YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF remains a Buy, balancing drawdown mitigation and income potential amid recent executional underperformance. YBIT's brief underperformance in May 2025 was an executional glitch, not a structural flaw, and performance has since tracked peers like YBTC and BTCI. YBIT's defensive profile is intact, offering better drawdown management than most peers, though it relies on a bullish long-term bitcoin outlook.
YBIT offers a high monthly yield through a dynamic options approach, but its complexity could make it less suitable for some portfolios. Its dynamic structure and higher yield (over 40%) make it intriguing but prone to NAV erosion. This is why it's better to treat it as a tactical tool for spot trades. It has high costs but is still fairly liquid despite its low AUM.
YBIT offers high income via call writing on Bitcoin exposure, but the usual caveat exists with capped upside potential if Bitcoin rallies strongly. We covered BTCI recently, and we made several comparisons between the two, where BTCI looks like the stronger fund. YBIT's monthly distributions are attractive for income-focused investors, but they can be quite volatile, similar to the underlying asset.
YBIT shows relatively good income stability and capital preservation despite Bitcoin's volatility. YBIT's payout ratio is stable, with a robust 50% payout over the past 11 months, making it a viable option for monthly income stability. Investors looking for an income plan or exposure to bitcoin with a moderate risk return tradeoff can consider YBIT.
I rate BTCI a Buy and YBIT a Sell due to BTCI's superior NAV management, stronger total returns, and effective options strategy. BTCI's European-style options and target distribution rates minimize NAV erosion and allow for capital appreciation while still providing 25-30% yields. YBIT, on the other hand, has suffered significant NAV erosion and has only managed to barely break even in total returns during a Bitcoin bull market.
YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF has underperformed compared to its peers and a simple profit-taking strategy in Bitcoin spot ETFs since its inception. YBIT's synthetic covered call strategy limits upside potential, resulting in flat returns since it launched despite Bitcoin's significant gains. YBIT has also lagged behind more traditional income products like T-bills and corporate bonds, questioning its viability as an income investment.
Bitcoin has surged 148% this year, with a 65% rise post-election, driven by potential policy support from the incoming President. I have a buy rating on the YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF for lower-risk exposure to bitcoin, despite its high expense ratio. YBIT's covered call strategy offers income from bitcoin's volatility, but caps upside gains; it's up 29% versus IBIT's 73% in three months.