What is the difference between a spot Bitcoin ETF and a Bitcoin futures ETF?

A spot Bitcoin ETF holds actual Bitcoin directly, meaning you own real cryptocurrency through the fund. A Bitcoin futures ETF instead uses Bitcoin futures contracts—agreements to buy or sell Bitcoin at a future date—rather than holding the asset itself. The key difference: spot ETFs give you exposure to Bitcoin's actual price movements, while futures ETFs track Bitcoin's predicted future price. Spot ETFs are generally simpler for beginners and more straightforward, as they directly reflect Bitcoin's current value. Futures ETFs can be more complex and may not perfectly track Bitcoin's price due to how futures contracts work. Both are traded like stocks on traditional exchanges, making them accessible without needing a crypto wallet.