SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
December 9, 2025
THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

| NGHT | Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF |
| BHDG | Nicholas Bitcoin Tail ETF |
| listed on [] |
PROSPECTUS
[], 2026
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) have approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF – FUND SUMMARY
Investment Objective
The Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
| Annual Fund Operating Expenses(1) (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||
| Management Fees | []% | |
| Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.00% | |
| Other Expenses(2) | []% | |
| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(2) | []% | |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | []% | |
| (1) | The Fund’s investment adviser, Tidal Investments LLC (the “Adviser”), a Tidal Financial Group company, will pay, or require a sub-adviser to pay, all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory and sub-advisory fees, interest charges on any borrowings made for investment purposes, dividends and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses. |
| (2) | Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
Expense Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you may pay on your purchases and sales of Shares. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| 1 Year | 3 Years |
| $[] | $[] |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund is newly organized, portfolio turnover information is not yet available.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks long-term capital appreciation by systematically capturing bitcoin’s overnight return profile. The Fund obtains exposure to bitcoin through investment in (i) U.S. exchange-traded and cash settled bitcoin futures contracts (“Bitcoin Futures”), (ii) U.S.-listed exchange-traded products (“ETPs”) and/or U.S. listed ETFs, both of which seek to track the price performance of bitcoin (together, “Bitcoin Underlying Funds”), and/or (iii) U.S. exchange-traded options on such Bitcoin Underlying Funds as well as indices providing exposure to the price return of bitcoin (“Bitcoin Options”).
The Fund’s portfolio is designed to provide long bitcoin exposure during U.S. overnight hours (from market close to the following market open) and to hold short-term U.S. Treasuries and other cash equivalents during U.S. daytime trading hours. This approach aims to reflect the performance of bitcoin during U.S overnight hours and reduce exposure during U.S. daytime trading hours, which historically have exhibited different return and volatility characteristics.
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When utilizing Bitcoin Futures, the Fund trades these instruments during U.S. overnight hours and closes them out shortly after the U.S. market opens each trading day. When utilizing Bitcoin Underlying Funds, the Fund purchases a security at U.S. market close, and then sells the position around U.S. market open, thereby capturing any market movement that occurred during U.S. overnight hours. When utilizing Bitcoin Options, the Fund typically enters into options positions that establish a synthetic long bitcoin position near the close of regular U.S. trading hours. These positions are typically closed or unwound near the following market open, however, the Fund may hold these synthetic long positions longer term and offset them during U.S. daytime trading hours by entering into a synthetic short position. During U.S. daytime trading hours, the Fund’s assets are allocated to U.S. Treasuries, money market funds and other cash equivalents. Due to the nature of the Fund’s investment strategy, there will be periods when the entirety of the Fund’s assets will be invested in U.S. Treasury securities or cash equivalents. Even during periods when the Fund has 100% notional exposure to bitcoin, it may still invest a significant portion of its assets in U.S. Treasuries and/or cash equivalents.
During U.S. daytime trading hours, when the Fund’s portfolio primarily consists of U.S. Treasury securities and other cash equivalents, the Fund may use Bitcoin Options to manage risk or seek to ensure smooth transitions between trading sessions. Such tactics may include purchasing long puts to protect against downside risk, or employing short synthetic positions (a combination of a long put and short call) to temporarily offset residual long exposures or mitigate volatility.
The Fund does not invest directly in bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of bitcoin should consider an investment other than the Fund. Although bitcoin may be referred to as a “cryptocurrency,” it is not yet widely accepted as a means of payment.
Cayman Subsidiary
The Fund intends to gain exposure to Bitcoin Futures and certain other securities and instruments providing exposure to the price returns of bitcoin indirectly through a wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”) that is advised by the Adviser and sub-advised by the Fund’s investment sub-adviser, Nicholas Wealth, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”). The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary, tested at the end of each fiscal quarter. The Subsidiary will generally invest in investments that do not generate “qualifying income” under the source of income test required to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in such investments; however, the Subsidiary will comply with the same 1940 Act requirements that are applicable to the Fund’s investments. In addition, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions as the Fund and will comply with them on an aggregate basis with the Fund, and will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary will not seek to qualify as a RIC under the Code. The Fund is the sole investor in the Subsidiary and does not expect the shares of the Subsidiary to be offered or sold to other investors. Because the value of the Subsidiary must not exceed 25% of the Fund’s value at the close of any quarter, the Subsidiary may need to sell assets as a quarter end approaches and pay a dividend to the Fund. This dividend will constitute qualifying income for RIC purposes. Except as otherwise noted, for purposes of this Prospectus, references to the Fund’s investments include the Fund’s indirect investments through the Subsidiary.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements, which are a form of borrowing where the Fund sells portfolio securities to financial institutions and agrees to repurchase them at a later date for a higher price. This arrangement allows the Fund to use the proceeds from the initial sale for other investment purposes. However, since the Fund repurchases the securities at a higher price, it incurs a loss on these transactions.
To qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund may use reverse repurchase agreements to ensure that its investment in the Subsidiary does not exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of each fiscal quarter (the “Asset Diversification Test”). During other times of the year, the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary may exceed 25% of its total assets.
Collateral
As part of the Fund’s strategy, the Fund holds collateral investments. The Fund expects to invest in U.S. Treasury bills, money market funds, cash and cash equivalents (e.g., high quality commercial paper and similar instruments that are rated investment grade or, if unrated, of comparable quality, as the Sub-Adviser determines), that provide liquidity, serve as margin or collateralize the Fund’s or the Subsidiary’s investments in derivative instruments.
Other Fund Attributes
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of the value of its assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in securities and/or instruments that provide exposure to bitcoin and/or U.S. Treasuries and other cash equivalents. Derivatives will be valued at notional value for the purposes of this policy.
The Fund’s strategy is expected to result in a high annual portfolio turnover rate.
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The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. As with any investment, there is a risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund. Some or all of these risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share, trading price, yield, total return, and/or ability to meet its objective. For more information about the risks of investing in the Fund, see the section in the Fund’s Prospectus titled “Additional Information About the Fund—Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.”
An investment in the Fund entails risk. The Fund may not achieve its investment objective and there is a risk that you could lose all of your money invested in the Fund. The Fund is not a complete investment program. It is important that investors closely review all of the risks listed below and understand them before making an investment in the Fund.
Bitcoin Investment Risks. The Fund’s indirect investment in bitcoin exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends. Not being a legal tender and operating outside central authority systems like banks, bitcoin faces potential government restrictions. For instance, some countries may limit or ban bitcoin transactions, negatively impacting its market value.
The risks associated with bitcoin include the possibility of fraud, theft, market manipulation, and security breaches in trading platforms. A small group of large bitcoin holders, known as “whales,” can significantly influence bitcoin’s price and may have the ability to manipulate the price. The largely unregulated nature of bitcoin and its trading venues heightens risks of fraudulent activities and market manipulation, which could affect bitcoin’s price. For example, if a group of miners gains control over a majority of the bitcoin network, they could manipulate transactions to their advantage. Historical instances have seen bitcoin trading venues shut down due to fraud or security breaches, often leaving investors without recourse and facing significant losses.
Updates to bitcoin’s software, proposed by developers, can lead to the creation of new digital assets, or “forks,” if not broadly adopted. This can impact bitcoin’s demand and the Fund’s performance. The extreme volatility of bitcoin’s market price can result in shareholder losses. Furthermore, the operation of bitcoin trading platforms may be disrupted or cease altogether due to various issues, further affecting bitcoin’s price and the Fund’s investments.
The value of bitcoin has historically been subject to significant speculation, making trading and investing in bitcoin reliant on market sentiment rather than traditional fundamental analysis.
Bitcoin’s price can be influenced by events unrelated to its security or utility, including instability in other speculative areas of the crypto/blockchain space, potentially leading to substantial declines in its value.
Risks associated with crypto asset trading platforms include fragmentation, regulatory non-compliance, and the possibility of enforcement actions by regulatory authorities, which could impact the valuation of bitcoin-linked derivatives held by the Fund.
The security of the Bitcoin Blockchain may be compromised if a single miner or group controls more than 50% of the network’s hashing power, where hashing power refers to the computational capacity used to validate and secure transactions on the blockchain.
Proposed changes to the bitcoin protocol may not be universally adopted, leading to the creation of competing blockchains (forks) with different assets and participants, exemplified by past forks like Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV.
The Bitcoin Blockchain protocol may contain vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to disrupt its operation, potentially compromising the security and reliability of the network.
Emerging alternative public blockchains, particularly those emphasizing privacy through technologies like zero-knowledge cryptography, pose risks and challenges to the dominance of the Bitcoin Blockchain as a payment system.
Common impediments to adopting the Bitcoin Blockchain as a payment network include slow transaction processing, variability in transaction fees, and the volatility of bitcoin’s price, which may deter widespread adoption by businesses and consumers.
The development and use of “Layer II solutions” are critical for the scalability and functionality of the Bitcoin Blockchain, but they also introduce risks such as off-chain transaction execution, which could affect transparency and security. Layer II solutions are off-chain protocols that improve scalability and reduce transaction costs by processing transactions outside the main blockchain network.
Adoption and use of other blockchains supporting advanced applications like smart contracts present challenges to the dominance of the Bitcoin Blockchain, potentially impacting its long-term relevance and utility in the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.
| ● | Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class and are not presently widely used as such. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. The trading platforms for digital assets are relatively new, largely unregulated or possibly operating out of compliance with regulations, and thus more vulnerable to fraud and failures compared to traditional, regulated exchanges. Shutdowns of these platforms due to fraud, technical glitches, or security issues can significantly affect digital asset prices and market volatility. |
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| ● | Digital Asset Markets Risk: The digital asset market, particularly bitcoin, has experienced considerable volatility, leading to market disruptions and erosion of confidence among market participants. This instability and the resultant negative publicity could adversely affect the Fund’s reputation and trading prices. Ongoing market turbulence could significantly impact the value of the Fund’s share. |
| ● | Blockchain Technology Risk: Blockchain technology, which underpins bitcoin and other digital assets, is relatively new, and many of its applications are untested. The adoption of blockchain and the development of competing platforms or technologies could affect its usage. Investments in companies or vehicles that utilize blockchain technology are subject to market volatility and may experience lower trading volumes compared to more established industries. Additionally, regulatory changes, internet disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, and intellectual property disputes could further affect the adoption and functionality of blockchain technology. |
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indices. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions. The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of derivatives may result in larger losses or smaller gains than directly investing in securities. When the Fund uses derivatives, there may be an imperfect correlation between the value of the Index and the derivative, which may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. Because derivatives often require only a limited initial investment, the use of derivatives may expose the Fund to losses in excess of those amounts initially invested. In addition, the Fund’s investments in derivatives are subject to the following risks:
Futures Contracts. Risks of futures contracts include: (i) an imperfect correlation between the value of the futures contract and the underlying asset; (ii) possible lack of a liquid secondary market; (iii) the inability to close a futures contract when desired; (iv) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which may be unlimited; (v) an obligation for the Fund to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin, particularly at times when the Fund may have insufficient cash; and (vi) unfavorable execution prices from rapid selling. Unlike equities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, futures contracts normally specify a certain date for settlement in cash based on the reference asset. As the futures contracts approach expiration, they may be replaced by similar contracts that have a later expiration. This process is referred to as “rolling.” If the market for these contracts is in “contango,” meaning that the prices of futures contracts in the nearer months are lower than the price of contracts in the distant months, the sale of the near-term month contract would be at a lower price than the longer-term contract, resulting in a cost to “roll” the futures contract. The actual realization of a potential roll cost will be dependent upon the difference in price of the near and distant contract.
Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying security or instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which is affected by fiscal and monetary policies, changes in the actual or implied volatility of the underlying security or instrument, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events. The Fund may experience substantial downside from specific option positions and certain option positions held by the Fund may expire worthless. The options held by the Fund are exercisable at the strike price on their expiration date. As an option approaches its expiration date, its value typically increasingly moves with the value of the underlying security or instrument. However, prior to such date, the value of an option generally does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the underlying security or instrument. There may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the values of options contracts and the underlying security or instrument, and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain options contracts. The value of the options held by the Fund will be determined based on market quotations or other recognized pricing methods. Additionally, as the Fund may continuously maintain indirect exposure to one or more of the underlying securities or instruments through the use of options contracts, as the options contracts it holds are exercised or expire it will enter into new options contracts, a practice referred to as “rolling.” If the expiring options contracts do not generate proceeds enough to cover the cost of entering into new options contracts, the Fund may experience losses.
Cayman Subsidiary Risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The investments held by the Subsidiary are subject to the same economic risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Changes in the laws of the United States and the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to continue to operate as it does currently and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns. In addition, the Subsidiary is also subject to many of the risks to which the Fund is subject, such as tax risks, commodity related risks, and market and data risks.
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Commodity-Linked Derivatives Tax Risk. The tax treatment of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be adversely affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. As a RIC, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from certain qualifying sources of income under the Code. If, as a result of any adverse future legislation, U.S. Treasury regulations, and/or guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), the income of the Fund from certain commodity-linked derivatives, including income from the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary, were treated as non-qualifying income, the Fund may fail to qualify as RIC and/or be subject to federal income tax at the Fund level. The uncertainty surrounding the treatment of certain derivative instruments under the qualification tests for a RIC may limit the Fund’s use of such derivative instruments.
The Fund intends to limit its investment in the Subsidiary to no more than 25% of the value of its total assets in order to satisfy certain asset diversification requirements for taxation as a regulated investment company. The Fund intends to manage the exposure to the Subsidiary so that the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary do not exceed 25% of the total assets at the end of any quarter. If the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary were to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of a tax quarter, the Fund, generally, has a grace period to cure such lack of compliance. If the Fund fails to timely cure, it may no longer be eligible to be treated as a RIC.
Commodity Pool Regulatory Risk. The Fund’s investment exposure to futures instruments will cause it to be deemed to be a commodity pool, thereby subjecting the Fund to regulation under the Commodities Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the “CEA”) and CFTC rules. The Adviser is registered as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) and the Fund will be operated in accordance with applicable CFTC rules, as well as the regulatory scheme applicable to registered investment companies. Registration as a CPO imposes additional compliance obligations on the Adviser and the Fund related to additional laws, regulations, and enforcement policies, which could increase compliance costs and may affect the operations and financial performance of the Fund. However, the Fund’s status as a commodity pool and the Adviser’s registration as a CPO are not expected to materially adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. The CFTC has not passed on the adequacy of this Prospectus.
Tax Risk. The Fund intends to treat any income received by the Subsidiary as “qualifying income” under the provisions of the Code applicable to RICs. The IRS has issued numerous private letter rulings (“PLRs”) provided to third parties not associated with the Fund or its affiliates (which only those parties may rely on as precedent) concluding that similar arrangements resulted in qualifying income. Many of such PLRs have now been revoked by the IRS. In March of 2019, the IRS published Regulations that concluded that income from a corporation similar to the Subsidiary would be qualifying income. Although the Regulations do not require distributions from the Subsidiary, the Fund intends to cause the Subsidiary to make distributions that would allow the Fund to make timely distributions to its shareholders and to meet the requirement that the Subsidiary have a value not in excess of 25% of the Fund’s value at the close of a quarter. The Fund generally will be required to include in its own taxable income the income of the Subsidiary for a tax year, regardless of whether the Fund receives a distribution of the Subsidiary’s income in that tax year, and this income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement for qualification as a regulated investment company and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax. In addition, to comply with the asset diversification test applicable to a RIC, the Fund will attempt to ensure that the value of the investments it holds whose value is determined by reference to a specific underlying asset (i.e., bitcoin) is never 25% of the total value of Fund assets at the close of any quarter. If the Fund’s investments whose value is determined by reference to a specific underlying asset were to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of a tax quarter, the Fund, generally, has a grace period to cure such lack of compliance. If the Fund fails to timely cure, it may no longer be eligible to be treated as a RIC.
Counterparty Risk. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives positions, the Fund will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Customer funds held at a clearing organization in connection with any options contracts are held in a commingled omnibus account and are not identified to the name of the clearing member’s individual customers. As a result, assets deposited by the Fund with any clearing member as margin for options may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Fund’s clearing member. In addition, although clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house, there is a risk that the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the clearing member’s bankruptcy, as the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing member’s customers for the relevant account class. The Fund is also subject to the risk that a limited number of clearing members are willing to transact on the Fund’s behalf, which heightens the risks associated with a clearing member’s default. If a clearing member defaults the Fund could lose some or all of the benefits of a transaction entered into by the Fund with the clearing member. If the Fund cannot find a clearing member to transact with on the Fund’s behalf, the Fund may be unable to effectively implement its investment strategy.
Underlying Fund Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy, involving indirect exposure to bitcoin through one or more Bitcoin Underlying Funds, is subject to the risks associated with bitcoin. Shareholders in the Fund bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund and, indirectly, the expenses of the Bitcoin Underlying Funds.
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Bitcoin Underlying Fund Risks: Bitcoin Underlying Funds, which focus on bitcoin either through direct holdings or indirectly via derivatives like futures contracts and swaps, carry significant risks. These risks include high market volatility, which can be influenced by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and broader economic factors. When trading derivatives, liquidity risks and counterparty risks are substantial. Managing futures contracts can be complex and may affect the performance of a Bitcoin Underlying Fund. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Additionally, each Bitcoin Underlying Fund, and consequently the Fund, is dependent on blockchain technology, which brings technological and cybersecurity risks, along with custodial challenges for securely storing digital assets. The constantly evolving regulatory and legal landscape presents continuous compliance and valuation difficulties. Risks related to market concentration and network issues in the digital asset sector further add complexity. Moreover, operational intricacies in managing digital assets and potential market volatility can lead to losses for each Bitcoin Underlying Fund.
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| ● | Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. It is expected that one or more Bitcoin Underlying Funds will not be registered as an investment company subject to the 1940 Act. In addition, Bitcoin Underlying Funds that invest directly in bitcoin are not subject to the 1940 Act. Accordingly, investors in such a Bitcoin Underlying Fund would not have the protections expressly provided by that statute, including: provisions preventing Bitcoin Underlying Fund insiders from managing a Bitcoin Underlying Fund to their benefit and to the detriment of shareholders; provisions preventing a Bitcoin Underlying Fund from issuing securities having inequitable or discriminatory provisions; provisions preventing management by irresponsible persons; provisions preventing the use of unsound or misleading methods of computing Bitcoin Underlying Fund earnings and asset value; provisions prohibiting suspension of redemptions (except under limited circumstances); provisions limiting fund leverage; provisions imposing a fiduciary duty on fund managers with respect to receipt of compensation for services; and provisions preventing changes in a Bitcoin Underlying Fund’s character without the consent of shareholders. |
Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund. As a result, a decline in the value of an investment in a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers could cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than if the Fund held a more diversified portfolio.
Reverse Repurchase Agreement Risk. Similar to borrowing, reverse repurchase agreements provide the Fund with cash for investment purposes, which creates leverage and subjects the Fund to the risks of leverage. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and/or if the value of collateral held by the Fund, including the value of the investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of securities.
ETF Risks
Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that are authorized to purchase and redeem Shares directly from the Fund (known as “Authorized Participants” or “APs”). In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services; or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
Cash Redemption Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy may require it to redeem Shares for cash or to otherwise include cash as part of its redemption proceeds. For example, the Fund may not be able to redeem in-kind certain securities held by the Fund (e.g., derivative instruments). In such a case, the Fund may be required to sell or unwind portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause the Fund to recognize a capital gain that it might not have recognized if it had made a redemption in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher annual capital gain distributions than if the in-kind redemption process was used. By paying out higher annual capital gain distributions, investors may be subjected to increased capital gains taxes. Additionally, there may be brokerage costs or taxable gains or losses that may be imposed on the Fund in connection with a cash redemption that may not have occurred if the Fund had made a redemption in-kind. These costs could decrease the value of the Fund to the extent they are not offset by a transaction fee payable by an AP.
Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including brokerage commissions imposed by brokers and bid-ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. In managing the Fund’s investment portfolio, the portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not produce the desired result. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective.
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Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price of Shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of Shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for Shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant.
Trading. Although Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, such as [] (the “Exchange”), and may be traded on U.S. exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or be maintained or that the Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares. Shares trade on the Exchange at a market price that may be below, at or above the Fund’s NAV. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.
Economic and Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in the general financial markets, a particular financial market, or other asset classes, due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, financial system instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics. The imposition by the U.S. of tariffs on goods imported from foreign countries and reciprocal tariffs levied on U.S. goods by those countries also may lead to volatility and instability in domestic and foreign markets.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses. Frequent trading may also cause adverse tax consequences for investors in the Fund due to an increase in short-term capital gains.
New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.
Operational Risk. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund relies on third-parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the Fund, Adviser, and Sub-Adviser seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
U.S. Government and U.S. Agency Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest in securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the U.S. Treasury. Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so.
Performance
Performance information for the Fund is not included because the Fund has not completed a full calendar year of operations as of the date of this Prospectus. When such information is included, this section will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance history from year to year and showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Although past performance of the Fund is no guarantee of how it will perform in the future, historical performance may give you some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Updated performance information will be available on the Fund’s website at www.nicholasx.com.
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Management
Investment Adviser
Tidal Investments LLC serves as investment adviser to the Fund and the Subsidiary.
Investment Sub-Adviser
Nicholas Wealth, LLC serves as an investment sub-adviser to the Fund and the Subsidiary.
Portfolio Managers
The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and the Subsidiary.
David Nicholas, Founder and President of Nicholas Wealth, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund and Subsidiary since their inception in 2026.
Jay Pestrichelli, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund and Subsidiary since their inception in 2026.
Stephen Foy, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund and Subsidiary since their inception in 2026.
Christopher P. Mullen, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund and Subsidiary since their inception in 2026.
Purchase and Sale of Shares
The Fund issues and redeems Shares at NAV only in large blocks known as “Creation Units,” which only Authorized Participants (Aps) (typically, broker-dealers) may purchase or redeem. The Fund generally issues and redeems Creation Units in exchange for a portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) and/or a designated amount of U.S. cash.
Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, such as the Exchange, and individual Shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through brokers at market prices, rather than NAV. Because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).
An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares (the “bid” price) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (the “ask” price) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market. This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “bid-ask spread.”
