What’s New in the World of ETFs? Trends and Launches for 2025

Every year, millions of retail and institutional investors all over the world buy shares in diversified exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, to benefit from long-term gains and lower downside risks thanks to the combination of multiple different securities within the ETF.

The world of ETFs is incredibly diverse, as funds may focus on investments based on location, sector, specific companies, dividends, etc.

ETFs, both large and small, are released by major investment management firms, such as BlackRock, Blackstone, Vanguard, Fidelity, etc. This also means that over time, new ETFs are released to the market to keep up with changing investor interests and demands.

Investing in new ETFs can be somewhat daunting for investors, as the overall liquidity tends to be low. However, due to backing from multi-billion dollar firms, ETFs are generally low-risk in terms of solvency.

New ETFs released in 2025

A number of new ETFs are released to the public each year and 2025 has seen several notable issues. Among them are ETFs focused on the energy sector, fixed-income securities, cryptocurrencies, and more.

Each of these ETFs are available at major brokerage firms and investors and traders alike can buy and sell them in a few simple clicks.

Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF (BFRZ)

The Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF, or BFRZ, is an ETF issued by Innovator Capital Management that offers investors a managed fund with 100% downside protection.

The ETF comes with a 0.89% expense ratio due to its active management and does not track an underlying index. The ETF was issued on May 12, 2025.

7.23% of the BFRZ’s holdings are held in options to provide downside protection to investors, while 3.77% of the funds are held in USD. Additionally, the top 5 largest holdings of the ETF include the following stocks:

● Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) – 6.04%
● NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) – 5.60%
● Apple Inc (AAPL) – 5.39%
● Amazon.com Inc (AMZN) – 3.58%
● Meta Platforms Inc Class A (META) – 2.52%

Amplify Samsung U.S. Natural Gas Infrastructure ETF (USNG)

Amplify Samsung U.S. Natural Gas Infrastructure ETF, or USNG, targets companies engaged in the construction and management of natural gas infrastructure in the United States. USNG is an actively managed ETF with a 0.59% expense ratio and was issued on May 25, 2025.

Some of the largest holdings of USNG include the following listed companies:

● Williams Companies Inc (WMB) – 8.97%
● Kinder Morgan Inc Class P (KMI) – 8.94%
● MPLX LP (MPLX) – 8.85%
● Enbridge Inc (ENB) – 8.11%
● TC Energy Corporation (TRP) – 6.00%

Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEL)

The Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF, or VTEL, is another actively managed ETF issued by Vanguard, one of the largest asset managers in the world, with the purpose of providing tax-exempt bond investments to a global investor base. The ETF was issued on May 20, 2025 and has an expense ratio of only 0.09%.

The ETF invests in bonds to provide fixed-income returns to its investors. However, it is also worth noting that a breakdown of the individual bonds included in the ETF is not available on VettaFi and ETFDB.

Simplify Kayne Anderson Energy and Infrastructure Credit ETF (KNRG)

Simplify Kayne Anderson Energy and Infrastructure Credit ETF, trading under the KNRG ticker symbol, is an ETF issued by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors with the purpose of building a portfolio of credit instruments, including bonds, debt, notes, preferred shares, derivatives, and loans, etc.

KNRG seeks to provide investors with the ability to hedge against U.S. inflationary risks. A detailed breakdown of the instruments composing the fund are not available, as they also include private debt instruments, which are valued and analyzed using bottom-up fundamental analysis.

VistaShares Target 15 USA Quality ETF (QUSA)

The VistaShares Target 15 USA Quality ETF, or QUSA, is an ETF issued by Dvx Ventures under the VistaShares brand. The ETF was officially launched on May 9, 2025 and has a 0.95% expense ratio. The fund is actively managed and is not tied to an underlying index.

Among the list of stocks included in the ETF, the top 5 holdings are the following:

● Amphenol Corporation Class A (APH) – 5.18%
● Automatic Data Processing (ADP) – 5.09%
● Cintas Corporation (CTAS) – 5.07%
● Visa Inc Class A (V) – 5.07%
● Procter & Gamble Company (PG) – 5.06%

Grayscale Bitcoin Adopters ETF (BCOR)

The Grayscale Bitcoin Adopters ETF, or BCOR, was issued on the NYSE Arca and is intended to give investors access to global equities that use Bitcoin as a treasury asset. BCOR has an expense ratio of 0.59% and was issued on April 30, 2025. The issuer is Digital Currency Group.

The index includes stocks from international exchanges and is not solely focused on the United States market.

The ETF tracks the Indxx Bitcoin Adopters Index, which includes equities, such as:

● Microstrategy Incorporated (MSTR) – 24.32%
● Tesla (TSLA) – 16.58%
● Metaplanet (3350) – 7.47%
● NEXON Co (3659) – 5.93%
● MercadoLibre (MELI) – 5.90%

BCOR is another way for investors to diversify their exposure to Bitcoin by investing in a fund that includes companies with substantial business operations alongside their BTC holdings.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The content reflects the opinions of the author at the time of writing and may not be applicable to all readers. Investors are advised to conduct their own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The publisher and author disclaim any liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage arising from reliance on the information contained herein. All investments carry risks, including the potential loss of principal.