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This crypto fund has outperformed bitcoin for the last five years. Here’s how

Reported by Cnbc
Apr 6, 2022· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Off the Chain Capital has averaged 133% annualized returns since inception in December 2016, outperforming bitcoin's 108% annualized return over the same period, with the fund claiming a 5-for-5 track record of annual outperformance through February 28, 2022.
  • • The fund achieves its returns while maintaining 80% lower volatility than bitcoin, positioning itself as a vehicle for conservative institutional investors (endowments, foundations) seeking blockchain exposure with reduced downside risk.
  • • Off the Chain Capital employs a traditional value investing methodology, targeting mispriced blockchain assets by acquiring dollar-denominated assets for approximately 50 cents on the dollar rather than speculating on price appreciation alone.
  • • The fund has generated 3,653% outperformance versus the S&P 500 over the same period and maintains 99.99% uncorrelation to broad market indices, offering genuine portfolio diversification benefits.
  • • CEO Brian Estes cited Galaxy Digital as a portfolio example: Off the Chain purchased shares at approximately 70 cents two years prior, with the stock subsequently reaching $15.79 per share by the article's publication date.
Summary
Off the Chain Capital, a blockchain-focused investment fund, has demonstrated five consecutive years of outperformance relative to bitcoin using a disciplined value investing approach rather than directional trading strategies. According to the fund's management, Off the Chain averaged 133% annualized returns since its December 2016 inception through February 28, 2022, compared to bitcoin's 108% annualized return over the identical period. This performance differential is particularly notable given the fund's 80% lower volatility profile than bitcoin, directly addressing institutional investor requirements for risk-adjusted returns.

The fund's strategy distinguishes itself within the cryptocurrency investment landscape by applying fundamental value analysis rather than speculation on asset price appreciation. CEO and Chief Investment Officer Brian Estes articulated the core thesis: identifying mispriced blockchain assets and acquiring them at substantial discounts to intrinsic value—targeting purchases of one dollar's worth of blockchain assets for approximately 50 cents. This approach enables the fund to capture structural growth in the emerging blockchain sector while maintaining value discipline typically associated with traditional equities investing.

The fund's performance extends beyond bitcoin benchmarking. Off the Chain Capital has generated 3,653% cumulative outperformance relative to the S&P 500 since December 2016 and maintains 99.99% uncorrelation to broad equity market indices, positioning the fund as a genuine diversification vehicle rather than a correlated risk asset. This low correlation profile aligns with the fund's stated positioning toward conservative institutional capital, including endowments and foundations seeking controlled blockchain exposure.

Estes highlighted Galaxy Digital Holdings as a portfolio example demonstrating the fund's value-selection methodology. Off the Chain acquired Galaxy Digital shares at approximately 70 cents per share roughly two years prior to the article's publication, with the equity subsequently trading at $15.79 per share as of the market close preceding the announcement. This single position exemplifies the fund's approach of identifying undervalued blockchain infrastructure plays trading at significant discounts to fundamental value.

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Sources

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AlphaMaven summarised this story from the reporting below. Each link opens the original article.

Cnbc This crypto fund has outperformed bitcoin for the last five years. Here’s how