When available, information regarding the Fund’s NAV, market price, how often Shares traded on the Exchange at a premium or discount, and bid-ask spreads can be found on the Fund’s website at www.nicholasx.com.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gains (or a combination), unless an investment is in an individual retirement account (“IRA”) or other tax-advantaged account. Distributions on investments made through tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of assets from those accounts.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank) (an “Intermediary”), the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Intermediaries for certain activities related to the Fund, including participation in activities that are designed to make Intermediaries more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the Fund, or for other activities, such as marketing, educational training, or other initiatives related to the sale or promotion of Shares. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Any such arrangements do not result in increased Fund expenses. Ask your salesperson or visit the Intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY INFORMATION
Nicholas Bitcoin Tail ETF – FUND SUMMARY
Investment Objective
The Nicholas Bitcoin Tail ETF’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
| Annual Fund Operating Expenses(1) (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||
| Management Fees | []% | |
| Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.00% | |
| Other Expenses(2) | []% | |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | []% | |
| (1) | The Fund’s investment adviser, Tidal Investments LLC (the “Adviser”), a Tidal Financial Group company, will pay, or require a sub-adviser to pay, all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory and sub-advisory fees, interest charges on any borrowings made for investment purposes, dividends and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses. |
| (2) | Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
Expense Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you may pay on your purchases and sales of Shares. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| 1 Year | 3 Years |
| $[] | $[] |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund is newly organized, portfolio turnover information is not yet available.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by implementing an options-based strategy designed to hedge against significant declines in the price of bitcoin and/or bitcoin-related investments. The Fund is designed for investors that are seeking such a hedge or seeking to benefit from a decline in the price of bitcoin.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s portfolio will primarily consist of:
| ● | Exchange-listed options on (i) U.S.-listed exchange-traded products (“ETPs”) and/or ETFs that seek to track the price performance of bitcoin (together, “Bitcoin Underlying Funds”) or (ii) an index designed to reflect the price performance of bitcoin (“Bitcoin Index”), which are intended to provide downside protection during periods of significant declines in the price of bitcoin; and |
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| ● | Sold call options or call spread positions (simultaneously buying a long call option while writing a short call option on the same underlying asset, with different strike prices but the same expiration date) on Bitcoin Underlying Funds and/or a Bitcoin Index, which are used to help finance the cost of purchasing the Fund’s long put options. |
The Adviser actively manages the Fund’s options exposure on a rolling basis, adjusting strike prices, maturities, and positioning in response to changing volatility and market conditions. Option positions are expected to have maturities generally of one year or less.
The Fund seeks to perform as follows during the indicated market scenarios:
| - | Bitcoin declines sharply. The Fund’s long put options on bitcoin are designed to rise in value as bitcoin prices fall. While the short call spreads may lose some value in this environment, the appreciation in the long put options is expected to more than offset those losses, resulting in net gains for the Fund. |
| - | Bitcoin remains stable. The long put options held by the Fund may expire worthless, resulting in a loss equal to the net premium paid for those positions. |
| - | Bitcoin rises in value. The long put options will lose value as bitcoin’s price increases, and the sold call options or call spread positions may also detract from performance. Losses are expected to be capped at the maximum loss of the call spreads, but may exceed the net premium paid for the Fund’s long put option positions. |
There is no guarantee that the Fund will perform as intended or that the Fund’s strategy of limiting outsized downside risk will be effective. The Fund does not invest directly in bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of bitcoin should consider an investment other than the Fund. Although bitcoin may be referred to as a “cryptocurrency,” it is not yet widely accepted as a means of payment.
Collateral
As part of the Fund’s strategy, the Fund holds collateral investments. The Fund expects to invest in U.S. Treasury bills, money market funds, cash and cash equivalents (e.g., high quality commercial paper and similar instruments that are rated investment grade or, if unrated, of comparable quality, as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser, Nicholas Wealth, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) determines), that provide liquidity, serve as margin or collateralize the Fund’s investments in derivative instruments.
Other Fund Attributes
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of the value of its assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in securities and/or instruments that provide exposure to bitcoin. Derivatives will be valued at notional value for the purposes of this policy.
The Fund’s strategy is expected to result in a high annual portfolio turnover rate.
The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. As with any investment, there is a risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund. Some or all of these risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share, trading price, yield, total return, and/or ability to meet its objective. For more information about the risks of investing in the Fund, see the section in the Fund’s Prospectus titled “Additional Information About the Fund—Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.”
An investment in the Fund entails risk. The Fund may not achieve its investment objective and there is a risk that you could lose all of your money invested in the Fund. The Fund is not a complete investment program. It is important that investors closely review all of the risks listed below and understand them before making an investment in the Fund.
Bitcoin Investment Risks. The Fund’s indirect investment in bitcoin exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends. Not being a legal tender and operating outside central authority systems like banks, bitcoin faces potential government restrictions. For instance, some countries may limit or ban bitcoin transactions, negatively impacting its market value.
The risks associated with bitcoin include the possibility of fraud, theft, market manipulation, and security breaches in trading platforms. A small group of large bitcoin holders, known as “whales,” can significantly influence bitcoin’s price and may have the ability to manipulate the price. The largely unregulated nature of bitcoin and its trading venues heightens risks of fraudulent activities and market manipulation, which could affect bitcoin’s price. For example, if a group of miners gains control over a majority of the bitcoin network, they could manipulate transactions to their advantage. Historical instances have seen bitcoin trading venues shut down due to fraud or security breaches, often leaving investors without recourse and facing significant losses.
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Updates to bitcoin’s software, proposed by developers, can lead to the creation of new digital assets, or “forks,” if not broadly adopted. This can impact bitcoin’s demand and the Fund’s performance. The extreme volatility of bitcoin’s market price can result in shareholder losses. Furthermore, the operation of bitcoin trading platforms may be disrupted or cease altogether due to various issues, further affecting bitcoin’s price and the Fund’s investments.
The value of bitcoin has historically been subject to significant speculation, making trading and investing in bitcoin reliant on market sentiment rather than traditional fundamental analysis.
Bitcoin’s price can be influenced by events unrelated to its security or utility, including instability in other speculative areas of the crypto/blockchain space, potentially leading to substantial declines in its value.
Risks associated with crypto asset trading platforms include fragmentation, regulatory non-compliance, and the possibility of enforcement actions by regulatory authorities, which could impact the valuation of bitcoin-linked derivatives held by the Fund.
The security of the Bitcoin Blockchain may be compromised if a single miner or group controls more than 50% of the network’s hashing power, where hashing power refers to the computational capacity used to validate and secure transactions on the blockchain.
Proposed changes to the bitcoin protocol may not be universally adopted, leading to the creation of competing blockchains (forks) with different assets and participants, exemplified by past forks like Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV.
The Bitcoin Blockchain protocol may contain vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to disrupt its operation, potentially compromising the security and reliability of the network.
Emerging alternative public blockchains, particularly those emphasizing privacy through technologies like zero-knowledge cryptography, pose risks and challenges to the dominance of the Bitcoin Blockchain as a payment system.
Common impediments to adopting the Bitcoin Blockchain as a payment network include slow transaction processing, variability in transaction fees, and the volatility of bitcoin’s price, which may deter widespread adoption by businesses and consumers.
The development and use of “Layer II solutions” are critical for the scalability and functionality of the Bitcoin Blockchain, but they also introduce risks such as off-chain transaction execution, which could affect transparency and security. Layer II solutions are off-chain protocols that improve scalability and reduce transaction costs by processing transactions outside the main blockchain network.
Adoption and use of other blockchains supporting advanced applications like smart contracts present challenges to the dominance of the Bitcoin Blockchain, potentially impacting its long-term relevance and utility in the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.
| ● | Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class and are not presently widely used as such. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. The trading platforms for digital assets are relatively new, largely unregulated or possibly operating out of compliance with regulations, and thus more vulnerable to fraud and failures compared to traditional, regulated exchanges. Shutdowns of these platforms due to fraud, technical glitches, or security issues can significantly affect digital asset prices and market volatility. |
| ● | Digital Asset Markets Risk: The digital asset market, particularly bitcoin, has experienced considerable volatility, leading to market disruptions and erosion of confidence among market participants. This instability and the resultant negative publicity could adversely affect the Fund’s reputation and trading prices. Ongoing market turbulence could significantly impact the value of the Fund’s share. |
| ● | Blockchain Technology Risk: Blockchain technology, which underpins bitcoin and other digital assets, is relatively new, and many of its applications are untested. The adoption of blockchain and the development of competing platforms or technologies could affect its usage. Investments in companies or vehicles that utilize blockchain technology are subject to market volatility and may experience lower trading volumes compared to more established industries. Additionally, regulatory changes, internet disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, and intellectual property disputes could further affect the adoption and functionality of blockchain technology. |
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Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indices. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions. The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of derivatives may result in larger losses or smaller gains than directly investing in securities. When the Fund uses derivatives, there may be an imperfect correlation between the value of the Index and the derivative, which may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. Because derivatives often require only a limited initial investment, the use of derivatives may expose the Fund to losses in excess of those amounts initially invested. In addition, the Fund’s investments in derivatives are subject to the following risks:
Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying security or instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which is affected by fiscal and monetary policies, changes in the actual or implied volatility of the underlying security or instrument, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events. The Fund may experience substantial downside from specific option positions and certain option positions held by the Fund may expire worthless. The options held by the Fund are exercisable at the strike price on their expiration date. As an option approaches its expiration date, its value typically increasingly moves with the value of the underlying security or instrument. However, prior to such date, the value of an option generally does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the underlying security or instrument. There may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the values of options contracts and the underlying security or instrument, and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain options contracts. The value of the options held by the Fund will be determined based on market quotations or other recognized pricing methods. Additionally, as the Fund may continuously maintain indirect exposure to one or more of the underlying securities or instruments through the use of options contracts, as the options contracts it holds are exercised or expire it will enter into new options contracts, a practice referred to as “rolling.” If the expiring options contracts do not generate proceeds enough to cover the cost of entering into new options contracts, the Fund may experience losses.
Counterparty Risk. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives positions, the Fund will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Customer funds held at a clearing organization in connection with any options contracts are held in a commingled omnibus account and are not identified to the name of the clearing member’s individual customers. As a result, assets deposited by the Fund with any clearing member as margin for options may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Fund’s clearing member. In addition, although clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house, there is a risk that the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the clearing member’s bankruptcy, as the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing member’s customers for the relevant account class. The Fund is also subject to the risk that a limited number of clearing members are willing to transact on the Fund’s behalf, which heightens the risks associated with a clearing member’s default. If a clearing member defaults the Fund could lose some or all of the benefits of a transaction entered into by the Fund with the clearing member. If the Fund cannot find a clearing member to transact with on the Fund’s behalf, the Fund may be unable to effectively implement its investment strategy.
Underlying Fund Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy, involving indirect exposure to bitcoin through options on one or more Bitcoin Underlying Funds, is subject to the risks associated with bitcoin.
| ● |
Bitcoin Underlying Fund Risks: Bitcoin Underlying Funds, which focus on bitcoin either through direct holdings or indirectly via derivatives like futures contracts and swaps, carry significant risks. These risks include high market volatility, which can be influenced by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and broader economic factors. When trading derivatives, liquidity risks and counterparty risks are substantial. Managing futures contracts can be complex and may affect the performance of a Bitcoin Underlying Fund. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Additionally, each Bitcoin Underlying Fund, and consequently the Fund, is dependent on blockchain technology, which brings technological and cybersecurity risks, along with custodial challenges for securely storing digital assets. The constantly evolving regulatory and legal landscape presents continuous compliance and valuation difficulties. Risks related to market concentration and network issues in the digital asset sector further add complexity. Moreover, operational intricacies in managing digital assets and potential market volatility can lead to losses for each Bitcoin Underlying Fund.
| |
| ● | Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. It is expected that one or more Bitcoin Underlying Funds will not be registered as an investment company subject to the 1940 Act. In addition, Bitcoin Underlying Funds that invest directly in bitcoin are not subject to the 1940 Act. Accordingly, investors in such a Bitcoin Underlying Fund would not have the protections expressly provided by that statute, including: provisions preventing Bitcoin Underlying Fund insiders from managing a Bitcoin Underlying Fund to their benefit and to the detriment of shareholders; provisions preventing a Bitcoin Underlying Fund from issuing securities having inequitable or discriminatory provisions; provisions preventing management by irresponsible persons; provisions preventing the use of unsound or misleading methods of computing Bitcoin Underlying Fund earnings and asset value; provisions prohibiting suspension of redemptions (except under limited circumstances); provisions limiting fund leverage; provisions imposing a fiduciary duty on fund managers with respect to receipt of compensation for services; and provisions preventing changes in a Bitcoin Underlying Fund’s character without the consent of shareholders. Although the Fund invests in one or more Bitcoin Underlying Funds only indirectly, the Fund’s investments are expected to be subject to loss as a result of these risks. |
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Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund. As a result, a decline in the value of an investment in a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers could cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than if the Fund held a more diversified portfolio.
