After its international Bitcoin yield fund was met with great enthusiasm, Coinbase Asset Management (CBAM) has officially launched the Coinbase US Bitcoin Yield Fund (USCBYF) for accredited investors in the US.

The core idea of the new domestic fund is to enable Bitcoin exposure with an added BTC-denominated yield. This investment vehicle aims to outperform a plain buy-and-hold approach while maintaining full exposure to the biggest asset in crypto.

The move represents a notable expansion of Coinbase’s institutional lineup and a clear statement of intent in the US market. Could a regulated BTC yield wrapper be the bridge institutions have been waiting for?

Meeting the Demand for Bitcoin Yield in the US Market

The perception of Bitcoin as “digital gold” has helped it mature into a global reserve asset and, more importantly, an inflation hedge. As a result, this has driven more demand for yield-generating BTC products among institutional crypto investment players.

In May 2025, Coinbase launched a Bitcoin yield fund for institutional investors outside the US. Its international reception was overwhelmingly positive and showed high smart money demand for Bitcoin yield.

With high-net-worth American investors looking for a similar investment solution, CBAM developed a comparable strategy for the US market. The launch of Coinbase USCBYF addresses the demand for a Bitcoin yield strategy under a regulated framework, making it an accredited investor crypto fund built specifically for domestic requirements.

Inside the Coinbase US Bitcoin Yield Fund (USCBYF)

Here’s a quick look at some of the key details of the fund:

  • Eligibility: The fund is mainly targeted for accredited investors in the US. Notably, it will begin accepting investments in the weeks to come.
  • Subscription Options: As an accredited investor, you can subscribe directly with USD, Bitcoin, or USDC.
  • Return Profile: The fund’s returns aim to match the performance of Bitcoin (tracked by the CME Bitcoin Reference Rate) plus an additional yield. The extra yield is generated from a culmination of Bitcoin lending and basis trading strategies.
  • Retirement Account Access: The fund is expected to be available within certain tax-efficient retirement accounts (such as IRAs) by 2026. This future availability will allow long-term investors to include a crypto yield investment fund as part of their retirement planning.

Strategic Partnership with iTrustCapital

The iTrustCapital Coinbase partnership will effectively allow USCBYF to be included in retirement accounts. To put things into perspective, iTrustCapital is the largest self-directed digital asset IRA provider in the US.

Coinbase Asset Management partnership with iTrustCapital

Starting in 2026, eligible investors will have the option to hold their USCBYF investment within a tax-deferred iTrustCapital IRA. This will finally allow any Bitcoin yield to compound tax-free as part of their retirement planning.

For context, iTrustCapital’s platform has already facilitated over $15 billion in crypto transactions and earned more than 11,000 positive user reviews to date. That footprint alone should aid onboarding when retirement access opens.

A Regulated and Institutional-Grade Approach

It’s worth noting that Coinbase Asset Management operates with heavy regulatory oversight. It’s an SEC-registered investment adviser, a CFTC-registered organization, and an NFA member. Consequently, CBAM offers a reliable, regulated Bitcoin yield fund, thereby differentiating itself from many unregulated yield schemes on the market.

Such a compliance culture is critical as yield involves counterparties and derivatives. Moreover, Coinbase understands that institutional investors almost always prefer audited processes and robust governance. This is precisely why they’ve launched USCBYF, which is built to meet those expectations from day one.

How Does the Fund Generate Yield?

Coinbase’s US Bitcoin Yield Fund employs two main strategies to generate additional yield on top of Bitcoin’s price performance:

  • BTC Private Credit Lending: The fund lends out Bitcoin to institutional borrowers in exchange for interest. By extending secured loans to credible counterparties, the fund will earn yield through interest payments on its BTC holdings.
  • Basis Trading: The fund will capture the price spread between the Bitcoin spot market and futures market. For example, it can hold Bitcoin while selling BTC futures at a premium, locking in an extra return from the price difference.

These strategies aim to boost investors’ returns while maintaining full exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements. Even so, Coinbase has been quite vocal about the fact that its Bitcoin yield fund offers no guaranteed returns, as its performance will vary with market conditions.

Expanding Institutional Access to Bitcoin Yield

The introduction of USCBYF marks a critical step in expanding institutional access to crypto yield opportunities in the United States. It reflects Coinbase’s mission to bridge traditional finance and the crypto economy with regulated investment vehicles.

By launching a US Bitcoin yield fund, Coinbase is showing how traditional financial practices (such as lending and basis trading) can be applied in the Web3 space within a compliant framework.

How to Participate

Accredited investors can participate as follows:

  1. Verify Accredited Status: To begin with, ensure that you meet the accredited investor criteria under US securities laws. Coinbase will require verification of this status before allowing investment in the fund.
  2. Subscribe to the Fund: When the fund officially opens, subscribe by contributing in BTC, USD, or USDC.
  3. Complete Documentation: Review and sign the fund’s investment documents and risk disclosures. These materials will detail fees, risks, lock-up, and other important information.
  4. Hold in an IRA (optional): From 2026, you can optionally hold your USCBYF investment in an iTrustCapital IRA for tax-deferred growth.

Earn Up to 150 Euros After Your First Trade

We saw how USCBYF offers Bitcoin’s upside with a transparent yield layer, packaging lending and basis trading inside a regulated fund. But alongside the highly anticipated fund launch, Coinbase is running a separate promotion exclusively for new retail customers.

Eligible first-time users can earn up to €150 after their first trade. By simply signing up for an account and completing an initial crypto purchase of any amount, new users will receive the bonus credited to their account.

Visit Coinbase

Why you can trust 99Bitcoins

10+ Years

Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days.

90hr+

Weekly Research

100k+

Monthly readers

50+

Expert contributors

2000+

Crypto Projects Reviewed

Google News Icon
Follow 99Bitcoins on your Google News Feed
Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now!
Subscribe now
Jose Aquino
Jose Aquino
Editor

Jose Rafael Aquino is a Filipino writer and entrepreneur that specializes in finance, technology, cryptocurrency, and sports. Versed in the startup tech space, he has written for websites such as The GUIDON, TradingPlatforms, StockApps, and BuyShares. Read More

Free Bitcoin Crash Course

  • Enjoyed by over 100,000 students.
  • One email a day, 7 days in a row.
  • Short and educational, guaranteed!

The World’s #1 Crypto Exchange

  • Up to 150x leverage for major coins
  • Various staking options for hundreds of coins
  • Frequent events, promotions, and airdrops
The World’s #1 Crypto Exchange
Back to top