A head-to-head comparison of Tidal Trust II - Nicholas Crypto Income ETF and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated July 8, 2026
Bottom lineChoose BLOX if you want to maximize current income — roughly 39.16%, generated by selling options premium. Choose IBIT if you want straightforward Bitcoin exposure for the long run. There's no free lunch: BLOX's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while IBIT keeps full price exposure.
Editor's take
Our take
BLOX
Updated Jul 8, 2026
BLOX is one of the more aggressive income products on the market: it sells options against a basket of crypto-related equities — not Bitcoin itself — and passes the premium through as a weekly distribution. That enormous headline rate is the draw and the catch in equal measure.
The rate is not a yield. Much of each distribution is option premium and, in flat or falling markets, a return of your own capital. Judge BLOX on total return (price plus distributions), not the posted rate.
It trades like leveraged crypto. Its beta sits well above the market, so it can swing several times as hard; in a crypto drawdown the NAV and the payout tend to fall together.
Built as a satellite, not a core. It fits income investors who specifically want crypto exposure to pay them now and who size the position for that volatility — not a set-and-forget holding.
IBIT
Updated Jul 8, 2026
IBIT is the plain-vanilla way to own Bitcoin inside a brokerage account: spot exposure with no options overlay and no futures roll. It has grown into the largest and most liquid of the spot-Bitcoin ETFs, and among the cheapest.
A price bet, not an income holding. IBIT pays no distribution — every dollar of return has to come from Bitcoin appreciating. If you need cash flow, this is the wrong tool.
Liquidity and cost are the moat. Tight spreads and deep volume make it a clean building block, and the low fee compounds in your favor over long holds.
Full crypto volatility. Treat it as the high-risk sleeve of a portfolio and size it accordingly — the drawdowns are real.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Nicholas Wealth Management operates a focused lineup of 10 ETFs that emphasize digital assets, income generation, and thematic investing strategies. The issuer's portfolio includes specialized funds targeting sectors such as blockchain (BLOX), precious metals (GLDN, SLVX), nuclear energy (NUKX), and digital finance (FIAX), alongside income-focused offerings. This niche positioning reflects the firm's focus on alternative and emerging investment themes rather than broad market exposure.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on BLOX.
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.
Basket (Equity portfolio focused on crypto-related companies)
Bitcoin
Objective
Seeks to provide current income and capital appreciation through exposure to crypto-related companies with an options strategy generating weekly income distributions.
Provide exposure to bitcoin price performance through a physically backed trust structure.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
06/17/2025
01/11/2024
Beta
3.1121
1.8887
Last dividend
$0.1080
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Ex-dividend date
07/06/2026
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Most used
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
BLOX has outpaced IBIT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -4.80% total return against -41.12%. Measured from Jun 2025 — when the younger fund began trading — BLOX has compounded at 5.46% a year versus -37.67% for IBIT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 7, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jun 2025” measures every fund from June 17, 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.
Quick verdict
BLOX (Tidal Trust II - Nicholas Crypto Income ETF) and IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.
BLOX currently shows a 39.16% 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 0.12% compared to 0.99%.
They track different benchmarks: BLOX is linked to Basket (Equity portfolio focused on crypto-related companies) while IBIT tracks Bitcoin, which means their performance drivers differ.
IBIT is the larger fund by assets ($48.6B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose BLOX
Tidal Trust II - Nicholas Crypto Income ETF
Want to maximize current income — BLOX distributes roughly 39.16% 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 0.12% expense ratio vs 0.99% for BLOX.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.9 vs 3.1 for BLOX.
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, BLOX would generate roughly $326.33/month, while IBIT has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, at current distribution rates.
BLOX yield39.16%
IBIT yield0.00%
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, BLOX would cost approximately $990 in fees vs $120 for IBIT (simplified, not compounded). The $870.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
BLOX ER0.99%
IBIT ER0.12%
Strategy & risk
BLOX tracks Basket (Equity portfolio focused on crypto-related companies) with a crypto approach, while IBIT tracks Bitcoin with a crypto approach. Beta is 3.1121 for BLOX and 1.8887 for IBIT, indicating IBIT is less volatile relative to the market.
BLOX beta3.1121
IBIT beta1.8887
Fund details
BLOX is managed by Nicholas Wealth Management (launched 06/17/2025) with $321M in assets. IBIT is managed by iShares (launched 01/11/2024) with $48.6B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Which of BLOX or IBIT pays more dividend income?
BLOX 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 BLOX and IBIT?
BLOX (Tidal Trust II - Nicholas Crypto Income ETF) tracks Basket (Equity portfolio focused on crypto-related companies) with a crypto approach, while IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) tracks Bitcoin with a crypto approach. They are issued by Nicholas Wealth Management and iShares respectively.
Can I hold both BLOX and IBIT?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.
Which has lower fees, BLOX or IBIT?
BLOX has an expense ratio of 0.99% while IBIT charges 0.12%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in BLOX vs IBIT generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in BLOX would generate roughly $326.33 per month ($3,916.00 annually). IBIT has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available.
Which has performed better historically, BLOX or IBIT?
BLOX has outpaced IBIT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -4.80% total return against -41.12%. Measured from Jun 2025 — when the younger fund began trading — BLOX has compounded at 5.46% a year versus -37.67% for IBIT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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