Regulated Investment Company Tax Risk. The Fund intends to elect and to qualify each year to be treated as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”). As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its net investment income and net capital gain that it distributes to shareholders, provided that it satisfies certain requirements of the Code. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year and certain relief provisions are not available, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to tax at the Fund level and to a further tax at the shareholder level when such income is distributed. To comply with the asset diversification test applicable to a RIC, the Fund will attempt to ensure that the value of swap contracts and options on Bitcoin-related assets does not exceed 25% of the Fund’s value at the close of any quarter. If the value of swap contracts and options whose value depends on Bitcoin were to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of a tax quarter, the Fund, generally, has a grace period to cure such lack of compliance. If the Fund fails to timely cure, it may no longer be eligible to be treated as a RIC.
ETF Risks
Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that are authorized to purchase and redeem Shares directly from the Fund (known as “Authorized Participants” or “APs”). In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services; or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
Cash Redemption Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy may require it to redeem Shares for cash or to otherwise include cash as part of its redemption proceeds. For example, the Fund may not be able to redeem in-kind certain securities held by the Fund (e.g., derivative instruments). In such a case, the Fund may be required to sell or unwind portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause the Fund to recognize a capital gain that it might not have recognized if it had made a redemption in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher annual capital gain distributions than if the in-kind redemption process was used. By paying out higher annual capital gain distributions, investors may be subjected to increased capital gains taxes. Additionally, there may be brokerage costs or taxable gains or losses that may be imposed on the Fund in connection with a cash redemption that may not have occurred if the Fund had made a redemption in-kind. These costs could decrease the value of the Fund to the extent they are not offset by a transaction fee payable by an AP.
Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including brokerage commissions imposed by brokers and bid-ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. In managing the Fund’s investment portfolio, the portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not produce the desired result. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective.
Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price of Shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of Shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for Shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant.
Trading. Although Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, such as [] (the “Exchange”), and may be traded on U.S. exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or be maintained or that the Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares. Shares trade on the Exchange at a market price that may be below, at or above the Fund’s NAV. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.
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Economic and Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in the general financial markets, a particular financial market, or other asset classes, due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, financial system instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics. The imposition by the U.S. of tariffs on goods imported from foreign countries and reciprocal tariffs levied on U.S. goods by those countries also may lead to volatility and instability in domestic and foreign markets.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses. Frequent trading may also cause adverse tax consequences for investors in the Fund due to an increase in short-term capital gains.
New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.
Operational Risk. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund relies on third-parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the Fund, Adviser, and Sub-Adviser seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
U.S. Government and U.S. Agency Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest in securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the U.S. Treasury. Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so.
Performance
Performance information for the Fund is not included because the Fund has not completed a full calendar year of operations as of the date of this Prospectus. When such information is included, this section will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance history from year to year and showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Although past performance of the Fund is no guarantee of how it will perform in the future, historical performance may give you some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Updated performance information will be available on the Fund’s website at www.nicholasx.com.
Management
Investment Adviser
Tidal Investments LLC serves as investment adviser to the Fund.
Investment Sub-Adviser
Nicholas Wealth, LLC serves as an investment sub-adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.
David Nicholas, Founder and President of Nicholas Wealth, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2026.
Jay Pestrichelli, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2026.
Matt Brandt, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2026.
Scott Snyder, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser, has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2026.
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Purchase and Sale of Shares
The Fund issues and redeems Shares at NAV only in large blocks known as “Creation Units,” which only Authorized Participants (Aps) (typically, broker-dealers) may purchase or redeem. The Fund generally issues and redeems Creation Units in exchange for a portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) and/or a designated amount of U.S. cash.
Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, such as the Exchange, and individual Shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through brokers at market prices, rather than NAV. Because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).
An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares (the “bid” price) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (the “ask” price) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market. This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “bid-ask spread.”
When available, information regarding the Fund’s NAV, market price, how often Shares traded on the Exchange at a premium or discount, and bid-ask spreads can be found on the Fund’s website at www.nicholasx.com.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gains (or a combination), unless an investment is in an individual retirement account (“IRA”) or other tax-advantaged account. Distributions on investments made through tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of assets from those accounts.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank) (an “Intermediary”), the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Intermediaries for certain activities related to the Fund, including participation in activities that are designed to make Intermediaries more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the Fund, or for other activities, such as marketing, educational training, or other initiatives related to the sale or promotion of Shares. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Any such arrangements do not result in increased Fund expenses. Ask your salesperson or visit the Intermediary’s website for more information.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
Investment Objective
An investment objective is fundamental if it cannot be changed without the consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares. Each Fund’s investment objective, as disclosed in each Fund’s summary section of this Prospectus above, has not been adopted as a fundamental investment policy and therefore its investment objective may be changed without the consent of Fund shareholders upon approval by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Tidal Trust II (the “Trust”) and 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.
Principal Investment Strategies
Each Fund’s “80%” policy is non-fundamental and can be changed without shareholder approval. However, Fund shareholders would be given at least 60 days’ notice prior to any such change.
Options Strategies
Each Fund’s options use may include FLexible EXchange® (“FLEX”) options. FLEX options are customized options contracts that trade on an exchange but provide investors with the ability to customize key contract terms like strike price, style and expiration date while achieving price discovery in competitive, transparent auctions markets and avoiding the counterparty exposure of “over-the-counter” options positions. Like traditional exchange-traded options, FLEX Options are guaranteed for settlement by the OCC, a market clearinghouse that guarantees performance by counterparties to certain derivatives contracts.
Information About Bitcoin
As noted above, a Fund does not invest directly in bitcoin or any other digital assets. A Fund does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of bitcoin should consider an investment other than the Fund. The following provides an overview of bitcoin, the Bitcoin Blockchain, the relationship between the two, as well as their use cases.
Bitcoin Description:
Bitcoin, the first and most well-known modern digital asset, operates on a decentralized network using blockchain technology to facilitate secure and anonymous transactions. Bitcoin represents a digital asset that functions as a medium of exchange utilizing cryptographic protocols to secure transactional processes, control the creation of additional units, and verify the transfer of assets. Its operation on a decentralized blockchain network ensures both transparency and immutability of records, without the need for a central authority. This innovative technology underpinning bitcoin allows for peer-to-peer transactions and provides a framework for digital scarcity, making bitcoin a unique investment commodity within the digital asset landscape. Although bitcoin is called a crypto or digital currency, it is not presently accepted widely as a means of payment.
Bitcoin Blockchain Description:
The Bitcoin Blockchain constitutes a decentralized, digital ledger technology that chronologically and publicly records all bitcoin transactions. As noted above, this technology is characterized by its use of blocks, which are structurally linked in a chain through cryptographic hashes. Each block contains a list of transactions that, once verified and added to the blockchain through a consensus process known as proof of work, which may take an hour or more, becomes irreversible and tamper-evident. The integrity, transparency, and security of the transactional data are maintained autonomously within the bitcoin network, eliminating the necessity for central oversight and facilitating trust in a peer-to-peer system.
The Relationship between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Blockchain:
Bitcoin is a digital asset that operates on the Bitcoin Blockchain, a decentralized and cryptographic ledger system. The Bitcoin Blockchain underpins the entire bitcoin network, providing a secure and transparent mechanism for recording bitcoin transactions. Each bitcoin transaction is verified by network participants and permanently recorded on the Bitcoin Blockchain, ensuring the integrity and traceability of the digital asset. Thus, while bitcoin serves as a medium of exchange or store of value, the Bitcoin Blockchain acts as the immutable record-keeping system that facilitates and authenticates the circulation and ownership of bitcoin. This symbiotic relationship ensures that bitcoin operates in a trustless and decentralized manner, with the Bitcoin Blockchain maintaining bitcoin’s history and scarcity.
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Bitcoin and Bitcoin Blockchain Use Cases:
Bitcoin and the Bitcoin Blockchain serve as innovative financial instruments within the digital economy, offering multiple use cases. However, their adoption has been limited. Key applications include:
| 1. | Decentralized Transactions: Bitcoin facilitates peer-to-peer financial transactions globally without the need for intermediaries, reducing transaction costs and times. This feature makes it an attractive option for cross-border transfers and remittances. Bitcoin and the Bitcoin Blockchain were designed to be used as an alternative general purpose payment system and while bitcoin may be an attractive option for cross border transfers and remittances, it is presently not widely used as a means of payment. |
| 2. | Store of Value: Due to its limited supply and decentralized nature, bitcoin is perceived as a digital alternative to traditional stores of value like gold, potentially serving as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. |
| 3. | Smart Contracts: While primarily associated with other blockchain platforms, the Bitcoin Blockchain can execute smart contracts—self-executing contractual agreements with the terms directly written into code—thereby enabling automated and conditional transactions. |
| 4. | Asset Tokenization: The Bitcoin Blockchain provides a platform for tokenizing assets, converting rights to an asset into a digital token on the blockchain. This can include real estate, stocks, or other forms of assets, enhancing liquidity and market efficiency. At this time this functionality is limited. Unlike the scripting language of blockchain platforms like Ethereum, the scripting language of the Bitcoin Blockchain is not Turing complete, and thus more limited in terms of the types of smart contracts it can support. |
| 5. | Digital Identity Verification: Leveraging the security and immutability of the Bitcoin Blockchain, companies can develop digital identity verification systems, enhancing privacy and reducing identity theft. At this time this functionality is limited. |
Additional Information Related to the Cayman Subsidiary (Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF)
The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary.
The principal investment strategies and risks of the Subsidiary are also principal investment strategies and risks of the Fund and therefore the principal investment strategies and principal risk disclosures of the registration statement reflect the operations of the Fund and its subsidiaries, including the Subsidiary, on a consolidated basis.
The investment adviser to the Subsidiary complies with provisions of the 1940 Act relating to investment advisory contracts (Section 15) as if it is an investment adviser under Section 2(a)(20) of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that for purposes of complying with Section 15(c), the reviews of the Fund’s and the Subsidiary’s investment advisory agreements may be combined.
The Subsidiary complies with the 1940 Act provisions relating to affiliated transactions and custody (Section 17). The Subsidiary’s custodian is U.S. Bank. The Fund complies with the provisions of the 1940 Act governing capital structure and leverage (Section 18) on an aggregate basis with the Subsidiary so that the Fund treats its Subsidiary’s debt as its own for purposes of Section 18. The Fund does not intend to create or acquire primary control of any entity which engages in investment activities in securities or other assets, other than entities it wholly-owns.
The financial statements of the Subsidiary will be consolidated with the Fund’s financial statements in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements (Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF)
As noted above, the Fund may use reverse repurchase agreements, a form of borrowing where it sells securities and agrees to buy them back later at a higher price, allowing it to use the sale proceeds for other investments. This practice results in a loss for a Fund as it repurchases the securities at a higher price. To qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund ensures its investment in the Subsidiary does not exceed 25% of its total assets at the end of each fiscal quarter. During other times of the year, this investment may exceed 25%.
