Best ways to get crypto exposure through a brokerage account

Many investors want crypto in their portfolio without opening an account on a crypto exchange. The good news: getting crypto exposure through a brokerage account is now easier than ever. In this guide, we compare the two main routes - spot crypto ETFs and crypto stocks - and explain what brokerage products can and cannot do for you.

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What does crypto exposure through a brokerage account mean?

Crypto exposure through a brokerage account means holding products that track crypto prices inside a regular investment account. You never touch a wallet or an exchange. Instead, you buy listed securities that rise and fall with the crypto market.

There are two main categories. The first is exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold crypto directly. The second is shares of companies whose business depends on crypto.

The menu has grown fast. Spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in the US in January 2024. Spot Ethereum ETFs followed later that year. In October 2025, the SEC approved spot Solana ETFs, and products for Litecoin and Hedera arrived shortly after. As a result, a standard brokerage account now offers more crypto choice than ever before.

For many investors, this is the simplest starting point. However, each route has trade-offs in fees, tracking, and control. We cover those below, because the differences matter more than most articles admit.

Spot crypto ETFs: the closest thing to owning coins

A spot crypto ETF holds the actual cryptocurrency and issues shares that track its price. For most investors, this is the cleanest form of crypto exposure inside a brokerage account.

The market has matured quickly. There are now 12 US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs with roughly $91 billion in combined assets. BlackRock's IBIT alone holds about $54 billion, nearly half the market. Fidelity's FBTC holds around $17.7 billion.

Fees are the main separator:

• Most spot Bitcoin ETFs charge between 0.19% and 0.25% per year
• Grayscale's original GBTC still charges 1.50%
• Grayscale's Mini Trust is the low-cost option at 0.15%

Ethereum and Solana ETFs added something new: staking. Some newer funds pass part of the network's staking rewards to holders. Solana funds like BSOL stake their holdings for yields that have historically topped 7% per year. We cover this shift in detail in our guides to Bitcoin ETFs in 2026 and Ethereum ETFs in 2026.

The appeal is clear. You get regulated products, familiar tax reporting, and the option to hold crypto in retirement accounts. Therefore, ETFs suit investors who value simplicity above all.

Crypto stocks: indirect exposure with extra risk

Crypto stocks give you exposure through a company's fortunes rather than the asset itself. This route is less direct, and in practice far more volatile.

The main types are:

1. Exchanges and brokers - Coinbase (COIN) and Robinhood (HOOD) earn revenue from trading activity and custody
2. Bitcoin treasury companies - Strategy (MSTR, formerly MicroStrategy) holds over 843,000 BTC, the largest corporate stash in the world
3. Miners and infrastructure - firms like Riot and Marathon, many now pivoting toward AI data centers

Here is the catch: a crypto stock adds company risk on top of crypto risk. Strategy is the clearest example. In 2026, the company started selling Bitcoin to fund dividends on its preferred stock. Its shares fell roughly 60% over twelve months, a far deeper drop than Bitcoin itself. The leverage that once amplified gains worked in reverse.

Coinbase tells a similar story in milder form. The stock fell 29% in the first half of 2026 even though its fundamentals stayed solid, because crypto prices dragged sentiment down.

In short, crypto stocks are equity bets on business models. They can outperform in bull markets. However, they are a noisy substitute if what you actually want is crypto price exposure.

ETFs vs stocks vs direct ownership: how do they compare?

Each route differs in what you own, what you pay, and what risks you carry. The table below summarizes the trade-offs.

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The pattern is simple. ETFs trade tracking precision for convenience. Stocks trade precision for upside potential and extra risk. Direct ownership gives full control, but it asks more of you.

What brokerage exposure does not give you

Brokerage products cover the price side of crypto. They leave out several things that matter, and it is worth knowing them before you choose.

First, trading hours. Crypto trades 24/7, but ETFs and stocks only trade when the stock market is open. Weekend moves happen without you. Monday gaps can be sharp, because crypto markets react to news in real time.

Second, fees compound. A 0.25% annual fee sounds small. Over a decade, it quietly eats into returns, especially compared with holding coins at near-zero cost.

Third, no utility. ETF shares cannot be moved, spent, or used on-chain. Most Bitcoin funds pass no staking rewards, because Bitcoin has none to give and regulators have been slow to approve staking elsewhere.

