BITKRAFT Esports Ventures has expanded its partnership with Roundhill Investments, a registered investment advisor and ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) sponsor.
Together, the two will launch the Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF (labelled ‘NERD ETF’).
BITKRAFT and Roundhill aim for the ETF to enable veteran investors, budding interest groups, and new individuals seeking to invest in the esports industry to engage with a more diversified range of entities, rather than just investing in one company. The ETF itself will consist of companies listed through the Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports Index (‘NERD Index’).
Jens Hilgers, Founding Partner of BITKRAFT Esports Ventures, commented: “Together with the Roundhill team we are taking an important step forward in making esports more easily accessible on the public financial markets.
“The Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF enables institutional investors as well as individuals to participate in the long-term growth of esports and the underlying entertainment trends. Essentially, this ETF enables esports fans to invest in the field they love and believe in.”
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The joint venture is designed to offer investors exposure to esports and digital entertainment by tracking the performance of companies listed on the ‘NERD Index’, which began operation in January this year.
The NERD Index consists of globally-listed companies who are actively involved in the competitive video gaming industry, including video game publishers, streaming network operators, video game tournament and league operators/owners, competitive team owners, and hardware developers. Both the ETF and Index are managed by Roundhill Investments.
“More than just launching and operating the ETF, the Roundhill team is taking a next-generation approach on marketing and storytelling of the product tailored to a digitally-native target audience that is increasingly seeking out ways to invest in investment themes they see shaping their world,” said Will Hershey, CEO of Roundhill.
Esports Insider says: The launch of a dedicated ETF presents a new opportunity for a wide range of investors to get more involved in the esports scene. The platform seems to provide an alternative for new/less experienced investors to get involved without putting their chips in one company’s basket. We will have to watch the ‘NERD Index’ closely, as success through the ETF appears to be anchored its good performance.