To manage its asset exposure to the Subsidiary, the Fund may use short-term Treasury Bills it owns (and purchase additional Treasury Bills if necessary) to engage in reverse repurchase agreements, which function as loans to the Fund. These loans increase the Fund’s gross assets, helping it meet the Asset Diversification Test. When entering a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund will either (i) comply with Section 18 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 by maintaining asset coverage of at least 300% of the value of the reverse repurchase agreement; or (ii) treat the reverse repurchase agreement transactions as derivative transactions under Rule 18f-4 of the 1940 Act, adhering to the applicable value-at-risk based limit on leverage risk.
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Investments by Registered Investment Companies
Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies. However, registered investment companies are permitted to invest in other investment companies beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) in rules under the 1940 Act, subject to certain conditions. A Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-4 of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows a Fund to invest beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) if the Fund satisfies certain conditions specified in Rule 12d1-4, including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company).
Temporary Defensive Strategies
For temporary defensive purposes during adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, a Fund may invest in a manner that is inconsistent with its principal investment strategies, including investments in cash or cash equivalents or short-term instruments such as commercial paper, money market mutual funds, or short-term U.S. government securities. Taking a temporary defensive position may result in a Fund not achieving its investment objective.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Funds
There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The following information is in addition to, and should be read along with, the description of each Fund’s principal investment risks in the section titled “Fund Summary— Principal Investment Risks” above. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate finding particular risks and comparing them with those of other funds. Each risk summarized below is considered a “principal risk” of investing in a Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears.
|
Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF |
Nicholas Bitcoin Tail ETF | |
| Bitcoin Investment Risks | X | X |
| Cayman Subsidiary Risk | X | - |
| Commodity-Linked Derivatives Tax Risk | X | - |
| Commodity Pool Regulatory Risk | X | - |
| Counterparty Risk | X | X |
| Derivatives Risk | X | X |
| - Futures Contracts | X | - |
| - Options Contracts | X | X |
| - Swap Agreements | - | - |
| Economic and Market Risk | X | X |
| ETF Risks | X | X |
| High Portfolio Turnover Risk | X | X |
| New Fund Risk | X | X |
| Non-Diversification Risk | X | X |
| Operational Risk | X | X |
| Tax Risk | X | - |
| Regulated Investment Company Tax Risk | - | X |
| Reverse Repurchase Agreement Risk | X | - |
| Underlying Fund Risk | X | X |
| U.S. Government and U.S. Agency Obligations Risk | X | X |
Bitcoin Investment Risks. A Fund’s indirect investment in bitcoin exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends. Not being a legal tender and operating outside central authority systems like banks, bitcoin faces potential government restrictions. For instance, some countries may limit or ban bitcoin transactions, negatively impacting its market value.
The risks associated with bitcoin include the possibility of fraud, theft, market manipulation, and security breaches in trading platforms. A small group of large bitcoin holders, known as “whales,” can significantly influence bitcoin’s price and may have the ability to manipulate the price. The largely unregulated nature of bitcoin and its trading venues heightens risks of fraudulent activities and market manipulation, which could affect bitcoin’s price. For example, if a group of miners gains control over a majority of the bitcoin network, they could manipulate transactions to their advantage. Historical instances have seen bitcoin trading venues shut down due to fraud or security breaches, often leaving investors without recourse and facing significant losses.
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Updates to bitcoin’s software, proposed by developers, can lead to the creation of new digital assets, or “forks,” if not broadly adopted. This can impact bitcoin’s demand and the Fund’s performance. The extreme volatility of bitcoin’s market price can result in shareholder losses. Furthermore, the operation of bitcoin trading platforms may be disrupted or cease altogether due to various issues, further affecting bitcoin’s price and the Fund’s investments.
The value of bitcoin has historically been subject to significant speculation, making trading and investing in bitcoin reliant on market sentiment rather than traditional fundamental analysis.
Bitcoin’s price can be influenced by events unrelated to its security or utility, including instability in other speculative areas of the crypto/blockchain space, potentially leading to substantial declines in its value.
Risks associated with crypto asset trading platforms include fragmentation, regulatory non-compliance, and the possibility of enforcement actions by regulatory authorities, which could impact the valuation of bitcoin-linked derivatives held by the Fund.
The security of the Bitcoin Blockchain may be compromised if a single miner or group controls more than 50% of the network’s hashing power, where hashing power refers to the computational capacity used to validate and secure transactions on the blockchain.
Proposed changes to the bitcoin protocol may not be universally adopted, leading to the creation of competing blockchains (forks) with different assets and participants, exemplified by past forks like Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV.
The Bitcoin Blockchain protocol may contain vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to disrupt its operation, potentially compromising the security and reliability of the network.
Emerging alternative public blockchains, particularly those emphasizing privacy through technologies like zero-knowledge cryptography, pose risks and challenges to the dominance of the Bitcoin Blockchain as a payment system.
Common impediments to adopting the Bitcoin Blockchain as a payment network include slow transaction processing, variability in transaction fees, and the volatility of bitcoin’s price, which may deter widespread adoption by businesses and consumers.
The development and use of “Layer II solutions” are critical for the scalability and functionality of the Bitcoin Blockchain, but they also introduce risks such as off-chain transaction execution, which could affect transparency and security. Layer II solutions are off-chain protocols that improve scalability and reduce transaction costs by processing transactions outside the main blockchain network.
Adoption and use of other blockchains supporting advanced applications like smart contracts present challenges to the dominance of the Bitcoin Blockchain, potentially impacting its long-term relevance and utility in the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.
| ● | Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class and are not presently widely used as such. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. The trading platforms for digital assets are relatively new, largely unregulated or possibly operating out of compliance with regulations, and thus more vulnerable to fraud and failures compared to traditional, regulated exchanges. Shutdowns of these platforms due to fraud, technical glitches, or security issues can significantly affect digital asset prices and market volatility. |
| ● | Digital Asset Markets Risk: The digital asset market, particularly bitcoin, has experienced considerable volatility, leading to market disruptions and erosion of confidence among market participants. This instability and the resultant negative publicity could adversely affect the Fund’s reputation and trading prices. Ongoing market turbulence could significantly impact the value of the Fund’s share. |
| ● | Blockchain Technology Risk: Blockchain technology, which underpins bitcoin and other digital assets, is relatively new, and many of its applications are untested. The adoption of blockchain and the development of competing platforms or technologies could affect its usage. Investments in companies or vehicles that utilize blockchain technology are subject to market volatility and may experience lower trading volumes compared to more established industries. Additionally, regulatory changes, internet disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, and intellectual property disputes could further affect the adoption and functionality of blockchain technology. |
Cayman Subsidiary Risk. By investing in its Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The investments held by the Subsidiary are subject to the same economic risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Changes in the laws of the United States and the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to continue to operate as it does currently and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns. In addition, the Subsidiary is also subject to many of the risks to which the Fund is subject, such as tax risks, commodity related risks, and market and data risks.
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Commodity-Linked Derivatives Tax Risk. The tax treatment of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be adversely affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. As a RIC, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from certain qualifying sources of income under the Code. If, as a result of any adverse future legislation, U.S. Treasury regulations, and/or guidance issued by the IRS, the income of the Fund from certain commodity-linked derivatives, including income from the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary, were treated as non-qualifying income, the Fund may fail to qualify as RIC and/or be subject to federal income tax at the Fund level. The uncertainty surrounding the treatment of certain derivative instruments under the qualification tests for a RIC may limit the Fund’s use of such derivative instruments.
The Fund intends to limit its investment in the Subsidiary to no more than 25% of the value of its total assets in order to satisfy certain asset diversification requirements for taxation as a regulated investment company. The Fund intends to manage the exposure to the Subsidiary so that the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary do not exceed 25% of the total assets at the end of any quarter. If the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary were to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of a tax quarter, the Fund, generally, has a grace period to cure such lack of compliance. If the Fund fails to timely cure, it may no longer be eligible to be treated as a RIC.
Commodity Pool Regulatory Risk. The Fund’s investment exposure to futures instruments will cause it to be deemed to be a commodity pool, thereby subjecting the Fund to regulation under the CEA and CFTC rules. The Adviser is registered as a CPO and the Fund will be operated in accordance with applicable CFTC rules, as well as the regulatory scheme applicable to registered investment companies. Registration as a CPO imposes additional compliance obligations on the Adviser and the Fund related to additional laws, regulations, and enforcement policies, which could increase compliance costs and may affect the operations and financial performance of the Fund. However, the Fund’s status as a commodity pool and the Adviser’s registration as a CPO are not expected to materially adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. The CFTC has not passed on the adequacy of this Prospectus.
Counterparty Risk. A Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives positions, the Fund will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Customer funds held at a clearing organization in connection with any options contracts are held in a commingled omnibus account and are not identified to the name of the clearing member’s individual customers. As a result, assets deposited by the Fund with any clearing member as margin for options may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Fund’s clearing member. In addition, although clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house, there is a risk that the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the clearing member’s bankruptcy, as the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing member’s customers for the relevant account class. Each Fund is also subject to the risk that a limited number of clearing members are willing to transact on the Fund’s behalf, which heightens the risks associated with a clearing member’s default. If a clearing member defaults the Fund could lose some or all of the benefits of a transaction entered into by the Fund with the clearing member. If the Fund cannot find a clearing member to transact with on the Fund’s behalf, the Fund may be unable to effectively implement its investment strategy.
A Fund may also subject to counterparty risk with respect to investment in swap transactions. Such counterparty risk exposes the Fund to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund. Counterparty risk may arise because of the counterparty’s financial condition (i.e., financial difficulties, bankruptcy, or insolvency), market activities and developments, or other reasons, whether foreseen or not. A counterparty’s inability to fulfill its obligation may result in significant financial loss to the Fund and the Fund may be unable to recover its investment from such counterparty or may obtain a limited and/or delayed recovery.
Derivatives Risk. A Fund’s derivative investments have risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets; the loss of principal, including the potential loss of amounts greater than the initial amount invested in the derivative instrument; the possible default of the other party to the transaction; and illiquidity of the derivative investments. Use of derivatives could also result in a loss if the counterparty to the transaction does not perform as promised, including because of such counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. This risk may be greater during volatile market conditions. Other risks include the inability to close out a position because the trading market becomes illiquid (particularly in the OTC markets) or the availability of counterparties becomes limited for a period of time. In addition, the presence of speculators in a particular market could lead to price distortions.
Certain of the Fund’s transactions in derivatives could also affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to shareholders, which may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gain and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such transactions, which may adversely impact such Fund’s after-tax returns.
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In addition, a Fund’s investments in derivatives are subject to the following risks (as applicable):
Futures Contracts. Risks of futures contracts include: (i) an imperfect correlation between the value of the futures contract and the underlying asset; (ii) possible lack of a liquid secondary market; (iii) the inability to close a futures contract when desired; (iv) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which may be unlimited; (v) an obligation for the Fund to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin, particularly at times when the Fund may have insufficient cash; and (vi) unfavorable execution prices from rapid selling. Unlike equities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, futures contracts normally specify a certain date for settlement in cash based on the reference asset. As the futures contracts approach expiration, they may be replaced by similar contracts that have a later expiration. This process is referred to as “rolling.” If the market for these contracts is in “contango,” meaning that the prices of futures contracts in the nearer months are lower than the price of contracts in the distant months, the sale of the near-term month contract would be at a lower price than the longer-term contract, resulting in a cost to “roll” the futures contract. The actual realization of a potential roll cost will be dependent upon the difference in price of the near and distant contract.
Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events. For the Fund in particular, the value of the options contracts in which it invests are substantially influenced by the value of the underlying security or instrument. The Fund may experience substantial downside from specific option positions and certain option positions held by the Fund may expire worthless. The options held by the Fund are exercisable at the strike price on their expiration date. As an option approaches its expiration date, its value typically increasingly move with the value of the underlying instrument. However, prior to such date, the value of an option generally does not increase or decrease at the same rate at the underlying instrument. There may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the values of options contracts and the underlying instrument, and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for certain options contracts. The value of the options held by the Fund will be determined based on market quotations or other recognized pricing methods. The Fund may also write call and put options, which includes the risk that the underlying instrument appreciates or depreciates sufficiently over the period to offset the net premium received by the Fund for the written option, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Additionally, to the extent the Fund maintains indirect exposure to an underlying security or instrument through the use of options contracts, as the options contracts it holds are exercised or expire it will enter into new options contracts, a practice referred to as “rolling.” If the expiring options contracts do not generate proceeds enough to cover the cost of entering into new options contracts, the Fund may experience losses.
Economic and Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in the general financial markets, a particular financial market, or other asset classes, due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, financial system instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics. The imposition by the U.S. of tariffs on goods imported from foreign countries and reciprocal tariffs levied on U.S. goods by those countries also may lead to volatility and instability in domestic and foreign markets.
Regulated Investment Company Tax Risk. The Fund intends to elect and to qualify each year to be treated as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”). As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its net investment income and net capital gain that it distributes to shareholders, provided that it satisfies certain requirements of the Code. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year and certain relief provisions are not available, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to tax at the Fund level and to a further tax at the shareholder level when such income is distributed. To comply with the asset diversification test applicable to a RIC, the Fund will attempt to ensure that the value of swap contracts and options on Bitcoin-related assets does not exceed 25% of the Fund’s value at the close of any quarter. If the value of swap contracts and options whose value depends on Bitcoin were to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of a tax quarter, the Fund, generally, has a grace period to cure such lack of compliance. If the Fund fails to timely cure, it may no longer be eligible to be treated as a RIC.
ETF Risks
Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that are authorized to purchase and redeem Shares directly from the Fund (known as “Authorized Participants” or “APs”). In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these services; or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
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Cash Redemption Risk. Each Fund’s investment strategy may require it to redeem Shares for cash or to otherwise include cash as part of its redemption proceeds. For example, the Fund may not be able to redeem in-kind certain securities held by the Fund (e.g., derivative instruments). In such a case, the Fund may be required to sell or unwind portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause the Fund to recognize a capital gain that it might not have recognized if it had made a redemption in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher annual capital gain distributions than if the in-kind redemption process was used. By paying out higher annual capital gain distributions, investors may be subjected to increased capital gains taxes. Additionally, there may be brokerage costs or taxable gains or losses that may be imposed on the Fund in connection with a cash redemption that may not have occurred if the Fund had made a redemption in-kind. These costs could decrease the value of the Fund to the extent they are not offset by a transaction fee payable by an AP.
Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including brokerage commissions imposed by brokers and bid-ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. In managing the Fund’s investment portfolio, the portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not produce the desired result. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective.
Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price of Shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of Shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for Shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant.
Trading. Although Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, such as the Exchange, and may be traded on U.S. exchanges other than the applicable Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or be maintained or that the Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares. Shares trade on the applicable Exchange at a market price that may be below, at or above the Fund’s NAV. Trading in Shares on the applicable Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on an Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the applicable Exchange’s “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the applicable Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the securities in its portfolio. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses. Frequent trading may also cause adverse tax consequences for investors in the Fund due to an increase in short-term capital gains.
New Fund Risk. The Fund is recently organized with limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decisions. There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size.
Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund. As a result, a decline in the value of an investment in a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers could cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than if the Fund held a more diversified portfolio.
Operational Risk. Each Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. Each Fund relies on third-parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the Fund and the Fund’s investment advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
Reverse Repurchase Agreement Risk. Similar to borrowing, reverse repurchase agreements provide the Fund with cash for investment purposes, which creates leverage and subjects the Fund to the risks of leverage. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the other party may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and/or if the value of collateral held by the Fund, including the value of the investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of securities.
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Tax Risk. The Fund intends to treat any income received by the Subsidiary as “qualifying income” under the provisions of the Code applicable to RICs. The IRS has issued numerous private letter rulings (“PLRs”) provided to third parties not associated with the Fund or its affiliates (which only those parties may rely on as precedent) concluding that similar arrangements resulted in qualifying income. Many of such PLRs have now been revoked by the IRS. In March of 2019, the IRS published Regulations that concluded that income from a corporation similar to the Subsidiary would be qualifying income. Although the Regulations do not require distributions from the Subsidiary, the Fund intends to cause the Subsidiary to make distributions that would allow the Fund to make timely distributions to its shareholders and to meet the requirement that the Subsidiary have a value not in excess of 25% of the Fund’s value at the close of a quarter. The Fund generally will be required to include in its own taxable income the income of the Subsidiary for a tax year, regardless of whether the Fund receives a distribution of the Subsidiary’s income in that tax year, and this income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement for qualification as a regulated investment company and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax. In addition, to comply with the asset diversification test applicable to a RIC, the Fund will attempt to ensure that the value of options and Underlying Funds it holds whose value is determined by reference to a specific underlying asset is never 25% of the total value of Fund assets at the close of any quarter. If the Fund’s investments in Underlying Funds or options whose value is determined by reference to a specific underlying asset were to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of a tax quarter, the Fund, generally, has a grace period to cure such lack of compliance. If the Fund fails to timely cure, it may no longer be eligible to be treated as a RIC.
Underlying Fund Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy, involving indirect exposure to bitcoin through one or more Underlying Funds, is subject to the risks associated with bitcoin. Shareholders in the Fund bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund and, indirectly, the expenses of the Underlying Funds.
| ● | Bitcoin Underlying Fund Risks: Bitcoin Underlying Funds, which focus on bitcoin either through direct holdings or indirectly via derivatives like futures contracts and swaps, carry significant risks. These risks include high market volatility, which can be influenced by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and broader economic factors. When trading derivatives, liquidity risks and counterparty risks are substantial. Managing futures contracts can be complex and may affect the performance of a Bitcoin Underlying Fund. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Additionally, each Bitcoin Underlying Fund, and consequently the Fund, is dependent on blockchain technology, which brings technological and cybersecurity risks, along with custodial challenges for securely storing digital assets. The constantly evolving regulatory and legal landscape presents continuous compliance and valuation difficulties. Risks related to market concentration and network issues in the digital asset sector further add complexity. Moreover, operational intricacies in managing digital assets and potential market volatility can lead to losses for each Bitcoin Underlying Fund. |
| ● | Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. It is expected that one or more Bitcoin Underlying Funds will not be registered as an investment company subject to the 1940 Act. In addition, Bitcoin Underlying Funds that invest directly in bitcoin are not subject to the 1940 Act. Accordingly, investors in such a Bitcoin Underlying Fund would not have the protections expressly provided by that statute, including: provisions preventing Bitcoin Underlying Fund insiders from managing a Bitcoin Underlying Fund to their benefit and to the detriment of shareholders; provisions preventing a Bitcoin Underlying Fund from issuing securities having inequitable or discriminatory provisions; provisions preventing management by irresponsible persons; provisions preventing the use of unsound or misleading methods of computing Bitcoin Underlying Fund earnings and asset value; provisions prohibiting suspension of redemptions (except under limited circumstances); provisions limiting fund leverage; provisions imposing a fiduciary duty on fund managers with respect to receipt of compensation for services; and provisions preventing changes in a Bitcoin Underlying Fund’s character without the consent of shareholders. |
U.S. Government and U.S. Agency Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest in securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the U.S. Treasury. Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
Information about each Fund’s daily portfolio holdings will be available on the Funds’ website at https://www.nicholasx.com.
A complete description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
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Investment Adviser
Tidal Investments LLC, a Tidal Financial Group company, located at 234 West Florida Street, Suite 203, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204, is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a Delaware limited liability company. Tidal was founded in March 2012 and Tidal is dedicated to understanding, researching and managing assets within the expanding ETF universe. As of [], 2025, Tidal had assets under management of approximately $[] billion and served as the investment adviser or sub-adviser for [] registered funds.
Tidal serves as investment adviser to each Fund and has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of each Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust, on behalf of each Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser provides oversight of the Sub-Adviser and review of the Sub-Adviser’s performance. The Adviser is also responsible for trading portfolio securities and financial instruments for the Funds (and the Subsidiary to the Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF), including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions. The Adviser also arranges for sub-advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration, and all other related services necessary for the Funds to operate. For the services it provides to the Funds, each Fund pays the Adviser a unitary management fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of []% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Under the Advisory Agreement, in exchange for a single unitary management fee from each Fund, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses incurred by a Fund except for advisory and sub-advisory fees, interest charges on any borrowings made for investment purposes, dividends and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses (collectively, the “Excluded Expenses”).
The Adviser also serves as the investment adviser to the Subsidiary, a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Subsidiary (the “Subsidiary Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is also responsible for trading portfolio securities and financial instruments for the Subsidiary, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions. The Adviser does not receive additional compensation for its services to the Subsidiary.
The investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Subsidiary was approved by the Board. However, because the Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, it is not subject to the regulatory protections of the 1940 Act and the Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF, as an investor in its Subsidiary, will not have all of the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. Because the Fund wholly owns and controls its Subsidiary, and the Adviser is subject to the oversight of the Board, it is unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, as part of the Board’s consideration of the Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, the Board will also consider the Adviser’s performance with regard to the Subsidiary.
Investment Sub-Adviser
Nicholas Wealth
Nicholas Wealth, LLC (“Nicholas Wealth”), located at 218 Roswell Street NE, Suite 200, Marietta, Georgia 30060 serves as an investment sub-adviser to each Fund pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement with the Adviser (“Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Nicholas Wealth was founded in May 2016, is an investment advisor registered with the SEC, and provides investment advisory services to investment advisors and high net worth individuals. As of [], 2025, Nicholas Wealth had approximately $[] million in assets under management.
Nicholas Wealth is responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of each Fund’s portfolio invested in U.S. Treasury bills, money market funds, cash and other cash equivalents, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. For its services, Nicholas Wealth is paid a fee by the Adviser, which fee is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of []% of each Fund’s average daily net assets.
The Sub-Adviser also serves as the investment sub-adviser to the Subsidiary pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement with the Adviser (the “Subsidiary Sub-Advisory Agreement”). The Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Subsidiary’s portfolio invested in U.S. Treasury bills, money market funds, cash and other cash equivalents. The Sub-Adviser does not receive additional compensation for its services to the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary Sub-Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board.
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Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Funds’ Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement will be available in the Funds’ [annual/semi-annual report] to shareholders on Form N-CSR for the period ended [].
CFTC Regulation (Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF)
Because of the nature of its investments, the Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF (and its Subsidiary) is subject to regulation under CEA, as a commodity pool and the Adviser is subject to regulation under the CEA as a CPO with respect to the Fund and Subsidiary, as those terms are defined under the CEA. The Adviser is regulated by the CFTC and the National Futures Association and is subject to those regulator’s disclosure requirements. Further, the Adviser is regulated by the SEC and is subject to its disclosure requirements. The CFTC has adopted rules that are intended to harmonize certain CEA disclosure requirements with SEC disclosure requirements, including Rule 4.12(c)(3)(i) under the CEA, which requires the CPO of a registered investment company with less than three years of operating history to disclose the performance of all accounts and pools that are managed by the CPO and that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the newly-formed registered investment company. The CPO has not managed accounts and/or pools that have investment objectives, policies, and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser does not trade or provide recommendations with respect to commodity interests on behalf of the Fund or the Subsidiary and is therefore not subject to CEA regulations.
