The global ETFs industry saw a record-breaking surge in the first nine months of 2024, with 1,426 new products listed, according to ETF research firm ETFGI’s September 2024 report.
This represents a net increase of 1,014 products after accounting for 412 closures, surpassing the previous record of 1,311 new ETFs set in 2021.
At the end of September, global ETFs assets reached an all-time high of $14.46 trillion, with 12,843 products listed across 25,590 listings from 786 providers on 81 exchanges in 63 countries. Net inflows in September alone totalled $164.74 billion, bringing year-to-date net inflows to a record $1.24 trillion.
ETF assets in Europe hit £2.25tn in September, data shows
The rise in cryptocurrency ETFs has played a significant role in the industry’s growth. The top 3 ETFs by asset size in 2024 are cryptocurrency-focused, with iShares Bitcoin Trust leading the pack at $23.23 billion in assets, followed by Grayscale Bitcoin Trust at $14.03 billion, and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund with $11.44 billion.
The approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the US in January 2024, followed by the Ethereum ETF approval in July, has driven much of this growth. Grayscale Ethereum Trust secured the 5th spot in the top 25 ETFs by assets, with $4.32 billion, while the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ranked 17th with $1.01 billion.
Beyond cryptocurrency, the Top 25 ETFs list highlights diverse sectors, including high dividend, equity, active, and climate-related ETFs, showing the wide range of investment opportunities. The US led in new product launches, with 529 new ETFs introduced, followed by 441 in the Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) and 213 in Europe.
Of the newly listed ETFs, 669 are classified as active, 466 as equity, and 138 as fixed income. The largest number of new launches came from iShares with 62 products, followed by Global X ETFs with 52, and First Trust with 37 new launches.
