VanEck launches ‘NODE’ ETF targeting blockchain stocks and crypto-linked assets

VanEck has launched a new exchange-traded fund designed to give investors access to the growing digital asset economy without holding crypto directly. 

In a May 14 press release, the company said the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF, under the ticker NODE, will offer exposure to “digital transformation companies and digital asset instruments.” The fund is actively managed and focuses on public companies involved in the blockchain space, including crypto miners, exchanges, data centers, energy providers, and fintech firms using crypto technology. 

It will hold between 30 and 60 companies, chosen from a wider pool of over 130, with the portfolio adjusted based on market trends and each firm’s connection to Bitcoin (BTC). NODE won’t hold cryptocurrencies directly but can invest up to 25% of its assets in crypto-linked exchange-traded products like Bitcoin ETFs. 

These investments will be made through a Cayman Islands subsidiary, which will allow the fund to comply with U.S. tax laws while indirectly gaining exposure to cryptocurrency-related products like swaps and futures. NODE won’t invest in stablecoins and will restrict subsidiary exposure to 25% of assets every quarter.

VanEck’s Head of Digital Assets Research, Matthew Sigel, said NODE aims to offer “diversification and liquidity” while providing a lower-volatility alternative to pure-play crypto strategies. “Categorizing assets by their bitcoin sensitivity lets us fine-tune the portfolio across market cycles,” he added.

With a 0.69% management fee, NODE complements VanEck’s line of crypto-related products, which already includes the passively managed Digital Transformation ETF. The launch coincides with the rising institutional interest in blockchain infrastructure, alongside the growing availability of products from traditional asset managers that are suited to the changing on-chain economy.

VanEck has also filed for ETFs tied to individual digital assets, including Avalanche (AVAX) and Binance Coin (BNB), indicating its ongoing expansion in the crypto investment space.