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Who Is Hunter Horsley and How the Bitwise CEO Wins the Crypto ETF Race

Reported by Phemex
May 17, 2026· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Hunter Horsley, CEO and co-founder of Bitwise Asset Management, leads one of the largest crypto asset managers overseeing more than $15 billion in client assets across ETFs, index funds, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies.
  • • Bitwise's flagship Bitcoin ETF (BITB) carries a management fee of 0.20% per annum on the trust's Bitcoin holdings, positioning the firm competitively in the institutional crypto ETF market.
  • • Horsley's background includes experience as a product manager at Facebook and Instagram before founding Bitwise in 2017, combining consumer technology expertise with cryptocurrency infrastructure development.
  • • Bitwise operates a diversified suite of over 40 investment products, reflecting the firm's expansion beyond spot Bitcoin ETFs into institutional-grade cryptocurrency strategies and staking solutions.
  • • The firm's leadership, including Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan, has driven institutional capital adoption into crypto assets, positioning Bitwise as a central player in mainstream Bitcoin's transition to institutional accessibility.
Summary
Hunter Horsley is the CEO and co-founder of Bitwise Asset Management, a global cryptocurrency-focused asset manager established in 2017. Under Horsley's leadership, Bitwise has grown to oversee more than $15 billion in client assets, making it one of the largest firms operating in the institutional crypto space. The firm manages a diverse portfolio of investment products spanning over 40 vehicles, including spot Bitcoin ETFs, index funds, separately managed accounts, private funds, hedge fund strategies, and cryptocurrency staking solutions.

Before founding Bitwise, Horsley served as a product manager at Facebook and Instagram, bringing expertise in consumer technology and platform monetization to the cryptocurrency infrastructure space. This background informed Bitwise's strategic focus on expanding institutional access to digital assets through regulatory-compliant, professionally managed products. His previous role as CEO of ETF.com and contributions to the CFA Institute's monographs on exchange-traded funds further positioned him to navigate the ETF approval landscape and institutional product development.

Bitwise's flagship product, the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), exemplifies the firm's institutional approach to crypto asset management. The ETF charges a management fee of 0.20% per annum on the trust's Bitcoin holdings, offering competitive pricing for institutional investors. The development and approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs represented a watershed moment for institutional adoption, and Horsley, alongside Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan, has been instrumental in advocating for and executing this strategy.

The firm's success in the crypto ETF market reflects broader institutional demand for regulated, professional cryptocurrency exposure. Bitwise's expansion to over 40 investment products indicates a maturation of the crypto asset management space beyond retail-focused vehicles into comprehensive institutional infrastructure. With $15 billion in assets under management and a growing suite of institutional-grade products, Bitwise under Horsley's leadership has established itself as a significant player in the mainstream integration of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency into traditional institutional portfolios.

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Phemex Who Is Hunter Horsley and How the Bitwise CEO Wins the Crypto ETF Race