StashAway brings simplified, secure crypto investing in Malaysia with ETFs

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 January 2025 – StashAway, Malaysia’s largest digital investment platform, today announced the addition of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs to its platform, enabling Malaysians to invest in the two largest cryptocurrencies through a regulated and trusted platform.  

This launch comes at a pivotal moment in the crypto market, marked by growing institutional adoption as the price of BTC crosses the USD $100,000 milestone. With the newly inaugurated US Presidential administration signalling support for crypto-friendly regulations, investors have shown renewed interest in this new and growing asset class. 

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

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

Multiple studies have suggested that a small allocation to Bitcoin in a diversified portfolio can enhance long-term returns without necessarily heightening volatility. Over the long term, a 5% allocation to Bitcoin in a traditional 60/40 portfolio can uplift returns while improving the risk-to-reward ratio.

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

Consistent with StashAway’s fee structure, Flexible Portfolios has a transparent, straightforward management fee of 0.2% to 0.8% p.a., with no lock-ins or minimum investment required. In addition, Flexible Portfolios with only a single ETF have a flat management fee of 0.3% p.a. The crypto ETFs available on Flexible Portfolios, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) and Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH), have an expense ratio of 0.25% p.a.

Launched in 2017, StashAway expanded to Malaysia in 2018 and was the first digital investment platform to be awarded a Capital Markets Services License by the Securities Commission of Malaysia. Today, the company manages over RM 1 billion in assets under management for over 50,000 clients in Malaysia. 

For more information on StashAway’s BTC offering, please visit www.stashaway.my/bitcoin-etf 

* Past performance is not indicative of future performance. From 2016 to 20 Jan 2025.