic Exchange Act reports and/or on the Trust’s website. The Trust Administrator calculates the net asset value of the Trust and the NAV once on each day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which NASDAQ is closed for regular trading (a “Business Day”). The NAV for a normal trading day will be released after 4:00 p.m. ET. Trading during the core trading session on NASDAQ typically closes at 4:00 p.m. ET. However, NAVs are not officially released until after the completion of a comprehensive review of the NAV and prices utilized to determine the NAV of the Trust by the Trust Administrator. Upon the completion of the end of day reviews by the Trust Administrator the NAV is released to the public typically by 5:30 p.m. ET and generally no later than 8:00 p.m. ET. The period between 4:00 p.m. ET and the NAV release after 5:30 p.m. ET (or later) provides an opportunity for the Trust Administrator and the Trustee to detect, flag, investigate, and correct unusual pricing should it occur and implement a Fair Value Event, if necessary. Any such correction could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

 

The Trust’s periodic financial statements may not utilize net asset value of the Trust to the extent the methodology used to calculate the Index is deemed not to be consistent with U.S. GAAP.

 

Gain or loss on sales of ether is calculated on a trade date basis using the average cost method.

 

The following table summarizes activity in ether for the three months ended September 30, 2024:

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

  3,031  $10,000,000  $10,590,295  $ 

Ether purchased

  384,840   1,147,427,156   1,147,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (138,509,122)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)

  

The following table summarizes activity in ether for the period from May 21, 2024 (Date of Seeding) to September 30, 2024:

 

Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of

Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

    $  $  $ 

Ether purchased

  387,871   1,157,427,156   1,157,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (137,918,827)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)

  

Calculation of Net Asset Value [Policy Text Block]

C.

Calculation of Net Asset Value

 

On each Business Day, as soon as practicable after 4:00 p.m. ET, the net asset value of the Trust is obtained by subtracting all accrued fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the total assets held by the Trust. The Trust Administrator computes the NAV by dividing the net asset value of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding on the date the computation is made.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

D.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  

Cash includes non-interest bearing, non-restricted cash maintained with one banking institution that does not exceed U.S. federally insured limits. 

 

Offering of the Shares [Policy Text Block]

E.

Offering of the Shares

 

Shares are issued and redeemed continuously in aggregations of 40,000 Shares (a “Basket”) or integral multiples thereof, based on the quantity of ether attributable to each Share (net of accrued but unpaid Sponsor’s fee and any accrued but unpaid expenses or liabilities). Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. Only registered broker-dealers that are eligible to settle securities transactions through the book entry facilities of the Depository Trust Company and that have entered into a contractual arrangement with the Sponsor governing, among other matters, the creation and redemption of Shares (such broker-dealers, the “Authorized Participants”), can place orders to receive Baskets in exchange for cash. Baskets may be redeemed by the Trust in exchange for the cash proceeds from selling the amount of ether corresponding to their redemption value.

 

The Trust engages in ether transactions for converting cash into ether (in association with purchase orders) and ether into cash (in association with redemption orders) by choosing, in its sole discretion, to trade directly with third parties (each, a “Ether Trading Counterparty”), who are not registered broker-dealers pursuant to written agreements between such Ether Trading Counterparties and the Trust, or choosing to trade through Coinbase, Inc. (the “Prime Execution Agent”) acting in an agency capacity with third parties through its Coinbase Prime service pursuant to the Prime Execution Agent Agreement.

 

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

F.

Federal Income Taxes

 

The Trust is treated as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required. Any interest, expenses, gains and losses are passed through to the holders of Shares of the Trust. The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust as of September 30, 2024 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

v3.24.3
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes Tables  
Investment [Table Text Block]

Description

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

 

Ether

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341 
             

Total Investments — 100.01%

          1,019,423,341 

Other Assets less Liabilities — (0.01)%

          (80,798)

Net Assets — 100.00%

         $1,019,342,543 
v3.24.3
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes Tables  
Activity in Ether [Table Text Block]

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

  3,031  $10,000,000  $10,590,295  $ 

Ether purchased

  384,840   1,147,427,156   1,147,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (138,509,122)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)

Period from May 21, 2024 (Date of

Seeding) to September 30, 2024

 

Quantity

  

Cost

  

Fair Value

  

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Beginning balance

    $  $  $ 

Ether purchased

  387,871   1,157,427,156   1,157,427,156    

Ether sold to pay expenses

  (28)  (84,988)  (63,328)  (21,660)

Net realized loss

        (21,660)   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation

        (137,918,827)   

Ending balance

  387,843  $1,157,342,168  $1,019,423,341  $(21,660)
v3.24.3
Note 8 - Financial Highlights (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes Tables  
Financial Highlights [Table Text Block]
  

Three Months

Ended
September 30,

  

Period from

May 21, 2024 (Date

of Seeding) to
September 30,

 
  

2024

  

2024

 

Net asset value per Share, beginning of period

 $26.47  $25.00 
         

Net investment loss(a)

  (0.01)  (0.01)

Net realized and unrealized loss(b)

  (6.55)  (5.08)

