Bitwise was founded in 2017 by Hunter Horsley and Hong Kim in San Francisco, [[United States of America (USA)]] as a cryptocurrency asset management firm focused on institutional investors. Key developments: - 2017: Founded and launched first crypto index fund - 2019: Filed early [[Bitcoin]] [[ETF]] proposal (rejected) - 2021: Reached $1 billion in assets under management - 2024: Launched spot Bitcoin ETF following [[Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)]] approval Key features: - Specializes in: * Crypto index funds * Bitcoin and crypto ETFs * Institutional crypto products * Crypto research and education * Digital asset management Ownership: - Privately held company - Backed by: * Khosla Ventures * General Catalyst * Electric Capital * Other venture capital firms The company has positioned itself as a leading crypto-focused asset manager, known for its institutional-grade investment products and crypto market research.