Dividend comparison

BITA vs BTCI: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for The iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF and NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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BITA vs BTCI: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. BITA is cheaper at 0.65% a year versus 0.99% for BTCI. On $10,000 that is $34 a year less in fees.
  • Income. BTCI pays more income, yielding 30.36% over the last twelve months versus 4.39% for BITA. That is about $2,597 more a year on $10,000. BITA pays quarterly, BTCI pays monthly.
  • Risk. BTCI has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -55.9%, against -7.4% for BITA.
  • Size. BTCI is the larger fund with $1.4 billion in assets, against $97 million for BITA.

Bottom line: BITA fits better if you care most about lower fees and smaller drawdowns. BTCI fits better if you care most about more income today.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricBITA
The iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF
BTCI
NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)4.39%30.36%
Dividend / share (TTM)$18.04$10.14
Payout frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.7260 on Oct 7, 2026$0.7180 on Sep 18, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 2, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Price$62.08$33.39
Beta1.101.42
Max drawdown (5Y)-7.4%-55.9%
Market cap$12.3M$1.41B
ExchangeNASDAQCBOE
Expense ratio0.65%0.99%
Assets under management$97.3M$1.42B
Number of holdings2—
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

BITA

$36.57/mo

$439 /yr at 4.39% yield

BTCI

$252.97/mo

$3036 /yr at 30.36% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. BITA pays quarterly; BTCI pays monthly.
YearBITABTCI
2025—$16.0521
Strategy: Crypto-linked income
The most aggressive category on the site: funds that take exposure to bitcoin or a crypto-linked stock, usually through options or futures rather than by owning the asset, and sell calls against it to generate large distributions. Extreme implied volatility is what funds the payout, and the same volatility is what makes the exposure underneath unpredictable. Fees are around 1% a year and the exposure is often synthetic, so what you own is a set of derivative contracts, not the asset itself.

Distributions vary sharply, have included return of capital, and upside is capped while downside is not, so net asset value can fall a long way even in periods when the payments keep arriving.

What BITA vs BTCI actually do

BTCI
A NEOS fund that holds spot bitcoin exchange-traded products and writes call options against that exposure for monthly income.

Rather than owning bitcoin or futures directly, it holds spot bitcoin ETPs such as IBIT and HODL, then sells calls on bitcoin-related funds to collect premium. Bitcoin's implied volatility is extreme by equity standards, so the premium collected and the resulting distributions are very large, and so is the amount of upside handed over when bitcoin runs. Fees are around 1% a year, which is high in absolute terms though normal for this category.

Suits someone who already wants bitcoin exposure and would rather convert its volatility into monthly cash than wait for appreciation. Entirely unsuitable as a core income holding: the underlying asset can halve, the distribution is not contractual, and the call overlay removes exactly the upside that justifies owning bitcoin in the first place.

Speculative income, very high volatility

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Jun 22, 2026 would now be worth $11,927 in BITA and $11,369 in BTCI.
PeriodBITABTCI
1 month0.84%1.77%
3 months19.75%15.34%
Year to date—-24.15%
1 year—-39.59%
3 years——
5 years——
  • BITA
  • BTCI
891081272026119114

Both series indexed to 100 on 2026-06-22 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • BITA
  • BTCI
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%

Quick verdict

BITA fits better if you care most about lower fees and smaller drawdowns. BTCI fits better if you care most about more income today. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is BITA or BTCI better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. BITA currently yields 4.39% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while BTCI yields 30.36%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between BITA and BTCI?
The iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF (BITA) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (BTCI) is an ETF listed on CBOE. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, BITA or BTCI?
BITA has the lower expense ratio. BITA charges 0.65% a year and BTCI charges 0.99%, a difference of $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, BITA or BTCI?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, BTCI has been riskier: BITA fell as much as 7.4% and BTCI as much as 55.9%. Their betas are 1.10 and 1.42.
How often do BITA and BTCI pay dividends?
BITA pays quarterly and BTCI pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in BITA vs BTCI generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in BITA would generate roughly $36.57 per month ($439 annually). The same amount in BTCI would produce about $252.97 per month ($3036 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both BITA and BTCI?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare BITA vs BTCI with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how BITA and BTCI fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.