At a glance
CRPT charges 0.85% a year, above the 0.54% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 8th cheapest of 9). It has $110.5M in assets, the 7th largest of that group; it paid 0.8% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned −39.6% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 5th of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +38.4% a year. At its worst it fell 73.9% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 28 months after the low. Its ten largest positions make up 62.0% of the fund, out of 23 in all.
The short version
First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry & Digital Economy ETF (CRPT) is an actively managed fund. Sub-adviser SkyBridge Capital picks crypto-related stocks such as Metaplanet and Robinhood, and the fund can put up to 25% of its assets in bitcoin funds. It held just 23 positions as of August 31, 2026. Its 0.85% expense ratio is well above the 0.54% average of similar funds, and its swings have been extreme: it fell 80.8% in 2022.
Price history
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CRPT -39.6% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRPT official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +74.77% | — | — | — | -2.99% |
| CRPT price data to Oct 27, 2026 | -7.9% | -39.6% | +38.4% | -7.7% | — | -6.0% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, CRPT returned -39.6%, 5th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was -7.7%.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-80.8%); its best was 2023 (+193.9%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 88.4% (Nov 9, 2021 to Dec 28, 2022), not yet recovered.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | -7.9% | — |
| 2025 | -9.5% | — |
| 2024 | +75.3% | +74.77% |
| 2023 | +193.9% | +193.33% |
| 2022 | -80.8% | -80.75% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 68.6% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 73.9%, back to its old high 28.3 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.1100 | -64.5% |
| 2024 | $0.3100 | +30900.0% |
| 2022 | $0.0010 |
What's inside
As of Aug 31, 2026, the fund held 23 securities; the ten largest made up 62% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC RA | 11.99% | |
| METAPLANET INC | 11.55% | |
| ROBINHOOD MARKETS INC | 8.06% | |
| ISHARES BITCOIN TRUST ETF SHS BEN INT | 4.82% | |
| FIDELITY WISE ORIGIN BITCOIN FUND SHS | 4.46% | |
| GALAXY DIGITAL INC | 4.31% | |
| STRIVE INC | 4.27% | |
| STRATEGY INC | 4.20% | |
| COINBASE GLOBAL INC | 4.19% | |
| JP MORGAN CHASE & COMPANY | 4.16% | |
| VISA INC | 4.14% | |
| MASTERCARD INC | 4.14% | |
| VANECK BITCOIN ETF SH BEN INT | 4.05% | |
| Bitwise Bitcoin ETF | 4.04% | |
| Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF | 4.03% |
By country
United States 86.08%Japan 11.55%Australia 3.19%Cayman Islands 2.75%Canada 2.7%By asset type
Stocks 94.27%RA 11.99%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Aug 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $2.4M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -23.45%, -1.23%, +31.02%.
How it works
CRPT does not track an index. SkyBridge Capital II, LLC, the sub-adviser hired by First Trust, chooses the holdings. Under normal conditions, at least 80% of net assets goes into stocks and American Depositary Receipts (US-traded shares of foreign companies) of crypto industry and digital economy companies, with at least 50% in crypto industry companies. A crypto industry company earns at least half its revenue or profits from crypto, such as miners, mining-equipment makers and trading firms, or holds at least half its net assets in bitcoin, ether or other crypto assets. Digital economy companies include digital banks, online brokerages, payment networks and chipmakers.
The fund does not own bitcoin itself. It can invest up to 25% in bitcoin exchange-traded products, and it buys or sells them based on diversification and their value relative to crypto stocks. Some are held through a Cayman Islands subsidiary for tax reasons. Funds that hold bitcoin directly are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so they lack that law's protections.
The prospectus sets no fixed weighting formula or rebalancing schedule, so position sizes are the manager's call. Turnover was 318%, meaning the portfolio was traded about three times over in a year. That can add trading costs on top of the expense ratio. As of August 31, 2026, the 10 largest positions made up 62% of assets, and 11.5% sat in Japan's Metaplanet, which adds currency risk.
What it really costs
- CRPT charges 0.85% a year, versus an average of 0.54% for the similar funds below (8th of 9, cheapest first).
In a retirement portfolio
Its concentrated bets on crypto stocks and bitcoin funds have produced losses of more than 80%, which makes it a small add-on at most, not a foundation.