Net decrease in net assets from operations

  (6.56)  (5.09)

Net asset value per Share, end of period

 $19.91  $19.91 
         

Total return, at net asset value(c)(d)

  (24.78)% 

(20.20

)%(e)(f)
         

Ratio to average net assets:

        

Net investment loss(g)

  (0.12)%  (0.12)%

Total Expenses(g)

  0.24%  0.24%
Total expenses after fees waived(g)  0.12   0.12%
v3.24.3
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) - Investments (Details)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2024
USD ($)
May 21, 2024
USD ($)
Ether 387,843 3,031 0
Investment in ether, at cost $ 1,157,342,168 $ 10,000,000 $ 0
Ether fair value 1,019,423,341    
Other Assets less Liabilities (80,798)    
Net Assets $ 1,019,342,543 $ 10,589,875 $ 0
v3.24.3
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) - Investments (Details) (Parentheticals)
Sep. 30, 2024
Total investment, percentage of net asset value 100.01%
Other Assets less liabilities, percentage of net asset value (0.01%)
Net assets, percentage of net asset value 100.00%
v3.24.3
Note 1 - Organization (Details Textual)
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended
Jun. 24, 2024
May 21, 2024
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
shares
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)       51,200,000
Ether Purchased 3,031   384,840 387,871
Sponsors Fee Annualized Accrual Rate Based on Daily Net Asset Value 0.25%     0.25%
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. [Member]        
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)   400,000    
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues | $   $ 10,000,000    
Shares Issued, Price Per Share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 25    
v3.24.3
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual)
Sep. 30, 2024
shares
Shares Prescribed Aggregation (in shares) 40,000
v3.24.3
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies - Activity in Ether (Details)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended
Jun. 24, 2024
Jun. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Beginning balance   0 3,031 0
Beginning balance, average cost   $ 0 $ 10,000,000 $ 0
Beginning balance, fair value   0 $ 10,590,295 $ 0
Ether purchased 3,031   384,840 387,871
Ether purchased, average cost     $ 1,147,427,156 $ 1,157,427,156
Ether purchased, fair value     $ 1,147,427,156 $ 1,157,427,156
Ether sold to pay expenses     (28) (28)
Ether sold to pay expenses, average cost     $ (84,988) $ (84,988)
Ether sold to pay expenses, fair value     (63,328) (63,328)
Ether sold to pay expenses, realized gain (loss)     (21,660) (21,660)
Net realized loss, fair value     (21,660) (21,660)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation, fair value   $ 590,295 $ (138,509,122) $ (137,918,827)
Ending balance   3,031 387,843 387,843
Ending balance, average cost   $ 10,000,000 $ 1,157,342,168 $ 1,157,342,168
Ending balance, fair value   $ 10,590,295 1,019,423,341 [1] 1,019,423,341 [1]
Ending balance, realized gain (loss)     $ (21,660) $ (21,660)
[1] Cost of investment in ether: $1,157,342,168.
v3.24.3
Note 3 - Trust Expenses (Details Textual) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 24, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Jul. 23, 2025
Sponsors Fee Annualized Accrual Rate Based on Daily Net Asset Value 0.25%   0.25%  
Sponsor's Fees   $ 358,491 $ 358,911  
Sponsor Fees Waived   $ 186,634 186,634  
Maximum [Member]        
Legal Fees Per Year     $ 500,000  
Forecast [Member]        
Sponsors Fee After Fee Waiver, Percentage       0.12%
Maximum Amount of Trust Assets for Sponsor's Fee After Fee Waiver       $ 2,500,000,000
v3.24.3
Note 4 - Related Parties (Details Textual) - BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. [Member]
Sep. 30, 2024
shares
Shares, Issued (in shares) 400,000
Ownership Percentage 0.78%
v3.24.3
Note 8 - Financial Highlights (Details Textual)
4 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Investment Company, Total Return (20.36%)
v3.24.3
Note 8 - Financial Highlights - Financial Highlights (Details) - $ / shares
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Net asset value per Share, beginning of period (in dollars per share) $ 26.47 $ 25
Net investment loss (in dollars per share) [1] (0.01) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized loss (in dollars per share) [2] (6.55) (5.08)
Net decrease in net assets from operations (in dollars per share) (6.56) (5.09)
Net asset value per Share, end of period (in dollars per share) $ 19.91 $ 19.91
Total return, at net asset value [3],[4] (24.78%) (20.20%) [5],[6]
Ratio to average net assets:    
Net investment loss [7] (0.12%) (0.12%)
Total Expenses [7] 0.24% 0.24%
Total expenses after fees waived [7] 0.12% 0.12%
[1] Based on average Shares outstanding during the period.
[2] The amounts reported for a Share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses on investment for the period due to the timing of Share transactions in relation to the fluctuating fair values of the Trust’s underlying investment.
[3] Based on the change in net asset value of a Share during the period.
[4] Percentage is not annualized.
[5] For the period June 24, 2024 (Effective Date) to September 30, 2024.
[6] For the period May 21, 2024 to September 30, 2024, the Trust’s total return was (20.36)%.
[7] Percentage is annualized.

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