Each the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (NYSEMKT:HODL) and Bitwise Crypto Trade Innovators ETF (NYSEMKT:BITQ) provide entry to the crypto economic system, however they method it in essentially other ways. HODL supplies direct Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) worth publicity, whereas BITQ invests in corporations tied to the crypto ecosystem, from miners to exchanges. This comparability unpacks how their prices, returns, and threat options stack up for buyers contemplating both route.
|
Metric |
HODL |
BITQ |
|---|---|---|
|
Issuer |
VanEck |
Bitwise |
|
Expense ratio |
0.25% |
0.85% |
|
1-yr return (as of Jan. 24, 2026) |
-14.30% |
17.16% |
|
Beta |
2.78 |
3.2 |
|
AUM |
$1.4 billion |
$438.21 million |
Beta measures worth volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents whole return over the trailing 12 months.
BITQ expenses a notably larger expense ratio than HODL, making HODL the extra inexpensive choice.
|
Metric |
HODL |
BITQ |
|---|---|---|
|
Max drawdown (2 y) |
-93.68% |
-51.22% |
|
Development of $1,000 over 2 years |
$482 |
$2,023 |
BITQ is a reasonably younger ETF, having been in existence for lower than 5 years. It provides diversified publicity to the crypto economic system by holding 37 corporations, with a sector combine primarily composed of monetary providers, know-how, and client cyclical. Its largest positions embrace IREN Ltd. (NASDAQ:IREN), Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), and Technique Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR)This method offers buyers oblique crypto publicity by means of equities, benefiting from the broader digital asset ecosystem.
HODL is a considerably newer ETF, with its portfolio consisting solely of Bitcoin. In contrast to BITQ, HODL’s returns and volatility are straight tied to the worth of Bitcoin, which may provide an analogous high-risk/high-reward potential just like the digital token.
As with cryptocurrencies, buyers should concentrate on the dangers of crypto-related ETFs, whether or not straight or not directly. HODL particularly comes with a better threat than BITQ as a result of it’s solely been available on the market for barely a yr, and holds solely Bitcoin. So the fund’s worth might be extremely risky and depends on the coin’s success. And whereas BITQ’s holdings are precise shares, a lot of its prime holdings are tied to the crypto market and may expertise excessive volatility in flip.
It must also be famous that each ETFs have excessive betas, the place something over 1 is taken into account excessive, and are prone to be extra risky than the S&P 500. Neither funds provide dividend payouts, in contrast to many ETFs. Plain and easy: if buyers are prepared to tackle extra threat for the potential of upper returns, HODL is right. However for much less risky publicity to the crypto market, BITQ is a stable selection.