Fourth, no risk management beyond selling. A fund tracks its asset down as well as up. Established crypto assets have seen drawdowns of 70% or more in bear markets. An ETF will follow that path faithfully. As a result, the investor still carries the full weight of crypto volatility, just in a tidier wrapper.

When owning crypto directly makes more sense

Direct ownership fits investors who want exact exposure, full control, and tools that actively manage risk. The barrier is lower than many people think.

Modern non-custodial platforms changed the picture. Diamond Pigs, for example, connects to your own exchange account through an API. Your coins never leave your wallet, and the platform can only place buy and sell orders. It cannot withdraw funds. Automated strategies then manage positions 24/7, which addresses the biggest weakness of brokerage products: nobody is watching on weekends.

The risk question deserves special attention. Diamond Pigs' 4-Pillar framework treats capital protection in bear markets as a core pillar, not an afterthought. Its Protect strategies exit to cash during severe declines and re-enter when conditions improve. That is something no passive ETF can do by design.

Costs work differently too. Active strategies charge a management fee plus a performance fee with a high watermark. In plain terms, performance fees only apply to new profit above the previous peak. If a strategy dips and recovers, you pay nothing extra. You can read more about how this works on the how it works page.

Direct ownership is not for everyone. It requires an exchange account and a little setup. However, for investors who want crypto's full return profile with managed downside, it is the more complete option.

Key takeaways

• Spot crypto ETFs are the simplest route to crypto exposure through a brokerage account, with fees mostly between 0.15% and 0.25% per year.
• The ETF menu now covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and several altcoins, and some ETH and SOL funds pass on staking rewards.
• Crypto stocks like Coinbase and Strategy add business and leverage risk on top of crypto risk, as Strategy's 60% drop in 2026 showed.
• Brokerage products only trade during market hours, while crypto itself moves 24/7 - weekend risk never disappears.
• No ETF or stock actively protects you in a bear market; they track the asset down as faithfully as they track it up.
• Direct ownership through a non-custodial platform combines exact exposure with active risk management, at the cost of slightly more setup.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get crypto exposure through a brokerage account? For most investors, a low-cost spot Bitcoin or Ethereum ETF is the best starting point. These funds hold real coins, track prices closely, and charge 0.15% to 0.25% per year. Crypto stocks can add upside, but they behave like leveraged bets and carry company-specific risk.

Are crypto ETFs available in regular brokerage accounts in 2026? Yes. Any brokerage that trades NYSE or Nasdaq-listed products offers spot crypto ETFs. The lineup covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Litecoin, and Hedera, and many retirement accounts can hold them as well.

Is it better to buy a Bitcoin ETF or Bitcoin directly? It depends on what you value. An ETF wins on convenience and familiar tax paperwork. Direct ownership wins on exact tracking, 24/7 access, zero annual fund fees, and the ability to use automated risk management. Long-term holders often find the fee difference grows meaningful over the years.

Are crypto stocks a good substitute for owning crypto? Not really. Stocks like Coinbase or Strategy are correlated with crypto but do not track it. In 2026, Strategy fell about 60% while it sold Bitcoin to cover dividend payments. If you want crypto's return profile, hold products backed by the asset itself.

Do crypto ETFs pay staking rewards? Bitcoin ETFs do not, because Bitcoin has no staking. Some newer Ethereum and Solana funds stake part of their holdings and pass rewards to shareholders. Solana funds have targeted yields above 7%. Check each fund's documents, because staking policies differ widely.

Can I lose money in a spot crypto ETF? Yes. A spot ETF follows its asset in both directions, and established crypto assets have dropped 70% or more in past bear markets. The ETF wrapper reduces operational hassle, not market risk.

Glossary

Spot ETF - a fund that holds the actual asset (such as Bitcoin) rather than futures contracts, so its share price tracks the real market price.

Expense ratio - the annual fee a fund charges, taken as a percentage of your holdings. See Investopedia's definition for details.

Staking - locking coins to help secure a blockchain network in exchange for rewards, similar to earning interest.

Non-custodial - a setup where a platform can manage trades but never holds or withdraws your assets; the coins stay in your own wallet.