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ETF Comparison

BITA vs BTCI: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF and NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

BITA has outpaced BTCI over the year to date, posting a 20.89% total return against -12.51%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTDSince Jun 2026
BITA20.89%20.89%
BTCI-12.51%17.07%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Jun 2026” measures every fund from June 17, 2026 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricBITABTCI
Full nameiShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETFNEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF
IssueriSharesNEOS
Underlying indexBitcoinBitcoin ETPs
Last Close$60.40 as of September 4, 2026$32.88 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate13.05%22.95%
Distribution Safety Score™ 5046
Safety-Adjusted Yield —10.56%
Expense ratio0.65%0.98%
AUM$78.4M$1.30B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyMonthly
ObjectiveSeeks bitcoin-linked exposure plus monthly premium income by holding a bitcoin investment and selling monthly call options against it in a covered call (buy-write) strategy.Seeks to generate high monthly income with potential appreciation through bitcoin exposure.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/17/202610/16/2024
Beta—1.6764
Last dividend$0.657 declared, pays 09/08/2026$0.6289
Ex-dividend date09/02/202608/19/2026

Bottom lineWe won't call this one: BITA launched June 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional. What is already clear from the numbers above: the two do not cost the same — BITA charges 0.65% against 0.98% for BTCI, and on funds tracking the same thing that gap compounds every year you hold.

How the risk works

Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.

  • Capped upside and premium dependence. BITA and BTCI generate income by selling options, which trades away part of a strong rally in exchange for premium. Distributions can include return of capital, and a payout the underlying assets cannot sustain shows up as NAV erosion over time — the big yield number is not free.
  • Crypto volatility. BITA and BTCI sit on top of crypto-asset prices, which routinely swing far more than equities. A single drawdown can exceed a year of distributions, so income projections deserve extra skepticism here.

Learn the mechanics: Return of capital, explained · NAV erosion, explained

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4668B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on BITA.

See all iShares ETFs
NEOS
ETFs19
Total AUM$32.9B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

NEOS is known for developing specialized income-focused ETFs that employ strategies like covered calls, hedging, and enhanced yields across various asset classes. The firm manages 19 funds organized into nine distinct families, including offerings in equity high income, fixed income enhancement, digital assets, and alternative strategies, with popular tickers like SPYI (S&P 500 covered call), QQQI (Nasdaq-100 covered call), and QQQH (Nasdaq-100 hedged equity income). NEOS distinguishes itself in the ETF landscape through its emphasis on income generation and downside protection strategies rather than traditional growth approaches.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on BTCI.

See all NEOS ETFs

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Quick verdict

BITA (iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF) and BTCI (NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF) are both monthly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

BTCI offers the higher yield at 22.95% vs 13.05% for BITA. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

BITA is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.65% compared to 0.98%.

They have different reference exposures: BITA is linked to Bitcoin while BTCI is linked to Bitcoin ETPs, which means their performance drivers differ.

BTCI has $1.30B in assets vs $78.4M for BITA, but BITA only launched June 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, BITA would generate roughly $108.75/month, while BTCI would produce $191.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.

BITA yield13.05%
BTCI yield22.95%
Monthly diff on $10K$82.50

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, BITA would cost approximately $650 in fees vs $980 for BTCI (simplified, not compounded). The $330.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

BITA ER0.65%
BTCI ER0.98%

Strategy & risk

BITA tracks Bitcoin with a covered call approach, while BTCI tracks Bitcoin ETPs with a crypto approach.

BITA beta—
BTCI beta1.6764

Fund details

BITA is managed by iShares (launched 06/17/2026) with $78.4M in assets. BTCI is managed by NEOS (launched 10/16/2024) with $1.30B in assets.

BITA AUM$78.4M
BTCI AUM$1.30B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for BITA and BTCI?

BITA currently distributes 13.05% and BTCI 22.95%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is BITA or BTCI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. BTCI currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between BITA and BTCI?

BITA (iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF) tracks Bitcoin with a covered call approach, while BTCI (NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF) tracks Bitcoin ETPs with a crypto approach. They are issued by iShares and NEOS respectively.

Can I hold both BITA and BTCI?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is BITA or BTCI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — BITA scores 50, BTCI scores 46, so BITA's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.

Which has lower fees, BITA or BTCI?

BITA has an expense ratio of 0.65% while BTCI charges 0.98%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in BITA vs BTCI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in BITA would generate roughly $108.75 per month ($1,305.00 annually). The same in BTCI would produce about $191.25 per month ($2,295.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, BITA or BTCI?

BITA has outpaced BTCI over the year to date, posting a 20.89% total return against -12.51%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

BITA vs BTCI — at a glance

Generated September 6, 2026.

BITA wraps bitcoin directly and sells call options monthly (a covered call strategy), capping upside to fund distributions 13.05%.

How they differ

The biggest difference is yield magnitude and sustainability. BTCI distributes 22.95%, while BITA pays 13.05%. BITA's $78.4M in assets under management trails BTCI's $1.30B, and BITA's 0.65% expense ratio undercuts BTCI's 0.98%, partly offsetting the lower gross income.

Second, strategy scope: BITA holds physical bitcoin and sells calls directly. Both are active, but BTCI's setup suggests reliance on notional leverage, total-return swaps, or deeper call-selling volume.

Third, structural risk: high distributions—especially 22.95%—tend to erode NAV when they exceed underlying asset total returns. BITA has inception date 06/17/2026; BTCI has been live since 10/16/2024, offering a longer track record to assess NAV durability. The larger AUM in BTCI suggests scale, but also potentially greater leverage or options notional if yield targets are to hold.

Who each is best for

  • BITA: Fits investors comfortable with bitcoin exposure who want capped upside in exchange for steady monthly income and are willing to accept the opportunity cost of forgone appreciation in strong bitcoin rallies.
  • Call option cap on upside: BITA's covered-call mechanism caps appreciation, so investors sacrifice gains if bitcoin rallies sharply. Monthly rebalancing also locks in limited call premium each period, which may underperform in strong trends.
  • Options and counterparty risk: Both funds sell calls, but BTCI's higher yield likely implies larger notional options positions, greater sensitivity to implied volatility crush, and broader reliance on counterparty performance in OTC swap or options markets. Past performance does not predict future results, and distributions in both cases depend on bitcoin appreciation and options market conditions.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How covered-call funds work How to read a fund's stats The covered-call opportunity cost

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