A head-to-head comparison of iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF and YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
YieldMax is known for specializing in options-based and income-focused ETFs that emphasize yield generation through covered call strategies and other income-producing methodologies. The firm operates a diverse lineup of 63 funds organized across multiple families including covered call strategies, 0DTE (zero days to expiration) options, double distribution approaches, and various target-date and performance-based portfolios designed to generate regular distributions. Notable offerings span popular underlying assets like major technology stocks and broad market indices, with a particular emphasis on providing enhanced income solutions for investors seeking regular cash flows through options strategies and other tactical approaches.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on YBIT.
Provide exposure to bitcoin price performance through a physically backed trust structure.
Covered Call
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
01/11/2024
07/18/2023
Beta
1.8887
1.5424
Last dividend
—
$0.1720
Ex-dividend date
—
07/09/2026
Bottom lineChoose IBIT if you want straightforward Bitcoin exposure for the long run. Choose YBIT if you want to maximize current income — roughly 47.22%, generated by selling options premium. There's no free lunch: YBIT's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while IBIT keeps full price exposure.
Most used
Income calculator
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
IBIT has lagged YBIT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -43.02% total return against -40.05%. Measured from Apr 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — IBIT has compounded at -2.02% a year versus -14.15% for YBIT. 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 10, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Apr 2024” measures every fund from April 23, 2024 — 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
IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) and YBIT (YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.
YBIT currently shows a 47.22% 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%.
IBIT is the larger fund by assets ($48.6B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
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 YBIT.
Choose YBIT
YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF
Want to maximize current income — YBIT distributes roughly 47.22% from selling options premium, while IBIT makes no distribution.
Want crypto exposure that pays income rather than waiting on price alone.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.5 vs 1.9 for IBIT.
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, IBIT has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, while YBIT would produce $393.50/month, at current distribution rates.
IBIT yield0.00%
YBIT yield47.22%
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, IBIT would cost approximately $120 in fees vs $990 for YBIT (simplified, not compounded). The $870.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
IBIT ER0.12%
YBIT ER0.99%
Strategy & risk
IBIT tracks Bitcoin with a crypto approach, while YBIT tracks Bitcoin with a covered call approach. Beta is 1.8887 for IBIT and 1.5424 for YBIT, indicating YBIT is less volatile relative to the market.
IBIT beta1.8887
YBIT beta1.5424
Fund details
IBIT is managed by iShares (launched 01/11/2024) with $48.6B in assets. YBIT is managed by YieldMax (launched 07/18/2023) with $46.7M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Which of IBIT or YBIT pays more dividend income?
YBIT 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 IBIT and YBIT?
IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) tracks Bitcoin with a crypto approach, while YBIT (YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF) tracks Bitcoin with a covered call approach. They are issued by iShares and YieldMax respectively.
Can I hold both IBIT and YBIT?
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, IBIT or YBIT?
IBIT has an expense ratio of 0.12% while YBIT charges 0.99%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in IBIT vs YBIT generate?
At current rates, IBIT has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. The same in YBIT would produce about $393.50 per month ($4,722.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, IBIT or YBIT?
IBIT has lagged YBIT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -43.02% total return against -40.05%. Measured from Apr 2024 — when the younger fund began trading — IBIT has compounded at -2.02% a year versus -14.15% for YBIT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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