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ETF Comparison

BLOK vs DAPP: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF and VanEck Digital Transformation ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

  • BLOKInvestors who want higher current income (0.12% while DAPP makes no distribution).
  • DAPPInvestors who want straightforward crypto 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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

BLOK has outpaced DAPP over the trailing twelve months, posting a -0.00% total return against -1.41%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: BLOK has compounded at 10.44% a year, against -2.06% for DAPP. BLOK has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 40.9% against 69.7% for DAPP. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Apr 2021Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
BLOK9.63%-0.00%49.28%10.44%6.79%40.9%0.871.28-35.6%
DAPP17.47%-1.41%53.50%-2.06%-5.94%69.7%0.550.81-58.9%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Apr 2021” measures every fund from April 14, 2021 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. 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 trailing 3 years) — 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.
MetricBLOKDAPP
Full nameAmplify Blockchain Technology ETFVanEck Digital Transformation ETF
IssuerAmplify ETFsVanEck
Last Close$64.86 as of September 18, 2026$20.91 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate0.12%—
Distribution Safety Score™ 79—
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.09%—
Expense ratio0.70%0.52%
AUM$1.12B$439M
Distribution frequencyAnnualNone
Underlying index—MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index
ObjectiveActively managed fund investing at least 80% of assets in equities of companies actively involved in the development and utilization of blockchain technologies, spanning crypto miners, exchanges, and enablers. Renamed from the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF in October 2025.Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of an index of companies that are positioned to benefit from the digital transformation of the economy, including digital asset infrastructure and blockchain technology companies.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/16/201804/12/2021
Beta2.463.76
Last dividend$0.0799—
Ex-dividend date06/29/202612/23/2024

Bottom lineChoose BLOK if you want higher current income (0.12% while DAPP makes no distribution). Choose DAPP if you want straightforward crypto exposure for the long run.

How the risk works

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

  • Crypto volatility. BLOK and DAPP 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.
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Income calculator

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

Amplify ETFs
ETFs46
Total AUM$16.7B

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 BLOK.

See all Amplify ETFs ETFs
VanEck
ETFs85
Total AUM$163B

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

VanEck is known for offering specialized and thematic ETFs across diverse asset classes, including commodities, digital assets, and sector-specific investments. The firm's 22-fund lineup spans income-generating options, covered call strategies, and growth-focused equity funds, with popular tickers including GDX (gold miners), SMH (semiconductors), MOAT (competitive advantage stocks), and HODL (bitcoin). VanEck distinguishes itself through niche exposure areas such as digital assets, commodities, and thematic investing strategies, complemented by traditional bond and municipal bond offerings.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DAPP.

See all VanEck ETFs

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Quick verdict

BLOK (Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF) and DAPP (VanEck Digital Transformation ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.

BLOK currently shows a 0.12% distribution yield. DAPP has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

DAPP is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.52% compared to 0.70%.

BLOK is the larger fund by assets ($1.12B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose BLOK

Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF

  • Want higher current income — BLOK yields 0.12% while DAPP makes no distribution.
  • Want straightforward crypto exposure for long-term appreciation, not income.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 2.5 vs 3.8 for DAPP.

Choose DAPP

VanEck Digital Transformation ETF

  • Want straightforward crypto exposure for long-term appreciation, not income.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.52% expense ratio vs 0.70% for BLOK.

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, BLOK would generate roughly $1.00/month, while DAPP has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, at current distribution rates.

BLOK yield0.12%
DAPP yield—

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, BLOK would cost approximately $700 in fees vs $520 for DAPP (simplified, not compounded). The $180.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

BLOK ER0.70%
DAPP ER0.52%

Strategy & risk

BLOK is an actively managed ETF, while DAPP tracks MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index with a crypto approach. Beta is 2.46 for BLOK and 3.76 for DAPP, making BLOK the less volatile of the two by this measure.

BLOK beta2.46
DAPP beta3.76

Fund details

BLOK is managed by Amplify ETFs (launched 01/16/2018) with $1.12B in assets. DAPP is managed by VanEck (launched 04/12/2021) with $439M in assets.

BLOK AUM$1.12B
DAPP AUM$439M
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Frequently asked questions

Which of BLOK or DAPP pays more dividend income?

BLOK currently reports a distribution yield, while DAPP 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 BLOK and DAPP?

BLOK (Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF) is an actively managed ETF, while DAPP (VanEck Digital Transformation ETF) tracks MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index with a crypto approach. They are issued by Amplify ETFs and VanEck respectively.

Can I hold both BLOK and DAPP?

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, BLOK or DAPP?

BLOK has an expense ratio of 0.70% while DAPP charges 0.52%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in BLOK vs DAPP generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in BLOK would generate roughly $1.00 per month ($12.00 annually). DAPP has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available.

Which has performed better historically, BLOK or DAPP?

BLOK has outpaced DAPP over the trailing twelve months, posting a -0.00% total return against -1.41%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: BLOK has compounded at 10.44% a year, against -2.06% for DAPP. BLOK has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 40.9% against 69.7% for DAPP. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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BLOK vs DAPP — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

BLOK and DAPP both target blockchain and digital transformation, but they approach it fundamentally differently. BLOK is an actively managed fund that holds blockchain-specific companies—crypto miners, exchanges, and infrastructure providers—and has been doing so since 2018. DAPP is an index-tracking ETF launched in 2021 that aims for a broader digital transformation mandate, including but not limited to blockchain, and is benchmarked to the MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index.

How they differ

The biggest difference is strategy: BLOK employs active management to pick blockchain stocks, while DAPP tracks a published index. This means BLOK's manager makes stock-selection calls; DAPP's holdings are determined mechanically by index rules. Third, size and volatility tell opposite stories—BLOK has $1.12B in assets and a beta of 2.46, while DAPP has $439M but a steeper beta of 3.76, meaning DAPP amplifies market moves more aggressively despite being a smaller fund.

Who each is best for

BLOK: Fits investors who believe active stock-picking in blockchain infrastructure can outpace an index approach and are comfortable paying for that manager discretion and conviction. Designed for allocators seeking concentrated exposure to pure-play blockchain builders rather than companies that merely benefit from digital transformation.

DAPP: Fits investors who want rules-based index exposure to digital transformation at lower cost and prefer passive rebalancing over active management. Designed for those who view blockchain as part of a broader digital economy shift rather than a standalone bet.

Key risks to know

  • Extreme volatility in concentrated blockchain sector: DAPP's beta of 3.76 and BLOK's 2.46 both indicate these funds swing sharply with sentiment in crypto and blockchain stocks—roughly 2.5 to 3.75 times broader market moves. A sharp crypto downturn could produce outsized losses. If the active stock picks underperform the index alternative, that fee drag will compound the shortfall—particularly in a sideways or down year.
  • Narrow underlying exposure: Both funds concentrate on blockchain and digital-asset companies. Their holdings likely overlap significantly, and both are vulnerable to sector-wide headwinds such as regulatory crackdowns, miner profitability compression, or crypto market stalls.

Bottom line

If you want active manager conviction and can absorb the higher fee for potential alpha, BLOK offers a focused play on pure blockchain infrastructure. If you prefer lower-cost, rules-based exposure to a broader digital-transformation theme, DAPP is cheaper and more mechanical. Both carry exceptional volatility and sector concentration—neither is a hedge or a conservative holding. Past performance doesn't predict 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.

Crypto covered-call funds, explained How to read a fund's stats NAV erosion, explained

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