January brought an action-packed start to the year. It’s been cold, snowy, and markets have already faced a few big things from macro perspective and in the ETF space.
The Federal Reserve’s first move is now behind us, which was not to move rates. On the data front, we saw a surprising drop in consumer sentiment, as measured by the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index. The index plunged to its lowest level since 2014, its steepest drop in four years.
The S&P 500, meanwhile, has chugged along this month, holding on to small gains as we approach the end of the month. A lot rides on January’s performance, historically speaking, as Nick Colas, DataTrek Research Co-Founder, recently reminded us.
“Since 1980, when the S&P 500 is down in January, it has averaged an annual return of +2.3%. When the index is up on the month, its average annual return is +16.1%. The January Indicator is very real,” he said in a note. (His colleague, DataTrek Co-Founder Jessica Rabe, explored the conventional wisdom we share that “So goes January, so goes the year” in a great video here.
January has also brought massive ETF asset inflows over $150 billion, and another big round of product innovation. More than 70 new ETF launches have come to market so far this year, and we are just a few funds away from crossing 5,000 ETFs in the U.S. market.
Among the launches, there are several new and novel ideas in ETF wrappers. Let’s meet some of the newcomers.
Crypto ETF Newbies
A lot of that innovation, unsurprisingly perhaps, has centered on digital assets access. It includes a couple new spot single cryptocurrency ETFs as well as diversified and leveraged stacked exposures. Consider some new tickers:
- Bitwise Chainlink ETF (CLNK): The first spot Chainlink ETF in the U.S.
- 21Shares Dogecoin ETF (TDOG): The first spot Dogecoin ETF.
- VanEck Avalanche ETF (VAVX): The first spot Avalanche ETF.
- Bitwise Proficio Currency Debasement ETF (BPRO). The first ETF that sets out to hedge against fiat currency debasement by dynamically combining bitcoin, gold, silver, and mining equities in a single active strategy.
- Quantify 2X Daily Alt Season Crypto ETF (QXAS): The first 2x leveraged “Altcoins” ETF. It provides amplified exposure to a market-cap-adjusted basket of non-Bitcoin Layer-1 networks and payment rails.
- IncomeSTKd 1x Bitcoin & 1x Gold Premium ETF (ISBG) and IncomeSTKd 1x US Stocks & 1x Bitcoin Premium ETF (ISSB): These are the first to utilize a “1x + 1x” return stacking model for crypto. For every $1 invested, you get $1 of Bitcoin exposure plus $1 of Gold or US Stocks, respectively, combined with an options overlay for income.
Thematic Innovation
In the thematic space, Roundhill launched a niche take on the robotaxi ecosystem. The Robotaxi & Autonomous Tech ETF (CABZ) isn’t as much as first in targeting autonomous vehicles as a theme (there are others like Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (DRIV )), but it focuses on robotaxis specifically, and includes the services that support “next-generation mobility” like Waymo and Tesla’s Cybercab.
The thematic space has been fertile ground for product innovation, especially in tech-linked segments. Late last year we welcomed the REX Drone ETF (DRNZ), which invests in companies that are driving both growth and application of drone technology in aerospace and defense as well as in commercial settings.
And it’s not always about tech. This month, Gabelli launched the Gabelli Opportunities in Live and Sports ETF (GOLS), which expands on the gaming and betting ETF category by adding actual franchises, venues, and media rights as a hard asset play.
Finally, another interesting new ETF came courtesy of Defiance. The firm brought to market a new take on the MEME stock portfolio. The Defiance Retail Kings ETF (RKNG) relies on a proprietary retail sentiment model and a focus on momentum to systematically identify what it sees as “retail kings,” namely stocks with high conviction from retail investors combined with durable momentum.
In other categories, January saw the arrival of several new municipal bond ETFs from BNY, and zero bond funds from Global X, as well as a roster of new leveraged ETFs, among others.
Keeping Up With Innovation
The pace of innovation can sometimes feel overwhelming in the ETF space. Consider that in 2025, we welcomed 1,134 new ETFs to the markets – that’s a lot of new tools and a lot of new due diligence required for investors. But it’s also exciting to see market and strategy access expand, and exposures get refined and focused. It’s only January, and we are off to a solid start on the product innovation front.
To keep up with ETF launches, check out our New ETFs page.
For more news, information, and analysis, visit VettaFi | ETFDB.
VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”) is the index provider for DRNZ, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, DRNZ is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi, and VettaFi has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of DRNZ.
