Dividend comparison

BLOX vs BITO: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Nicholas Crypto Income ETF and ProShares Bitcoin ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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BLOX vs BITO: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. BITO is cheaper at 0.95% a year versus 0.99% for BLOX. On $10,000 that is $4 a year less in fees.
  • Income. BLOX pays more income, yielding 51.19% over the last twelve months versus 22.43% for BITO. That is about $2,876 more a year on $10,000. BLOX pays weekly, BITO pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 1 year, BITO returned -33.1% versus -53.0% for BLOX, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $6,689 in BITO and $4,701 in BLOX.
  • Risk. BITO has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -77.8%, against -56.3% for BLOX.
  • Size. BITO is the larger fund with $1.6 billion in assets, against $259 million for BLOX.

Bottom line: BLOX fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns. BITO fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 1-year returns.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricBLOX
Nicholas Crypto Income ETF
BITO
ProShares Bitcoin ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)51.19%22.43%
Dividend / share (TTM)$5.93$2.47
Payout frequencyWeeklyMonthly
Last dividend$0.0878 on Oct 19, 2026$0.0174 on Oct 7, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 16, 2026Oct 1, 2026
Price$11.73$11.01
Beta2.961.74
Max drawdown (5Y)-56.3%-77.8%
Market cap$13.4M$2.22B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.99%0.95%
Assets under management$259.2M$1.61B
Number of holdings—5
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

BLOX

$426.60/mo

$5119 /yr at 51.19% yield

BITO

$186.91/mo

$2243 /yr at 22.43% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. BLOX pays weekly; BITO pays monthly.
YearBLOXBITO
2025—$9.5198
2024—$14.0307
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 BLOX vs BITO actually do

BITO
A ProShares fund that tracks bitcoin through CME futures contracts rather than holding any bitcoin itself.

It buys front-month CME bitcoin futures and rolls them forward as each contract nears expiry, holding Treasuries as collateral. When longer-dated contracts trade above nearer ones, a condition called contango that has been common in bitcoin futures, each roll sells low and buys high and drags on return relative to spot bitcoin. Fees are around 0.95% a year on top of that roll cost, and its distributions come from collateral interest and realized futures gains rather than from anything the asset pays.

Suits an account that cannot hold spot bitcoin products directly but can hold a futures-based fund. Since spot bitcoin ETFs became available in 2024 the structural case for the futures wrapper is much narrower, and the combination of roll drag and fee means it should not be expected to keep pace with bitcoin itself.

High volatility, structural tracking drag

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Jun 17, 2025 would now be worth $7,020 in BLOX and $6,955 in BITO.
PeriodBLOXBITO
1 month-18.54%0.82%
3 months-9.56%26.70%
Year to date-32.51%-9.46%
1 year-52.99%-33.11%
3 years—115.46%
5 years—-11.21%
  • BLOX
  • BITO
42103163202520267070

Both series indexed to 100 on 2025-06-17 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.
  • BLOX
  • BITO
0%17%34%51%67%Financial Services64.4%67.3%Technology35.6%Cash & Others32.7%

Quick verdict

BLOX fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns. BITO fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 1-year returns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is BLOX or BITO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. BLOX currently yields 51.19% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while BITO yields 22.43%. 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 BLOX and BITO?
Nicholas Crypto Income ETF (BLOX) is an ETF listed on AMEX. ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, BLOX or BITO?
BITO has the lower expense ratio. BLOX charges 0.99% a year and BITO charges 0.95%, a difference of $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, BLOX or BITO?
Over the last 1 year, BITO has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: BLOX returned -53.0% and BITO returned -33.1%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, BLOX or BITO?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, BITO has been riskier: BLOX fell as much as 56.3% and BITO as much as 77.8%. Their betas are 2.96 and 1.74.
How often do BLOX and BITO pay dividends?
BLOX pays weekly and BITO pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in BLOX vs BITO generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in BLOX would generate roughly $426.60 per month ($5119 annually). The same amount in BITO would produce about $186.91 per month ($2243 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both BLOX and BITO?
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 BLOX vs BITO with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how BLOX and BITO 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.