Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF

FDIG

Market cap $318M

Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF offers diversified exposure to cryptocurrency-related companies, focusing on mining, payments, and brokerage services. FDIG provides moderate liquidity, a 0.40% expense ratio, and is best used as a satellite position in a diversified portfolio, with a suggested 2% allocation. Many of the ETF's holdings are shifting toward data center infrastructure and power management, potentially benefiting from the AI adoption theme.

FDIG offers low expenses and diversified crypto equity exposure, but lacks the asymmetric upside seen in top-performing peers like BLOK or pure Bitcoin. The ETF's holdings are highly correlated with Bitcoin, benefiting from bull markets but also exposed to sharp drawdowns if sentiment reverses. FDIG's construction prioritizes lower volatility, which limits participation in strong rallies and results in inferior risk-adjusted returns versus competitors.

Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF remains inefficient, underperforming both its main holdings and direct investments in BTC, due to structural index constraints. The FDIG fund's design caps upside by limiting exposure to outperforming stocks like Coinbase, forcing rebalancing into weaker holdings. I don't see a role for FDIG for people wanting broad crypto exposure - this is not a space where such strategy can generate good returns. Especially not with FDIG.

Fresh off all-time highs above $120,000, Bitcoin has had an incredible run in the last year with a price increase above 80%. The potential for a more favorable regulatory environment may have helped drive these gains and could also inspire once-cautious investors to take the crypto plunge.

The Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF offers targeted exposure to the rapidly evolving crypto and digital payments sectors, with a focus on high-growth potential. FDIG's non-diversified classification allows significant investment in a few key holdings, making it a high-risk, high-reward option for sophisticated investors. The ETF's performance hinges on regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and cyclical factors, with a strong emphasis on strategic execution by its core holdings.

Bitcoin has been riding the wave of crypto-friendly Donald Trump's win, nearing the $90,000 level.

The Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF offers focused exposure to cryptocurrency-related companies, but I believe there are better alternatives for investors interested in the crypto and blockchain space. While FDIG is one of the better-performing ETFs in its category, it suffers from a high expense ratio (0.39%) and a steep bid/ask spread (0.88%), making it an inefficient choice. For investors looking to outperform Bitcoin, I recommend MicroStrategy, which has historically outperformed during bull markets. For broader blockchain exposure, buy FDIG's top 10 holdings directly.

Advisors and investors don't lack options when it comes to thematic investing strategies. The thematic index ETF suite from Fidelity can offer exposure to many of the long-term disruptors looking ahead and may be worth consideration.

Amid a lack of Wall Street dealmaking this year, ETF issuers have been busy crafting new strategies. Our data show that 2024 paces to be a banner year for new US ETFs. Option ETFs, leveraged single-stock funds, and crypto are all big themes – with a newcomer set to grab the headlines.

Coinbase (COIN), the largest regulated cryptocurrency broker, said Tuesday it is partnering with Lightspark to integrate bitcoin's Lightning Network. This move is aimed at bringing new efficiencies to the realm of cryptocurrency payments.