Portfolio Managers
The following individuals (each, a “Portfolio Manager”) have served as portfolio managers of the Funds (and the Subsidiary to the Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF), as noted below, since their inception.
David Nicholas, Portfolio Manager for Nicholas Wealth (all Funds)
Mr. Nicholas is the CEO and Founder of Nicholas Wealth. Mr. Nicholas has over 18 years of experience in the financial industry. Prior to founding Nicholas Wealth in 2016, Mr. Nicholas spent 4 years as the President & Founder of Nicholas & Company, Inc, where he provided insurance and capital preservation strategies to retirees. Mr. Nicholas received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Kennesaw State University and a Master’s degree in Financial Planning from the University of Georgia.
Jay Pestrichelli, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser (all Funds)
Mr. Pestrichelli joined the Adviser in 2025 and is Chief Trading Officer of the Adviser’s ETF Trading and Portfolio Management team. Mr. Pestrichelli has over 30 years of experience in the financial markets. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Pestrichelli co-founded ZEGA Financial LLC (“ZEGA”) where he led the development and execution of ZEGA’s investment strategies since its inception in 2011. He is also the author of the best-selling book “Buy & Hedge: The Five Iron Rules for Investing Over the Long Term.” Prior to founding ZEGA, Mr. Pestrichelli spent 12 years managing and growing the online trading business for TD Ameritrade from 1999 to 2010. Mr. Pestrichelli has a Bachelor degree in Behavioral Science from Concordia College.
Matt Brandt, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser (Nicholas Bitcoin Tail ETF)
Matt Brandt serves as Portfolio Manager for the Adviser, having joined the firm in 2025. Mr. Brandt has 20 years of experience in the financial markets working in Trading, Derivative Risk Management, and Enterprise Risk for TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab where he helped create a robust trading risk management program. He joined ZEGA Financial, LLC (“Zega”) in 2024 prior to joining the Adviser. His education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and continuing education in the Mechanics of Risk Management from Middlesex University.
Stephen Foy, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser (Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF)
Mr. Foy joined Tidal in 2024 and is Senior Vice President of Trading and Co-Head of Tidal’s ETF Trading and Portfolio Management team. He previously oversaw Invesco ETF Services from 2021 to 2024, including middle and back-office operations as well as portfolio implementation for all equity and alternative ETFs. Mr. Foy holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and spent five years in ETF Portfolio Management at ProShares from 2016 to 2021. He brings a robust portfolio management background across a wide array of strategies and asset classes. Throughout his career, he has led global teams through hundreds of product launches, organizational changes, and technological and operational transformations.
Christopher P. Mullen, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser (Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF)
Christopher P. Mullen serves as Portfolio Manager at the Adviser, having joined the firm in January 2024. From September 2019 to December 2023, he was a Portfolio Manager at Vest Financial LLC, where he managed exchange-traded funds, mutual funds and retirement fund portfolios. Mr. Mullen previously served as a Senior Portfolio Analyst at ProShares Advisors LLC from September 2016 until September 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Mullen served as associate portfolio manager at USCF Investments LLC from February 2013 to September 2016. Mr. Mullen received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He also holds a dual bachelor’s degree in global politics and history from Marquette University.
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Scott Snyder, Portfolio Manager for the Adviser (Nicholas Bitcoin Tail ETF)
Scott Snyder joined the Adviser in 2025 as SVP of Trading. Mr. Snyder has over 40 years of experience in the financial markets and more specifically in the options market. Mr. Snyder led the trading team at ZEGA before joining Tidal. He started his career in 1983 and for 20 years was an independent market maker on the floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). In 2003, Mr. Snyder joined thinkorswim as Chief Options Strategist for a subsidiary of thinkorswim advisors. Mr. Snyder then helped lead the trading, execution platform support and option education business for TD Ameritrade and then Schwab from 2009 to 2024.
The Funds’ SAI provides additional information about each Portfolio Manager’s compensation structure, other accounts that each Portfolio Manager manages, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership of Shares.
Fund Sponsors
The Adviser has entered into a fund sponsorship agreement with each of Nicholas Wealth and ZEGA (each, a “Sponsor,” and together the “Sponsors”) pursuant to which each Sponsor is a sponsor to the Funds. Under this arrangement, each Sponsor has agreed to provide financial support (as described below) to the Funds. In turn, the Adviser has agreed to share with Sponsor a portion of profits, if any, generated by the Funds’ Advisory Fee. Every month, the Advisory Fees, which are unitary management fees, for the Funds are calculated and paid to the Adviser.
If the amount of the unitary management fee for a Fund exceeds the Fund’s operating expenses (including the sub-advisory fees) and the Adviser-retained amount, the Adviser pays the net total to Sponsors. The amounts paid to Sponsors represent any remaining profits from the Advisory Fee.
During months when the funds generated by the unitary management fee are insufficient to cover the entire sub-advisory fees, that amount is automatically waived (and any such waiver is not subject to recoupment).
Further, if the amount of the unitary management fee for a Fund is less than the Fund’s operating expenses and the Adviser-retained amount, each Sponsor is obligated to reimburse the Adviser for a portion of the shortfall.
Each Fund issues and redeems Shares only in Creation Units at the NAV per share next determined after receipt of an order from an AP. Only APs may acquire Shares directly from a Fund, and only APs may tender their Shares for redemption directly to the Funds, at NAV. APs must be a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC and must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed to by the Distributor (defined below), and that has been accepted by the Funds’ transfer agent, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. Once created, Shares trade in the secondary market in quantities less than a Creation Unit.
Most investors buy and sell Shares in secondary market transactions through brokers. Individual Shares are listed for trading on the secondary market on the Exchange and can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded securities.
When buying or selling Shares through a broker, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges, and you may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offer price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. In addition, because secondary market transactions occur at market prices, you may pay more than NAV when you buy Shares, and receive less than NAV when you sell those Shares.
Book Entry
Shares are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding Shares.
Investors owning Shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all Shares. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of Shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have Shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of Shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of Shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other securities that you hold in book-entry or street name through your brokerage account.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Shares
Neither Fund imposes restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions of Shares. In determining not to approve a written, established policy, the Board evaluated the risks of market timing activities by a Fund’s shareholders. Purchases and redemptions by APs, who are the only parties that may purchase or redeem Shares directly with a Fund, are an essential part of the ETF process and help keep Share trading prices in line with the NAV. As such, the Funds accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by APs. However, the Board has also determined that frequent purchases and redemptions for cash may increase tracking error and portfolio transaction costs and may lead to the realization of capital gains. To minimize these potential consequences of frequent purchases and redemptions, each Fund employs fair value pricing and may impose transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by such Fund in effecting trades. In addition, the Funds and the Adviser reserve the right to reject any purchase order at any time.
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Determination of Net Asset Value
Each Fund’s NAV is calculated as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, each day the NYSE is open for business. The NAV for the Funds is calculated by dividing such Fund’s net assets by its Shares outstanding.
In calculating its NAV, each Fund generally values its assets on the basis of market quotations, last sale prices, or estimates of value furnished by a pricing service or brokers who make markets in such instruments. If such information is not available for a security or other asset held by a Fund or is determined to be unreliable, the security or other asset will be valued at fair value estimates under guidelines established by the Adviser (as described below).
Swap agreements are valued based on the nature of the underlying reference asset or index. The Fund may use the closing price of the underlying reference asset, as provided by independent pricing services, or evaluated prices generated by pricing vendors’ models. Exchange-traded options are valued at the composite mean price, calculated as the average of the highest bid and lowest ask prices across the exchanges on which the option is principally traded. Futures contracts are priced by an approved independent pricing service. Futures contracts are valued at the settlement price on the exchange on which they are principally traded.
Fair Value Pricing
The Board has designated the Adviser as the “valuation designee” for each Fund under Rule 2a-5 of the 1940 Act, subject to its oversight. The Adviser has adopted procedures and methodologies, which have been approved by the Board, to fair value Fund investments whose market prices are not “readily available” or are deemed to be unreliable. For example, such circumstances may arise when: (i) an investment has been delisted or has had its trading halted or suspended; (ii) an investment’s primary pricing source is unable or unwilling to provide a price; (iii) an investment’s primary trading market is closed during regular market hours; or (iv) an investment’s value is materially affected by events occurring after the close of the investment’s primary trading market. Generally, when fair valuing an investment, the Adviser will take into account all reasonably available information that may be relevant to a particular valuation including, but not limited to, fundamental analytical data regarding the issuer, information relating to the issuer’s business, recent trades or offers of the investment, general and/or specific market conditions, and the specific facts giving rise to the need to fair value the investment. Fair value determinations are made in good faith and in accordance with the fair value methodologies included in the Adviser’s valuation procedures. The Adviser will fair value Fund investments whose market prices are not “readily available” or are deemed to be unreliable. Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, there can be no assurance that the Adviser will be able to obtain the fair value assigned to the investment upon the sale of such investment.
Investments by Other Registered Investment Companies in the Funds
Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including Shares. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in a Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions of rules under the 1940 Act, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Funds.
Delivery of Shareholder Documents Householding
Householding is an option available to certain investors of the Funds. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Householding for the Funds is available through certain broker-dealers. If you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, please contact your broker-dealer. If you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status, please contact your broker-dealer.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
Dividends and Distributions
Each Fund seeks to pay out dividends and interest income, if any, annually, and distribute any net realized capital gains to its shareholders at least annually. Each Fund will declare and pay income and capital gain distributions, if any, in cash. Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Shares only if the broker through whom you purchased Shares makes such option available. Your broker is responsible for distributing the income and capital gain distributions to you.
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Taxes
The following discussion is a summary of some important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Funds. Your investment in a Fund may have other tax implications. Please consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares, including the possible application of foreign, state, and local tax laws.
Each Fund intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, a Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.
Unless your investment in Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA plan, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when a Fund makes distributions, when you sell your Shares listed on the Exchange, and when you purchase or redeem Creation Units (institutional investors only).
The following general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on provisions of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.
Taxes on Distributions
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of net capital gains (if any) are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned their Shares. Sales of assets held by a Fund for more than one year generally result in long-term capital gains and losses, and sales of assets held by such Fund for one year or less generally result in short-term capital gains and losses. Distributions of a Fund’s net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that are reported by such Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Distributions of short-term capital gain will generally be taxable as ordinary income. Dividends and distributions are generally taxable to you whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional Shares.
Distributions reported by a Fund as “qualified dividend income” are generally taxed to non-corporate shareholders at rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided certain holding period and other requirements are met. “Qualified dividend income” generally is income derived from dividends paid by U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that a Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations may be qualified dividend income if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market. Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends-received deduction for the portion of dividends they receive from a Fund that are attributable to dividends received by such Fund from U.S. corporations, subject to certain limitations. Given the investment strategies of the Funds, it is unlikely that any dividends paid by a Fund will be qualified dividends or be eligible for the corporate dividends paid deduction.
Shortly after the close of each calendar year, you will be informed of the character of any distributions received from a Fund.
