Dividend comparison
BTCI vs CONY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF and YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. BTCI is cheaper at 0.99% a year versus 1.04% for CONY. On $10,000 that is $5 a year less in fees.
- Income. CONY pays more income, yielding 120.75% over the last twelve months versus 30.36% for BTCI. That is about $9,039 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
- Performance. Over the last 1 year, BTCI returned -39.6% versus -42.5% for CONY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $6,041 in BTCI and $5,752 in CONY.
- Risk. CONY has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -68.8%, against -55.9% for BTCI.
- Size. BTCI is the larger fund with $1.4 billion in assets, against $355 million for CONY.
Bottom line: BTCI fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns and smaller drawdowns. CONY fits better if you care most about more income today.
| Metric | BTCI NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF | CONY YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 30.36% | 120.75% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $10.14 | $21.94 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Last dividend | $0.7180 on Sep 18, 2026 | $0.2148 on Oct 16, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Price | $33.39 | $18.17 |
| Beta | 1.42 | 1.93 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -55.9% | -68.8% |
| Market cap | $1.41B | $362.4M |
| Exchange | CBOE | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.99% | 1.04% |
| Assets under management | $1.42B | $354.7M |
| Number of holdings | — | 6 |
BTCI
$252.97/mo
$3036 /yr at 30.36% yield
CONY
$1006.26/mo
$12075 /yr at 120.75% yield
| Year | BTCI | CONY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16.0521 | $75.5777 |
| 2024 | — | $202.9790 |
Distributions can include return of capital and the share price tends to erode over time, so the headline yield overstates what the investor actually keeps.
What BTCI vs CONY actually do
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
Exposure is synthetic: the fund buys calls and sells puts at matching strikes to replicate roughly 100% of the stock's price movement, then writes calls or call spreads on top to collect premium. Coinbase's earnings move with crypto trading volume, so both the stock and the option premium swing hard with the crypto cycle, and the distribution swings with them. Like others in the range it charges around 1% a year and has paid distributions that included return of capital.
Suits only a speculative sleeve sized so that a total loss would not matter. The structure concentrates single-company risk, caps the upside that would otherwise compensate for it, and can erode net asset value over time while still paying out, so it does not behave like the income funds it is often compared against.
Speculative, single-stock, capital at high risk
| Period | BTCI | CONY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.77% | -8.69% |
| 3 months | 15.34% | 10.46% |
| Year to date | -24.15% | -18.30% |
| 1 year | -39.59% | -42.48% |
| 3 years | — | 13.56% |
| 5 years | — | — |
- BTCI
- CONY
Both series indexed to 100 on 2024-10-17 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- BTCI
- CONY
Quick verdict
BTCI fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 1-year returns and smaller drawdowns. CONY fits better if you care most about more income today. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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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.