DV
Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

BITY vs IBIT: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Amplify Bitcoin 24% Premium Income ETF and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • BITYInvestors who want to maximize current income — roughly 24.00%, generated by selling options premium.
  • IBITInvestors who want straightforward Bitcoin exposure for the long run.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

BITY has lagged IBIT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -34.53% total return against -29.07%. Measured from Apr 2025 — when the younger fund began trading — IBIT has compounded at -12.57% a year versus -16.51% for BITY. 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.
SymbolYTD1YSince Apr 2025Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
BITY-16.60%-34.53%-16.51%41.8%-1.12-1.48-50.8%
IBIT-11.21%-29.07%-12.57%45.4%-0.86-1.16-53.3%

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 Apr 2025” measures every fund from April 29, 2025 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the past year. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the past year) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricBITYIBIT
Full nameAmplify Bitcoin 24% Premium Income ETFiShares Bitcoin Trust ETF
IssuerAmplify ETFsiShares
Last Close$28.35 as of September 4, 2026$45.23 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate24.00%
Distribution Safety Score™ 41
Safety-Adjusted Yield 9.84%
Expense ratio0.65%0.25%
AUM$13.6M$62.5B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyNone
Underlying indexBitcoinBitcoin
ObjectiveSeeks to provide monthly income with Bitcoin exposure through a premium income strategy targeting approximately 24% annual distribution while maintaining potential for capital appreciation.Provide exposure to bitcoin price performance through a physically backed trust structure.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date04/29/202501/11/2024
Beta1.78931.8887
Last dividend$0.567
Ex-dividend date08/28/2026

Bottom lineChoose BITY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 24.00%, generated by selling options premium. Choose IBIT if you want straightforward Bitcoin exposure for the long run. There's no free lunch: BITY's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while IBIT keeps full price exposure.

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. BITY generates 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. BITY and IBIT 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.

Income calculator

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

ETFs46
Total AUM$16.9B

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

Amplify ETFs is known for offering specialized, thematic investment solutions across diverse market segments including digital assets, commodities, and dividend strategies. The issuer's lineup spans multiple fund families covering income-focused strategies, covered call approaches, commodity exposure, and thematic sectors such as cybersecurity, blockchain, gaming, and sustainable investing. Notable for tickers like BLOK (blockchain), HACK (cybersecurity), and DIVO (dividend), Amplify combines traditional income strategies with alternative themes and emerging asset classes, appealing to investors seeking both yield and exposure to innovation-driven sectors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on BITY.

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 IBIT.

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Quick verdict

BITY (Amplify Bitcoin 24% Premium Income ETF) and IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.

BITY currently shows a 24.00% distribution yield. IBIT has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

IBIT is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.25% compared to 0.65%.

IBIT is the larger fund by assets ($62.5B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose BITY

Amplify Bitcoin 24% Premium Income ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — BITY distributes roughly 24.00% from selling options premium, while IBIT makes no distribution.
  • Want crypto exposure that pays income rather than waiting on price alone.

Choose IBIT

iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF

  • Want straightforward Bitcoin exposure for long-term appreciation, not income.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.25% expense ratio vs 0.65% for BITY.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, BITY would generate roughly $200.00/month, while IBIT has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, at current distribution rates.

BITY yield24.00%
IBIT yield

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, BITY would cost approximately $650 in fees vs $250 for IBIT (simplified, not compounded). The $400.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

BITY ER0.65%
IBIT ER0.25%

Strategy & risk

BITY tracks Bitcoin with a covered call approach, while IBIT tracks Bitcoin with a crypto approach. Beta is 1.7893 for BITY and 1.8887 for IBIT, making BITY the less volatile of the two by this measure.

BITY beta1.7893
IBIT beta1.8887

Fund details

BITY is managed by Amplify ETFs (launched 04/29/2025) with $13.6M in assets. IBIT is managed by iShares (launched 01/11/2024) with $62.5B in assets.

BITY AUM$13.6M
IBIT AUM$62.5B

Enjoyed this page?

Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.

Frequently asked questions

Which of BITY or IBIT pays more dividend income?

BITY currently reports a distribution yield, while IBIT has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.

What is the difference between BITY and IBIT?

BITY (Amplify Bitcoin 24% Premium Income ETF) tracks Bitcoin with a covered call approach, while IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) tracks Bitcoin with a crypto approach. They are issued by Amplify ETFs and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both BITY and IBIT?

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.

Which has lower fees, BITY or IBIT?

BITY has an expense ratio of 0.65% while IBIT charges 0.25%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in BITY vs IBIT generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in BITY would generate roughly $200.00 per month ($2,400.00 annually). IBIT has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available.

Which has performed better historically, BITY or IBIT?

BITY has lagged IBIT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -34.53% total return against -29.07%. Measured from Apr 2025 — when the younger fund began trading — IBIT has compounded at -12.57% a year versus -16.51% for BITY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

BITY vs IBIT — at a glance

Generated September 6, 2026.

Overview

BITY and IBIT both provide Bitcoin exposure through spot-backed ETFs, but they pursue fundamentally different objectives. The tradeoff is between pure Bitcoin price capture and enhanced income at the cost of capped upside.

How they differ

The core distinction is strategy: IBIT holds Bitcoin directly and aims to move dollar-for-dollar with spot price, while BITY sells call options against its Bitcoin holdings to fund distributions. This means BITY's 24.00% monthly payout comes partly from option premiums, which caps gains if Bitcoin rallies sharply—a meaningful structural constraint on upside participation. IBIT is vastly larger at $62.5B in assets under management compared to BITY's $13.6M, a scale difference that typically translates to tighter pricing and deeper liquidity.

The beta figures—1.7893 for BITY and 1.8887 for IBIT—suggest BITY amplifies Bitcoin volatility slightly, likely a result of the synthetic leverage embedded in the call-writing strategy.

Who each is best for

  • IBIT: Fits investors seeking pure Bitcoin price exposure without income generation, willing to accept no dividends in exchange for simplicity, lower cost, and the ability to participate fully in spot rallies.
  • BITY: Designed for investors who want monthly Bitcoin-linked cash flow and are comfortable trading away some upside potential when Bitcoin appreciates above the strike prices of the written calls.

Key risks to know

  • NAV erosion at unsustainably high yields: A 24% distribution rate on a volatile asset class raises questions about whether income will be covered by underlying Bitcoin gains or rely on return of capital over time. Monitor BITY's NAV trend relative to its distribution level to gauge whether principal is being returned alongside earnings.
  • Call strike cap and opportunity cost: BITY's covered-call strategy mechanically limits gains if Bitcoin rallies beyond the strike prices of sold options. A sustained bull market would let IBIT outperform BITY by a widening margin as calls are exercised and upside is surrendered.
  • Volatility amplification and drawdown recovery: BITY's beta of 1.7893 versus IBIT's 1.8887 indicates greater sensitivity to Bitcoin price swings. In a sharp correction, BITY would fall faster, and the monthly distributions may prove less meaningful against larger percentage declines.
  • Liquidity and size asymmetry: BITY's $13.6M in assets is a fraction of IBIT's $62.5B, creating potential tracking error and wider bid-ask spreads in BITY, especially during market stress.

Bottom line

If you want to capture Bitcoin's full price potential with the lowest cost, IBIT is the straightforward choice. If you prioritize regular monthly income and accept that your gains will be capped when Bitcoin rallies, BITY's premium-income structure may appeal—but verify that its distribution rate is sustainable by watching NAV over the next several distribution cycles. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

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.

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.