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. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
BTCI has lagged QQQI over the trailing twelve months, posting a -26.67% total return against 18.72%. Measured from Oct 2024 — the start of shared available history — QQQI has compounded at 20.39% a year versus 9.52% for BTCI. QQQI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 16.7% against 40.6% for BTCI. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Oct 2024” measures every fund from October 17, 2024 — 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 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.
Distribution rate and SEC yield
Metric
BTCI
QQQI
Forward distribution rate
25.42%
13.56%
Trailing 12-month yield
29.88%
13.63%
30-day SEC yield
1.35%
-0.05%
Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. A 30-day SEC yield can sit far from the headline distribution rate; both numbers are the fund's own published fields.
Bottom lineChoose BTCI if you want to maximize current income — roughly 25.42%, generated by selling options premium. Choose QQQI if you are comfortable trading away most upside for a large, steady payout. BTCI and QQQI both use option or derivative overlays. Their tradeoff is the underlying exposure, how each option strategy is implemented, and the yield each targets; either overlay can limit upside participation, so neither offers uncapped 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. BTCI and QQQI 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. BTCI sits 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.
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 and QQQI.
BTCI (NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF) and QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) are both monthly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
BTCI offers the higher yield at 25.42% vs 13.56% for QQQI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
QQQI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.68% compared to 0.98%.
They have different reference exposures: BTCI is linked to Bitcoin ETPs while QQQI is linked to Nasdaq-100, which means their performance drivers differ.
QQQI is the larger fund by assets ($15.0B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose BTCI
NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF
Want to maximize current income — BTCI distributes roughly 25.42% from selling options premium, vs 13.56% for QQQI.
Want crypto exposure that pays income rather than waiting on price alone.
Choose QQQI
NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF
Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.68% expense ratio vs 0.98% for BTCI.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.1 vs 1.5 for BTCI.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track BTCI & QQQI for free
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On a $10,000 investment, BTCI would generate roughly $211.83 cash per distribution, while QQQI would produce $113.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.
BTCI yield25.42%
QQQI yield13.56%
Cash diff on $10K$98.83
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, BTCI would cost approximately $980 in fees vs $680 for QQQI (simplified, not compounded). The $300.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
BTCI ER0.98%
QQQI ER0.68%
Strategy & risk
BTCI tracks Bitcoin ETPs with a crypto approach, while QQQI is actively managed around Nasdaq-100 exposure with an active approach. Beta is 1.48 for BTCI and 1.0553 for QQQI, making QQQI the less volatile of the two by this measure.
BTCI beta1.48
QQQI beta1.0553
Fund details
BTCI is managed by NEOS (launched 10/16/2024) with $1.38B in assets. QQQI is managed by NEOS (launched 01/29/2024) with $15.0B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for BTCI and QQQI?
BTCI currently distributes 25.42% and QQQI 13.56%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is BTCI or QQQI 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 BTCI and QQQI?
BTCI (NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF) tracks Bitcoin ETPs with a crypto approach, while QQQI (NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF) is actively managed around Nasdaq-100 exposure with an active approach. They are issued by NEOS and NEOS respectively.
Can I hold both BTCI and QQQI?
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 BTCI or QQQI safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QQQI scores 84, BTCI scores 51, so QQQI's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. QQQI has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.06 vs 1.48 for BTCI). 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, BTCI or QQQI?
BTCI has an expense ratio of 0.98% while QQQI charges 0.68%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in BTCI vs QQQI generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in BTCI would generate roughly $211.83 cash per distribution ($2,542.00 annually). The same in QQQI would produce about $113.00 cash per distribution ($1,356.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, BTCI or QQQI?
BTCI has lagged QQQI over the trailing twelve months, posting a -26.67% total return against 18.72%. Measured from Oct 2024 — the start of shared available history — QQQI has compounded at 20.39% a year versus 9.52% for BTCI. QQQI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 16.7% against 40.6% for BTCI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
BTCI and QQQI are both income-focused ETFs from NEOS that use covered call options strategies to generate monthly distributions, but they target fundamentally different underlying assets. BTCI seeks high income from Bitcoin exposure with a 25.42% distribution rate, while QQQI pursues income from Nasdaq-100 equities with a 13.56% yield. The core distinction is asset class: Bitcoin volatility and cryptocurrency market dynamics versus large-cap tech and growth equity concentration. That choice alone drives everything else. BTCI's 25.42% payout rate dwarfs QQQI's 13.56%, a gap of 11.86% percentage points that reflects Bitcoin's higher realized volatility — call writers collect larger premiums in volatile assets. BTCI also carries a higher expense ratio of 0.98% versus QQQI's 0.68%, and a beta of 1.48 compared to QQQI's 1.0553, meaning Bitcoin-backed income strategies amplify broader market moves more aggressively. QQQI commands a much larger asset base at $15.0B versus BTCI's $1.38B.
Who each is best for
BTCI: Fits investors who have conviction in Bitcoin's long-term direction, can tolerate crypto's sharp price swings, and want to harvest volatility through monthly income while maintaining crypto exposure.
QQQI: Fits investors seeking high monthly income from established tech and growth companies, prefer the depth and regulation of equity markets over cryptocurrency, and view large-cap tech concentration as acceptable given their risk tolerance.
Key risks to know
NAV erosion at ultra-high distribution yields.BTCI's 25.42% annualized payout rate approaches full-year NAV returns in most years; sustained yield at this level historically implies meaningful return-of-capital treatment or principal decline over time. Monitor NAV trends carefully.
Bitcoin volatility and crypto regulatory risk.BTCI's 1.48 reflects Bitcoin's price swings; severe drawdowns (as seen in past crypto cycles) can compress call premiums and force the fund to realize losses if Bitcoin holdings decline sharply. Regulatory changes affecting spot Bitcoin ETPs could also alter the fund's mechanics.
Call-strike capture risk in both funds. Both ETFs sell call options with fixed strikes; if the underlying (Bitcoin or Nasdaq-100) rises sharply, gains are capped at the call strike and the fund foregoes upside. Conversely, if the underlying falls, call premium income may not fully offset equity losses.
BTCI concentration and nascent fund age.BTCI was launched 10/16/2024, giving it limited real-world history through a full market cycle. Bitcoin as a single asset creates maximum concentration; unlike QQQI's diversified index, BTCI has no offsetting holdings to cushion crypto crashes.
Bottom line
If you want maximum monthly income and have high conviction on Bitcoin, BTCI's 25.42% yield and crypto-native strategy stands out. If you prioritize broad tech equity exposure with more modest but sustainable income, QQQI's 13.56% distribution and $15.0B in assets suggest deeper market acceptance. Past performance does not 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.
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