CRPT could add a small, higher-risk slice of exposure to crypto businesses and bitcoin funds. It launched in September 2021, so it has no record in the 2008 or 2020 crashes. In the 2022 bear market it fell 73.9% between January 3 and June 30, 2022, and took about 28 months, until November 2024, to get back to its earlier level. Its deepest drop, 88.4% from November 2021 to December 2022, had still not been recovered as of October 27, 2026. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at -80.8%. Anyone forced to sell in a year like that would lock in steep losses. Income is minimal: a 0.8% yield paid once a year. The 0.85% expense ratio is above the 0.54% average for similar funds. Past results don't predict future ones, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting crypto stocks and bitcoin funds in one actively managed ticker who can tolerate 63.6% one-year volatility.
- People comfortable with concentration: 23 holdings, with the top 10 making up 62% of assets as of August 31, 2026.
- Holders able to wait years; its 88.4% drop from November 2021 had not been recovered as of October 27, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: CRPT charges 0.85% against a 0.54% peer average, while FDIG charges 0.40% and STCE 0.30%.
- Anyone seeking income: the trailing yield was just 0.8%, paid once a year.
- Retirees who may need to sell in a downturn: it lost 80.8% in 2022 and 39.6% over the year to October 27, 2026.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRPT this fund | — | 0.85% | $110.5M | -39.6% | +38.4% |
| BITQ Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF | 40% | 0.85% | $411.1M | -29.1% | +46.5% |
| SATO Invesco Alerian Galaxy Crypto Economy ETF | 39% | 0.6% | $6.9M | -43.8% | +36.6% |
| DAPP VanEck Digital Transformation ETF | 36% | 0.51% | $345.6M | -40.0% | +42.4% |
| FDIG Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Paymen… | 35% | 0.4% | $263.0M | -37.2% | +33.1% |
| STCE Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | 33% | 0.3% | $269.5M | -48.6% | +39.1% |
| IBLC iShares Blockchain and Tech ETF | 31% | 0.47% | $88.7M | -38.1% | +38.3% |
| BKCH Global X Blockchain ETF | 30% | 0.5% | $277.7M | -49.6% | +38.2% |
Questions investors ask
Is CRPT a good investment for retirement?
CRPT is built for growth, not stability, so at most it fits a small, higher-risk slice of a retirement portfolio. It lost 80.75% in 2022, gained 193.33% in 2023, and fell 39.6% over the year to October 27, 2026. Its 88.4% drop that began in November 2021 had not been recovered by that date. Income is thin, with a 0.8% yield paid once a year. The 0.85% expense ratio is above the 0.54% average for similar funds.
Does CRPT hold bitcoin directly?
No. CRPT owns stocks and can put up to 25% of net assets in bitcoin exchange-traded products, some of them held through a Cayman Islands subsidiary for tax reasons. As of August 31, 2026, it held five bitcoin funds at roughly 4% to 5% each: IBIT, FBTC, HODL, BITB and BTCO. Funds that hold bitcoin directly are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so they lack that law's investor protections.
What's the difference between CRPT and BITQ?
The main differences are approach, results and size, not cost. Both charge 0.85%, and about 40% of their holdings overlapped in the latest reports. CRPT is actively managed by SkyBridge and also owns payment and banking names such as Visa and JPMorgan Chase. As of October 27, 2026, BITQ returned -29.1% over one year and 46.5% a year over three years, against -39.6% and 38.4% for CRPT. BITQ held $411 million in net assets as of June 30, 2026. CRPT held $110.5 million as of August 31, 2026.
Does CRPT pay a dividend?
Yes, but very little. CRPT pays once a year. Its trailing 12-month yield was 0.8%, or about $0.11 per share, as of October 27, 2026. The fund's stated objective is capital appreciation, not income. Some of its holdings, such as bitcoin funds, pay no dividends at all, which helps explain the low payout. Investors looking for regular cash flow will find little of it here.
What are CRPT's top holdings?
Mostly crypto-related companies and bitcoin funds. As of August 31, 2026, the largest stock was Japan's Metaplanet at 11.5% of assets, followed by Robinhood Markets at 8.1%. Galaxy Digital, Strive, Strategy and Coinbase were each about 4%, as were Visa, Mastercard and JPMorgan Chase. Bitcoin funds and other registered funds made up 21.4%. The fund also reported a 12% repurchase agreement with Mizuho Securities USA LLC. The 10 largest positions totaled 62%.