Answer · confidence: partial
Which countries let people buy bitcoin funds, and did sales start like the U.S.?
Research question: Which countries have approved bitcoin investment funds for ordinary investors, and how did their first months of fund flows compare with the U.S. launch?
The records show Canada approved bitcoin ETFs for investors in February 2021, when the Purpose Bitcoin ETF launched as the first in North America 12. The Evolve Bitcoin ETF followed as Canada's second such fund, approved by the Ontario Securities Commission less than three weeks after its preliminary prospectus was filed 47. The U.S. SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10, 2024, and after that approval the funds drew a flood of institutional capital and accumulated over $100 billion in assets within two years 101213. The UK allowed retail investors to buy regulated Bitcoin ETPs in October 2025, while Europe has no Bitcoin ETF for retail investors and relies on exchange-traded notes instead 1415. The facts do not include fund-flow figures for the first months in Canada or the UK, so they cannot be directly compared with the U.S. launch; the newest fact dates to October 2025, about a year before today.
Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
Canada approved the first bitcoin ETF in North America, causing the U.S. to fall behind in approving such products.
"With this approval, the U.S. has fallen behind Canada in approving a bitcoin ETF."Bitcoin ETF Approved: First North American Bitcoin ETF Set to Trade on Toronto Stock Exchange
[2] supported
The Purpose Bitcoin ETF is the first in the world to invest directly in physically settled bitcoin rather than derivatives.
"The ETF will be the first in the world to invest directly in physically settled bitcoin, not derivatives, allowing investors easy and efficient access to the emerging asset class of cryptocurrency without the associated risk of self-custody within a digital wallet."Bitcoin ETF Approved: First North American Bitcoin ETF Set to Trade on Toronto Stock Exchange
[3] supported
The Purpose Bitcoin ETF offers units denominated in Canadian dollars (both currency-hedged and non-hedged) and U.S. dollars (non-hedged).
"The fund is offering an unlimited number of Canadian dollar-denominated ETF currency-hedged units (ticker symbol BTCC), Canadian dollar-denominated ETF non-currency hedged units (ticker symbol BTCC.B), and U.S. dollar-denominated ETF non-currency hedged units (ticker symbol BTCC.U)."Bitcoin ETF Approved: First North American Bitcoin ETF Set to Trade on Toronto Stock Exchange
[4] supported
Canada is the country that approved Bitcoin ETFs for investors, with the Evolve Bitcoin ETF being the second such fund approved by Canadian regulators in February 2021.
"The Evolve fund is the second Bitcoin ETF to be approved by Canadian securities regulators this month. The Purpose Bitcoin ETF received approval last week, becoming the first physically settled North American ETF."Evolve wins second Canadian Bitcoin ETF as Ontario regulator approves application
[5] supported
The Evolve Bitcoin ETF offers direct exposure to Bitcoin through two ticker symbols, EBIT for Canadian dollars and EBIT.U for U.S. dollars.
"The ETF has two ticker symbols: EBIT for Canadian-denominated units and EBIT.U for U.S.-denominated units. EBIT is said to provide "unhedged exposure to the daily price movement" of Bitcoin in Canadian dollars, whereas EBIT.U provides exposure to the daily price movements in U.S. dollars."Evolve wins second Canadian Bitcoin ETF as Ontario regulator approves application
[6] supported
The Evolve Bitcoin ETF tracks price data using CF Benchmarks’ Bitcoin Reference Rate, which aggregates data from several BTC/USD markets.
"Notably, the fund will track price data using CF Benchmarks’ Bitcoin Reference Rate, which aggregates data from several BTC/USD markets into a one-a-day benchmark index."Evolve wins second Canadian Bitcoin ETF as Ontario regulator approves application
[7] supported
The Evolve Bitcoin ETF was approved by the Ontario Securities Commission less than three weeks after filing a preliminary prospectus.
"Less than three weeks after filing a preliminary prospectus for a Bitcoin ETF, Evolve Funds Group Inc announced Tuesday that its fund has been approved by the Ontario Securities Commission, or OSC."Evolve wins second Canadian Bitcoin ETF as Ontario regulator approves application
[8] supported
The Evolve Bitcoin ETF is accessible in all of Canada's 10 provinces and three territories due to being filed under a passport system.
"The prospectus was filed under a passport system, which allows the fund to be accessed in all of Canada's 10 provinces and three territories."Evolve wins second Canadian Bitcoin ETF as Ontario regulator approves application
[9] documented
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024, providing a regulated avenue for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin.
"The year 2024 marked a significant turning point for the cryptocurrency industry with the long-awaited approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This regulatory shift by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) effectively bridges the gap between traditional finance and the world of cryptocurrencies."Bitcoin ETF: Opportunities and risk (2024)
[10] supported
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10, 2024.
"Ten years after the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund application was filed in the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally approved spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10, 2024."The Rise of Bitcoin ETFs and its Impact on Existing Crypto Currency Exchanges (2024)
[11] supported
Futures-based Bitcoin ETFs were the first type of Bitcoin-related ETFs approved by the U.S. SEC.
"Futures-based ETFs were the first type of Bitcoin-related ETFs approved by the SEC and are intended to provide exposure to Bitcoin's price movements without the challenges of managing actual bitcoins."The Rise of Bitcoin ETFs and its Impact on Existing Crypto Currency Exchanges (2024)
[12] supported
After the SEC approved eleven spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, the immediate effect was a flood of institutional capital into US-listed products.
"When the SEC approved eleven spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10, 2024, the immediate effect was a flood of institutional capital into US-listed products."Bitcoin Spot ETFs Go Global: From US Approval to Worldwide Institutional Access
[13] supported
US spot Bitcoin ETFs accumulated over $100 billion in assets under management within two years of launch.
"Within two years, US spot Bitcoin ETFs accumulated over $100 billion in assets under management."Bitcoin Spot ETFs Go Global: From US Approval to Worldwide Institutional Access
[14] supported
Europe has no Bitcoin ETF for retail investors; Europeans instead buy exchange-traded notes, which are debt securities that carry issuer risk.
"Europeans instead buy exchange-traded notes (ETNs), which are debt securities that can track one coin but carry issuer risk."Crypto ETF Approvals: The Global Map Behind the 2026 Boom
[15] supported
The UK reversed its ban and in October 2025 allowed retail investors to buy regulated Bitcoin ETPs through authorized brokers.
"reversed course in October 2025, allowing retail investors to purchase regulated Bitcoin ETPs through authorized brokers."Bitcoin Spot ETFs Go Global: From US Approval to Worldwide Institutional Access