# Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust (ETC)

Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust (ETC) is an other based in Stamford, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** other
- **Headquarters:** Stamford, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Stamford, CT, United States
- **Founded:** 2017
- **Assets under management:** Under $100 million (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** grayscale.com

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Grayscale Investments, founded in 2013 by Barry Silbert, launched the Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust in 2017 to provide a regulated investment vehicle for Ethereum Classic (ETC). The trust is structured as a single-asset product that holds ETC tokens in cold storage with Coinbase Custody as the custodian. Its shares trade on the OTCQX market under the ticker ETCG. The trust's strategy is passive: it does not actively trade or stake ETC tokens. It generates returns solely from changes in the spot price of Ethereum Classic, minus an annual expense ratio that has historically been 2.5%. No leverage or derivatives are used. The trust targets accredited individual and institutional investors seeking exposure without managing private keys or digital wallets. Total AUM for the trust was roughly $50 million as of early 2026, per public filings by Grayscale in periodic Form 10-Qs filed with the SEC. The trust complements Grayscale's product suite of over 15 single-asset crypto trusts and its spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Grayscale Investments is owned by Digital Currency Group, a blockchain-focused conglomerate founded by Barry Silbert. A structural distinction is that this trust operates as a 'grantor trust' under Delaware law, meaning it does not engage in active management beyond holding ETC tokens. Investors must be accredited, and shares can be sold at a premium or discount to net asset value, a dynamic that has historically caused volatility in share pricing relative to the underlying token.

## Sectors

- Crypto & Digital Assets
- Passive Investing

## People

- Michael Sonnenshein — CEO
- Zach Pandl — Head of Research

## Questions

### Who makes investment decisions at Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust?

The trust is structured as a grantor trust, not a managed fund. Grayscale Investments acts as the sponsor, with CEO Michael Sonnenshein overseeing corporate strategy. Liquidation and token management decisions are largely pre-determined by the trust's governing documents, though Grayscale's management team can liquidate the trust under certain conditions (per public filings).

### Does the trust stake or lend its Ethereum Classic holdings?

No. The trust's documents specify it holds the ETC tokens passively in custody with Coinbase Custody Trust Company. It does not engage in staking, lending, or any yield-generating activity — the only return driver is price appreciation of ETC (per the trust's prospectus).

### What is the expense ratio?

The trust charges an annual sponsor fee of 2.5% of net asset value, paid in ETC tokens. This fee is deducted daily from the trust's holdings. There are no additional management fees or performance fees (per the trust's annual report).

### Is the trust available to retail investors?

No. Shares are available only to accredited investors as defined under SEC Rule 501 of Regulation D. However, shares can be resold on the open market after a six-month holding period under Rule 144, making them accessible to non-accredited investors via brokerage accounts at that point (per SEC rules).

## Related profiles

- [Birchcliff Energy Ltd./ADR](https://altss.com/profile/birchcliff-energy-ltdadr)
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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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