VanEck ETF Bets On Crypto Infra Growth
NODE fund bypasses direct crypto exposure for industry builders.
New York-headquartered fund manager VanEck has secured SEC approval to launch the Onchain Economy ETF (ticker: $NODE), an actively managed fund that tracks companies building crypto's backbone.
Set for a May 14 debut, NODE represents a pivot in mainstream crypto investing.
The fund will hold 30 to 60 carefully selected assets across the digital asset ecosystem, focusing on the picks-and-shovels businesses rather than the digital gold itself.
Matthew Sigel, VanEck's head of digital asset research and the fund's manager, has assembled an investment universe spanning critical sectors:
Crypto exchanges: The trading venues where most price discovery happens
Miners: The increasingly industrialised operations securing networks
Data centre & energy infrastructure: The physical backbone powering blockchains
Balance sheet hodlers: Companies with significant treasury reserves in crypto
Up to 25% of NODE's exposure may come from cryptocurrency exchange-traded products — giving it flexibility without going all-in on direct digital asset ownership.
NODE's arrival comes as institutional attitudes toward crypto continue warming. According to an EY-Parthenon and Coinbase survey, 59% of institutional investors plan to allocate over 5% of their assets to cryptocurrencies by year's end.
Is VanEck betting that infrastructure plays might weather volatility better than the coins themselves? Likely.
NODE won't be alone in this space, though.
It's entering a crowded field with a 0.69% management fee, positioning itself between competitors like Amplify's BLOK (0.71%) and Global X's BKCH (0.50%).
What separates NODE?
While most blockchain ETFs track static indices, NODE can pivot as the landscape evolves — a distinct advantage in a sector where yesterday's leaders can become tomorrow's cautionary tales.
NODE launches amid a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment.
US President Donald Trump's recent establishment of a digital asset stockpile and strategic Bitcoin reserve signals a policy shift that creates tailwinds for institutional adoption.
A Cayman Islands subsidiary structure will allow NODE to gain exposure to digital asset instruments like commodity futures and swaps while maintaining regulatory compliance — a bit of financial engineering that speaks of VanEck's experience in navigating complex regulatory waters.
For traditional investors, NODE represents a regulated on-ramp to blockchain exposure without the custody headaches of direct cryptocurrency ownership.
The broader blockchain market shows no signs of slowing, with projections suggesting growth from $44.29 billion in 2025 to $746.41 billion by 2032 — a compound annual growth rate of 49.7%.
NODE might finally solve the riddle around blockchain infrastructure’s ability to deliver returns even when coins falter.