In addition to the federal income tax, certain individuals, trusts, and estates may be subject to a Net Investment Income (“NII”) tax of 3.8%. The NII tax is imposed on the lesser of: (i) a taxpayer’s investment income, net of deductions properly allocable to such income; or (ii) the amount by which such taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds ($250,000 for married individuals filing jointly, $200,000 for unmarried individuals and $125,000 for married individuals filing separately). Each Fund’s distributions are includable in a shareholder’s investment income for purposes of this NII tax. In addition, any capital gain realized by a shareholder upon a sale or redemption of shares of a Fund is includable in such shareholder’s investment income for purposes of this NII tax.
In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax for the year in which they are paid. Certain distributions paid in January, however, may be treated as paid on December 31 of the prior year. Distributions are generally taxable even if they are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund before your investment (and thus were included in the Shares’ NAV when you purchased your Shares).
You may wish to avoid investing in a Fund shortly before a dividend or other distribution, because such a distribution will generally be taxable even though it may economically represent a return of a portion of your investment.
If you are neither a resident nor a citizen of the United States or if you are a foreign entity, distributions (other than Capital Gain Dividends) paid to you by a Fund will generally be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless a lower treaty rate applies. The Funds may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met.
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Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), the Funds may be required to withhold a generally nonrefundable 30% tax on distributions of net taxable income paid to (A) certain “foreign financial institutions” unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, monitor, and report to the IRS the identity of certain of its account-holders, among other items (or unless such entity is otherwise deemed compliant under the terms of an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the foreign financial institution’s country of residence), and (B) certain “non-financial foreign entities” unless such entity certifies to the Fund that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provides the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner, among other items. This FATCA withholding tax could also affect a Fund’s return on its investments in foreign securities or affect a shareholder’s return if the shareholder holds its Fund shares through a foreign intermediary. You are urged to consult your tax adviser regarding the application of this FATCA withholding tax to your investment in a Fund and the potential certification, compliance, due diligence, reporting, and withholding obligations to which you may become subject in order to avoid this withholding tax.
Each Fund (or a financial intermediary, such as a broker, through which a shareholder owns Shares) generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and sale or redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has underreported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that they are not subject to such withholding.
Taxes When Shares are Sold on the Exchange
Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares generally is treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if Shares have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if Shares have been held for one year or less. However, any capital loss on a sale of Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of Capital Gain Dividends paid with respect to such Shares. Any loss realized on a sale will be disallowed to the extent Shares of a Fund are acquired, including through reinvestment of dividends, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the sale of substantially identical Shares.
Taxes on Purchases and Redemptions of Creation Units
An AP having the U.S. dollar as its functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally recognizes a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the exchanging AP’s aggregate basis in the securities delivered plus the amount of any cash paid for the Creation Units. An AP who exchanges Creation Units for securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanging AP’s basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate U.S. dollar market value of the securities received, plus any cash received for such Creation Units. The IRS may assert, however, that a loss that is realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units may not be currently deducted under the rules governing “wash sales” (for an AP who does not mark-to-market their holdings) or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.
Any capital gain or loss realized upon redemption of Creation Units is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if Shares comprising the Creation Units have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if such Shares have been held for one year or less.
The Funds may include a payment of cash in addition to, or in place of, the delivery of a basket of securities upon the redemption of Creation Units. The Funds may sell portfolio securities to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause the Funds to recognize investment income and/or capital gains or losses that they might not have recognized if they had completely satisfied the redemption in-kind. As a result, the Funds may be less tax efficient if they include such a cash payment in the proceeds paid upon the redemption of Creation Units.
Taxation of the Subsidiary (Nicholas Bitcoin and Treasuries AfterDark ETF)
There is, at present, no direct taxation in the Cayman Islands and interest, dividends and gains payable to the Subsidiary will be received free of all Cayman Islands taxes. The Subsidiary is registered as an “exempted company” pursuant to the Companies Law (as amended). The Subsidiary has received an undertaking from the Governor in Cabinet of the Cayman Islands to the effect that, for a period of twenty years from the date of the undertaking, no law that thereafter is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax or duty to be levied on profits, income or on gains or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, will apply to any property comprised in or any income arising under the Subsidiary, or to the shareholders thereof, in respect of any such property or income.
A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, generally is not subject to federal income tax unless it is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. With respect to its investments in the United States, the Subsidiary intends to operate in a manner that is expected to meet the requirements of a safe harbor under section 864(b)(2) of the Code, under which it may trade in stocks or securities or certain commodities for its own account without being deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If, however, certain of the Subsidiary’s activities did not meet those safe harbor requirements, it might be considered as engaging in such a trade or business. There can be no assurance that the Subsidiary will not recognize any taxable effectively connected income. The imposition of U.S. federal tax on the Subsidiary’s effectively connected income could significantly reduce the Fund’s returns. The federal income tax treatment of the Fund’s income from its Subsidiary also may be adversely affected by future legislation, regulations, and/or other guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service that could affect the character, timing of recognition, and/or amount of the Fund’s taxable income and/or net capital gains and, therefore, the distributions it makes.
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Important Tax Considerations When Purchasing Fund Shares
If you are investing through a taxable account, you should carefully consider the timing of your investment relative to a Fund’s distribution schedule. Purchasing Fund shares shortly before a distribution may increase your tax liability, a situation commonly referred to as “buying a dividend.”
When a Fund makes a distribution, its share price typically drops by an amount roughly equal to the distribution. As a hypothetical example, if you invest $5,000 to purchase 250 shares at $20 per share on December 15, and the Fund pays a $1 per share distribution on December 16, the share price would adjust to $19 (ignoring market fluctuations). Although your total investment value remains $5,000 (250 shares × $19 in share value plus 250 shares × $1 distribution), you would owe taxes on the $250 distribution, even if you reinvest the distribution rather than receiving it in cash.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains realized by a Fund before you invested, and even if they were reflected in the purchase price of the shares. Consequently, you may incur taxes on income or gains that accrued before your investment, without corresponding benefit.
Unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you may wish to avoid purchasing Fund shares shortly before a distribution. You can minimize the potential tax impact by reviewing a Fund’s distribution schedule prior to investing. When available, information about a Fund’s distribution schedule can be found on the Fund’s website at www.nicholasx.com.
The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the possible consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in the Funds. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. You also may be subject to foreign, state, and local tax on Fund distributions and sales of Shares. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in Shares under all applicable tax laws. For more information, please see the section entitled “Federal Income Taxes” in the SAI.
Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group (dba ACA Group) (the “Distributor”), the Funds’ distributor, is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. The Distributor distributes Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis and does not maintain a secondary market in Shares. The Distributor has no role in determining the policies of the Funds or the securities that are purchased or sold by the Funds. The Distributor’s principal address is 190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, Maine 04101.
The Board has adopted a Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with each Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets each year to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of its Shares.
No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Funds, and there are no plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, because the fees are paid out of Fund assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.
When available, information regarding how often Shares traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of each Fund can be found on the Funds’ website at www.nicholasx.com
Shares are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by the Exchange. The Exchange is not responsible for, nor has it participated in the determination of, the timing, prices, or quantities of Shares to be issued, nor in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Shares are redeemable. The Exchange has no obligation or liability to owners of Shares in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of Shares.
Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Exchange have any liability for any lost profits or indirect, punitive, special, or consequential damages even if notified of the possibility thereof.
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The Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Funds and the Subsidiary make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly.
The Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”) provides a detailed process for the bringing of derivative or direct actions by shareholders in order to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction, and other harm that can be caused to a Fund or its shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. Prior to bringing a derivative action, a demand by three unrelated shareholders must first be made on the Funds’ Trustees. The Declaration of Trust details various information, certifications, undertakings and acknowledgments that must be included in the demand. Following receipt of the demand, the trustees have a period of 90 days, which may be extended by an additional 60 days, to consider the demand. If a majority of the Trustees who are considered independent for the purposes of considering the demand determine that maintaining the suit would not be in the best interests of the Fund, the Trustees are required to reject the demand and the complaining shareholders may not proceed with the derivative action unless the shareholders are able to sustain the burden of proof to a court that the decision of the Trustees not to pursue the requested action was not a good faith exercise of their business judgment on behalf of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust further provides that shareholders owning Shares representing no less than a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares must join in bringing the derivative action. If a demand is rejected, the complaining shareholders will be responsible for the costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Fund in connection with the consideration of the demand, if a court determines that the demand was made without reasonable cause or for an improper purpose. If a derivative action is brought in violation of the Declaration of Trust, the shareholders bringing the action may be responsible for the Fund’s costs, including attorneys’ fees, if a court determines that the action was brought without reasonable cause or for an improper purpose. The Declaration of Trust provides that no shareholder may bring a direct action claiming injury as a shareholder of the Trust, or any Fund, where the matters alleged (if true) would give rise to a claim by the Trust or by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, unless the shareholder has suffered an injury distinct from that suffered by the shareholders of the Trust, or the Fund, generally. Under the Declaration of Trust, a shareholder bringing a direct claim must be a shareholder of the Fund with respect to which the direct action is brought at the time of the injury complained of or have acquired the shares afterwards by operation of law from a person who was a shareholder at that time. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Fund shall be responsible for payment of attorneys’ fees and legal expenses incurred by a complaining shareholder only if required by law, and any attorneys’ fees that the Fund is obligated to pay shall be calculated using reasonable hourly rates. These provisions do not apply to claims brought under the federal securities laws.
The Declaration of Trust also requires that actions by shareholders against a Fund be brought exclusively in a federal or state court located within the State of Delaware. This provision will not apply to claims brought under the federal securities laws. Limiting shareholders’ ability to bring actions only in courts located in Delaware may cause shareholders economic hardship to litigate the action in those courts, including paying for travel expenses of witnesses and counsel, requiring retaining local counsel, and may limit shareholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that shareholders find favorable for disputes, which may discourage such actions.
This section would ordinarily include Financial Highlights. The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand each Fund’s performance for the Fund’s periods of operations. Because the Funds have not yet commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, no Financial Highlights are shown.
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Nicholas ETFs
| Adviser | Tidal
Investments LLC 234 West Florida Street, Suite 203 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204 |
Sub-Adviser |
Nicholas Wealth Management 218 Roswell Street NE, Suite 200 Marietta, Georgia 30060 |
| Distributor |
Foreside Fund Services, LLC 190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, Maine 04101 |
Administrator |
Tidal ETF Services LLC 234 West Florida Street, Suite 203 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204 |
| Custodian |
U.S. Bank National Association 1555 N. Rivercenter Dr. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212 |
Independent Accounting Firm |
[] |
| Sub-Administrator, Fund Accountant, and Transfer Agent |
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services 615 East Michigan Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 |
Legal Counsel |
Sullivan
& Worcester LLP
|
Investors may find more information about the Funds in the following documents:
Statement of Additional Information: The Funds’ SAI provides additional details about the investments of the Funds and certain other additional information. A current SAI dated [], 2026, as supplemented from time to time, is on file with the SEC and is herein incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. It is legally considered a part of this Prospectus.
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports: Additional information about the Funds’ investments is available in the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, and in Form N-CSR. In the annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected a Fund’s performance after the first fiscal year the Fund is in operation. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Funds’ annual and semi-annual financial statements.
When available, you can obtain free copies of these documents, request other information or make general inquiries about the Funds by contacting the Funds at Nicholas ETFs, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, P.O. Box 219252, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9252 or calling (855) 563-6900.
Shareholder reports, the Funds’ current Prospectus and SAI and other information about the Funds will be available:
| ● | Free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov; or |
| ● | Free of charge from the Funds’ Internet website at www.nicholasx.com; or |
| ● | For a duplicating fee, by e-mail request to [email protected]. |
The SAI and other information are also available from a financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) through which the Funds’ shares may be purchased or sold.
(SEC Investment Company Act File No. 811-23793)