The finance industry has gone through many changes over the years, but the pace of change has accelerated over the past decade. Crypto trading, commission-free trading, and enhanced fintech apps are some of the big shifts that have taken place in this sector. Some fintech ETFs give investors exposure to this trend while setting up for long-term returns that can outpace the S&P 500. These are some of the top funds to monitor.
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF)
The ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSEARCA:ARKF) has the setup to beat the S&P 500 in 2026 despite being down over the past five years. It’s enjoyed a strong rally since 2023, where shares have more than tripled. This gain shows what the fund can do when it gains momentum, and its holdings suggest that growth can compound quickly.
ARKF places half of its capital into its top 10 holdings. The top three positions — Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP | SHOP Price Prediction), Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), and Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) — make up more than 20% of its total assets. Tech and financial stocks make up almost 70% of ARKF’s portfolio.
One downside with the fund is that it comes with a 0.75% expense ratio. It’s an actively managed fund, which explains the high fees, but you can find other ETFs that have more generous expense ratios.
Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF (FDIG)
The Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF (NASDAQ:FDIG) puts almost all of its assets in financial and tech stocks while prioritizing digital payments. Its exposure to crypto also positions it to benefit from the AI boom, since many of its top holdings are crypto miners that have pivoted to AI infrastructure. Applied Digital (NASDAQ:APLD), IREN (NASDAQ:IREN), and Cipher Mining (NASDAQ:CIFR) are the #1, #3, and #4 holdings within the entire fund. Its top 10 holdings make up 45% of its total assets.
FDIG was launched in 2022, so there aren’t many historical returns. It is up by 19% this year, which has been enough to outperform the S&P 500. It’s also down by more than 30% from its all-time high due to the sharp correction that has greeted crypto mining stocks since November.
The fintech ETF focuses on small-cap stocks, with more than half of its total assets in that category. Large-cap stocks are lightly represented, making up only 16% of FDIG’s total assets.
Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH)
The Vanguard Financials ETF (NYSEARCA:VFH) has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is the lowest of these fintech ETFs. However, the Vanguard Financials ETF also has traditional banks and credit card companies in its portfolio. In fact, those companies make up most of the fund’s top 10 holdings.
Fintech isn’t just flashy companies like Robinhood and Coinbase. It also includes financial institutions that have been around for more than 100 years that have adapted to the changing times. VFH reflects this reality and focuses on traditional finance. However, new fintech plays like Robinhood are in the fund.
VFH has produced an annualized 13.2% return over the past decade, and its 5-year annualized return is 16.1%. The fund has been remarkably consistent while providing a mix of steady banks and high-growth fintech stocks.
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