Key Factors
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The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF gives concentrated publicity to Ethereum, whereas the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF provides a diversified basket of crypto property
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Each funds carry similar expense ratios of 0.25%, however differ considerably in property below administration and buying and selling liquidity.
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Each merchandise have seen drawdowns prior to now yr, however NCIQ has outperformed ETHA as a result of Bitcoin’s worth has finished higher than Ethereum’s.
The selection between the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF(NASDAQ:ETHA) and the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF(NASDAQ:NCIQ) hinges on whether or not an investor seeks pure publicity to 1 digital asset or a diversified crypto index. The iShares fund gives a focused guess on the Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) ecosystem, whereas the Hashdex fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of Bitcoin(CRYPTO:BTC) and different outstanding digital property.
Snapshot (price & measurement)
| Metric | NCIQ | ETHA |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Hashdex | iShares |
| Share worth | $15.72 (as of 2026-07-09) | $13.19 (as of 2026-07-09) |
| Expense ratio | 0.25% | 0.25% |
| 1-yr return (as of 2026-07-09) | (45.10%) | (37.10%) |
| Dividend yield | n/a | n/a |
| Beta | 1.38 | 0.99 |
| AUM | $206.2 million | $4.9 billion |
Beta measures worth volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from one-year month-to-month returns. The 1-yr return represents whole return over the trailing 12 months.
Each funds are competitively priced with an expense ratio of 0.25%, which is on the decrease finish for crypto ETFs. They differ significantly in scale because the iShares fund manages $4.9 billion in property below administration (AUM), providing considerably greater liquidity than the Hashdex fund.
Efficiency & danger comparability
| Metric | NCIQ | ETHA |
|---|---|---|
| Max drawdown (1 yr) | (57.05%) | (67.91%) |
| Progress of $1,000 over 1 yr (whole return) | $512 | $478 |
What’s inside
The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF maintains a singular focus, holding simply Ethereum. The fund was launched in 2024 and gives buyers with a approach to achieve publicity to the favored coin with out the complexities of managing digital wallets or non-public keys. The fund has shortly gained scale, presently managing roughly $4.9 billion in AUM.
Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF provides broader publicity, because it tracks the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index and comprises a weighted mixture of high cryptocurrencies. Launched in 2025, the fund’s largest positions embrace Bitcoin at 78.5%, Ethereum at 11.4%, and Ripple’s XRP(CRYPTO:XRP) at 5.3%. The fund manages roughly $206 million in AUM and rebalances quarterly.
Each funds spend money on spot property relatively than utilizing leverage to amplify crypto positions. Neither fund is registered below the Funding Firm Act of 1940, so they’re exempt from sure regulatory necessities that apply to conventional mutual funds.
For extra steering on ETF investing, try the total information at this link.
What it means for buyers
Each Bitcoin and Ethereum soared to new highs in 2025, however crypto costs have fallen considerably this yr. That volatility is, sadly, to be anticipated in crypto investing, which is why it’s advisable to allocate solely a small share of your portfolio to digital property.
In terms of these two ETFs, the true query is which cryptocurrencies you wish to spend money on. Keep in mind that cryptocurrencies are very different from stocks as a result of it’s nonetheless a comparatively new trade, and when you transcend the primary two (Bitcoin and Ethereum), the chance will increase dramatically. A fund like NCIQ that tracks main cash and tokens will not be the identical as, say, an index fund that tracks the S&P 500.
Ethereum and Bitcoin collectively account for over 90% of the Hashdex fund, whereas the iShares ETF is completely devoted to Ethereum. Ethereum pioneered the know-how that makes blockchains programmable and nonetheless accounts for the lion’s share of decentralized finance functions. Bitcoin is the unique cryptocurrency and has attracted a giant share of institutional funding, notably as some view it as a type of digital gold — although the store-of-value thesis has but to be confirmed.
Each Bitcoin and Ethereum have a function in a balanced crypto portfolio, and if you’d like a means to purchase the 2 collectively, the Hashdex ETF does the job. Nevertheless, I’m not eager on the automated publicity to different, riskier cryptocurrencies, although they solely make up 10% of the fund. You’d get extra management by investing in a spot Ethereum ETF like ETHA alongside a 100% spot Bitcoin ETF.
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Emma Newbery has positions in Ethereum. The Motley Idiot has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. The Motley Idiot has a disclosure policy.
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