LIVE
ARKB
ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF · Cryptocurrency / Alternatives - Spot Bitcoin ETF
$20.88
-18.02% this month
VERSUS
⟷
COMPARE
IBIT
iShares Bitcoin Trust · Cryptocurrency / Alternatives - Spot Bitcoin ETF
$35.62
-18.11% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across expense ratio, momentum, yield, fund size, risk
ARKB
2
IBIT
1
Comparison scoreboard
ARKB LEADS 2/5Exp. Ratio
ARKB ✓0.21%
IBIT 0.25%
1Y Return
ARKB ✓-39.51%
IBIT -39.60%
Div. Yield
ARKB 0.00%
IBIT 0.00%
AUM
ARKB $2.43B
IBIT ✓$58.12B
Beta
ARKB N/A
IBIT 1.71
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
ARKB vs IBIT Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
ARKB and IBIT are both spot Bitcoin ETFs holding Bitcoin directly through Coinbase custody, launched in January 2024 after SEC approval. The primary differences are issuer scale (BlackRock vs ARK/21Shares), resulting in IBIT being dramatically larger and more liquid, and minor expense ratio differences. Both track Bitcoin price with negligible difference in exposure.
ARKB vs IBIT is the Bitcoin ETF brand comparison — ARK Invest's crypto-advocacy retail brand against BlackRock's institutional distribution machine, both providing functionally identical Bitcoin price exposure.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
ARKB holds the edge across 2 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. ARKB has delivered stronger 1-year price return (-39.51% vs -39.60% for IBIT).
Normalized 1Y performance
ARKB
IBIT
Recent returns
ARKB
IBIT
Who should consider this stock?
ARKB may suit investors who:
- →Are ARK Invest community investors aligned with Cathie Wood's disruptive technology and crypto investment thesis
- →Want Bitcoin ETF exposure from a provider with crypto-native expertise through the 21Shares partnership
- →Value ARK's specific Bitcoin research and advocacy perspective alongside the ETF product itself
IBIT may suit investors who:
- →Want the highest-liquidity, largest-AUM spot Bitcoin ETF from the world's largest asset manager
- →Need institutional-quality Bitcoin ETF for large position sizes where bid-ask spread and market depth matter
- →Value BlackRock's institutional credibility and infrastructure for a Bitcoin allocation in a traditional portfolio
Performance & AI score
| Metric | ARKB | IBIT |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 40.0 | 52.0 |
| Latest close | $20.88 | $35.62 |
| 1M return | -18.02% | -18.11% |
| 6M return | -26.76% | -26.87% |
| 1Y return | -39.51% | -39.60% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | ARKB | IBIT |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $6.05K (-39.5%) started 2025-06-18 | $6.04K (-39.6%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $13.4K (+34.0%) started 2024-01-11 | $13.38K (+33.8%) started 2024-01-11 |
| 10Y ago | $13.4K (+34.0%) started 2024-01-11 | $13.38K (+33.8%) started 2024-01-11 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fund characteristics
| Metric | ARKB | IBIT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.21% | 0.25% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $2.43B | $58.12B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | N/A | 1.71 |
| 52-week change | -39.51% | -39.60% |
Risk & fund metrics
| Metric | ARKB | IBIT |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | -39.51% | -39.60% |
| 6M return | -26.76% | -26.87% |
| 1M return | -18.02% | -18.11% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | -1.03 | -1.03 |
| Beta | N/A | 1.71 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 5Y CAGR | +12.76% | +12.69% |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
ARKB max drawdown52.04%
IBIT max drawdown52.11%
ARKB max wkly drop24.26%
IBIT max wkly drop24.16%
5Y risk snapshot
ARKB max drawdown52.04%
IBIT max drawdown52.11%
ARKB max wkly drop24.26%
IBIT max wkly drop24.16%
10Y risk snapshot
ARKB max drawdown52.04%
IBIT max drawdown52.11%
ARKB max wkly drop24.26%
IBIT max wkly drop24.16%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | ARKB | IBIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | -39.51% | -39.60% |
| CAGR | -39.53% | -39.62% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -1.03 | -1.03 | |
| Max drawdown | 52.04% | 52.11% | |
| Max daily drop | 13.18% | 13.16% | |
| Max wkly drop | 24.26% | 24.16% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +33.96% | +33.76% |
| CAGR | +12.76% | +12.69% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.40 | 0.40 | |
| Max drawdown | 52.04% | 52.11% | |
| Max daily drop | 14.47% | 14.41% | |
| Max wkly drop | 24.26% | 24.16% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +33.96% | +33.76% |
| CAGR | +12.76% | +12.69% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.40 | 0.40 | |
| Max drawdown | 52.04% | 52.11% | |
| Max daily drop | 14.47% | 14.41% | |
| Max wkly drop | 24.26% | 24.16% |
Fund overview
| Category | ARKB | IBIT |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF | iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.21% | 0.25% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $2.43B | $58.12B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
ARKB strengths
- →ARK Invest brand and Cathie Wood's high-profile advocacy for Bitcoin creates a community of retail investors aligned with ARK's crypto thesis
- →21Shares brings European crypto ETP expertise from its established track record in European Bitcoin exchange-traded products
- →Coinbase custody provides institutional-grade Bitcoin safekeeping from a regulated U.S. cryptocurrency exchange
IBIT strengths
- →BlackRock's institutional distribution network drove IBIT to become the fastest-growing ETF launch in history by AUM accumulation
- →Largest spot Bitcoin ETF — highest liquidity, tightest bid-ask spreads, preferred by institutional investors for large Bitcoin allocations
- →BlackRock brand provides credibility with institutional investors who need a trusted counterparty for alternative asset exposure
Risks to watch — ARKB
- →ARKB has much smaller AUM and liquidity than IBIT — larger investors may prefer IBIT's tighter bid-ask spreads and greater daily volume
- →ARK's higher expense ratio than the largest competitors (though competitive among the initial launching cohort) creates a total cost disadvantage over long holding periods
- →Spot Bitcoin ETFs track Bitcoin directly — all performance differences between ARKB and IBIT are driven by expense ratio and tracking difference, not investment strategy
Risks to watch — IBIT
- →Bitcoin itself is extremely volatile — IBIT's and ARKB's performance are essentially identical (Bitcoin price minus expense ratio) regardless of issuer
- →Expense ratio competition among spot Bitcoin ETFs has been aggressive — investors should verify current rates as issuers have temporarily waived fees to build AUM
- →Regulatory uncertainty around cryptocurrency could affect all spot Bitcoin ETF structures regardless of issuer
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