Emma Newbery, The Motley Fool

Sun, July 12, 2026 at 3:49 PM EDT 4 min read

The choice between the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (NASDAQ:ETHA) and the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF (NASDAQ:NCIQ) hinges on whether an investor seeks pure exposure to one digital asset or a diversified crypto index. The iShares fund provides a targeted bet on the Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) ecosystem, while the Hashdex fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) and other prominent digital assets.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from one-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

Both funds are competitively priced with an expense ratio of 0.25%, which is at the lower end for crypto ETFs. They differ considerably in scale as the iShares fund manages $4.9 billion in assets under management (AUM), offering significantly higher liquidity than the Hashdex fund.

Performance & risk comparison

What's inside

The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF maintains a singular focus, holding just Ethereum. The fund was launched in 2024 and provides investors with a way to gain exposure to the popular coin without the complexities of managing digital wallets or private keys. The fund has quickly gained scale, currently managing approximately $4.9 billion in AUM.

Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF offers broader exposure, as it tracks the  Nasdaq CME Crypto Index and contains a weighted mix of top cryptocurrencies. Launched in 2025, the fund's largest positions include 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.

Both funds invest in spot assets rather than using leverage to amplify crypto positions. Neither fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so they are exempt from certain regulatory requirements that apply to traditional mutual funds.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What it means for investors

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum soared to new highs in 2025, but crypto prices have fallen significantly this year. That volatility is, unfortunately, to be expected in crypto investing, which is why it is advisable to allocate only a small percentage of your portfolio to digital assets.