ETF mania is hitting fever pitch.
~900 new ETFs launched in the US so far this year. If the pace holds, we're looking at ~1,470 by year-end—blowing past 2025's record of ~1,050.
But here's the kicker: ~300 of those are leveraged ETFs. That's 33% of all launches. Compare that to 200 in all of 2025 and under 50 in 2024.
Over half of new ETFs now use derivatives.
This isn't just product innovation. It's a sign of where investor risk appetite is right now—sky high. When Wall Street starts mass-producing 2x and 3x levered products, it's worth asking: are we chasing returns or building risk we don't fully understand?
More choice can be good. But more leverage in a crowded field? That's a different story when volatility shows up.
~900 new ETFs launched in the US so far this year. If the pace holds, we're looking at ~1,470 by year-end—blowing past 2025's record of ~1,050.
But here's the kicker: ~300 of those are leveraged ETFs. That's 33% of all launches. Compare that to 200 in all of 2025 and under 50 in 2024.
Over half of new ETFs now use derivatives.
This isn't just product innovation. It's a sign of where investor risk appetite is right now—sky high. When Wall Street starts mass-producing 2x and 3x levered products, it's worth asking: are we chasing returns or building risk we don't fully understand?
More choice can be good. But more leverage in a crowded field? That's a different story when volatility shows up.