Key Highlights
- Hashdex cut NCIQ’s sponsor fee from 0.50% to 0.25% per year, effective March 16, 2026.
- The fund had already been charging an effective 0.25% through a temporary waiver that was set to run until December 31, 2026.
- NCIQ currently offers exposure to seven assets: BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, ADA, LINK, and XLM.
Hashdex has permanently reduced the sponsor fee on its Hashdex Nasdaq CME Crypto Index ETF (NCIQ) to 0.25% per annum, according to a March 16 SEC filing and accompanying press release. The change took effect on March 16 and formally lowers the fee from 0.50% to 0.25%.
Before the amendment, NCIQ had already been charging an effective 0.25% through a temporary fee waiver that was set to remain in place until December 31, 2026. With the new change, Hashdex has written the lower fee directly into the sponsor agreement, removing the planned reversion to 0.50%.
Hashdex said the move is part of its effort to make crypto index products more accessible to advisors, institutions, and high-net-worth investors. In the press release attached to the filing, U.S. CEO and Global Head of Distribution Mick McLaughlin said the firm sees growing value in giving investors diversified crypto exposure through a single ETF structure.
“Our decision to permanently reduce the management fee for NCIQ underscores our commitment to building accessible and investor-aligned products that benefit advisors, institutions, and high-net-worth investors,” McLaughlin said. “We have strong conviction that investors are best served by gaining exposure to multiple crypto assets through a single ETF, and we view this as the right time to ensure our fee structure supports long-term access to the digital assets ecosystem.”
Hashdex explains the timing of the fee change
In a March 16 commentary note, Hashdex said the 0.25% fee was set deliberately to position NCIQ as one of the lower-cost ways to access diversified spot crypto exposure in the U.S. market. The firm said the pricing was designed to work not only for large institutional allocators, but also for financial advisors and clients building long-term portfolios.
Hashdex also linked the timing to broader market conditions. The company said crypto markets have matured over the past year and that the current environment may be more attractive for investors who had been waiting for greater regulatory clarity and stronger product infrastructure. It added that adopting a permanent fee structure, rather than extending a temporary waiver, reflects a longer-term commitment to the product.
NCIQ tracks seven crypto assets
NCIQ launched in February 2025 as Hashdex’s multi-asset spot crypto ETF in the U.S. The fund tracks the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index and currently offers exposure to seven assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar.
Hashdex said the product is designed to evolve alongside crypto markets and regulation. In its commentary, the firm also argued that some investors are seeking broader exposure beyond single-asset products such as spot Bitcoin and spot Ethereum funds.
Hashdex manages about $1 billion in assets globally as of March 10, 2026, and offers four index products tied to the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe.
Permanent fee change strengthens NCIQ’s market position
The fee change gives Hashdex a clearer long-term pricing structure for NCIQ as issuers continue competing across the crypto ETF market. Instead of relying on a temporary waiver, the company has now made the lower fee a permanent part of the fund’s structure.
Most of the U.S. crypto ETF market has so far centered on single-asset products, particularly spot Bitcoin and spot Ethereum funds. NCIQ differs by offering exposure to a basket of crypto assets through one regulated product.
Also Read: Wall Street Giant BlackRock Rolls Out Yield-Generating Ethereum ETF on Nasdaq
