What Is ARKF? ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF
Short answer
ARKF is Cathie Wood's actively managed fintech and blockchain innovation ETF from ARK Invest, holding high-conviction names like Coinbase, Shopify, Block, Robinhood, and crypto-adjacent companies. The portfolio is concentrated and built on ARK's research team's views rather than a passive index, so it tends to be high-volatility and high-conviction. It charges a 0.75% expense ratio, far more than passive fintech funds, and offers active stock selection instead of broad rules-based exposure. That active, concentrated design means returns can swing sharply with the growth and crypto cycle.
ARKF is issued by ARK Invest (ARK Investment Management LLC) and tracks Actively managed, no underlying index; targets blockchain and financial technology (fintech) innovation. It charges a 0.75% expense ratio, holds approximately approximately $850 million in assets under management, yields about approximately 0.1%, and launched in February 2019.
What is ARKF?
ARKF is Cathie Wood's actively managed fintech and blockchain innovation ETF from ARK Invest, holding high-conviction names like Coinbase, Shopify, Block, Robinhood, and crypto-adjacent companies. The portfolio is concentrated and built on ARK's research team's views rather than a passive index, so it tends to be high-volatility and high-conviction. It charges a 0.75% expense ratio, far more than passive fintech funds, and offers active stock selection instead of broad rules-based exposure. That active, concentrated design means returns can swing sharply with the growth and crypto cycle.
ARKF is issued by ARK Invest (ARK Investment Management LLC) and tracks Actively managed, no underlying index; targets blockchain and financial technology (fintech) innovation, so a single ticker gives you the whole basket of underlying holdings weighted by the index's methodology rather than by any active stock-picking.
ARKF holdings: what's actually inside
ARKF is weighted toward its largest constituents. As of early 2026, the top holdings are:
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of ARKF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHOP | Shopify Inc. | approximately 8.5% | |
| 2 | COIN | Coinbase Global Inc. | approximately 6% | |
| 3 | ARKB | ARK Bitcoin ETF Holdco (bitcoin exposure) | approximately 6% | |
| 4 | CRCL | Circle Internet Group | approximately 5.5% | |
| 5 | XYZ | Block Inc. | approximately 5% | |
| 6 | HOOD | Robinhood Markets Inc. | approximately 4.5% | |
| 7 | NU | Nu Holdings Ltd. | approximately 4% | |
| 8 | ADYEY | Adyen N.V. | approximately 3.5% |
The remaining holdings make up the balance of the fund, with weights tapering off below the top names. Because the index reconstitutes on a rolling basis, the roster stays current without active management. Each ticker above links to its individual stock guide in Walnut.
Themes ARKF is commonly used to express
ETFs are passive bundles; thematic baskets in Walnut let you concentrate within them. If you hold ARKF as a core position, these are the themes you might layer on as satellites.
The bottom line on ARKF
ARKF gives concentrated, actively managed exposure to fintech and blockchain innovation, with its largest positions making up an outsized share of the fund and a 0.75% expense ratio well above passive peers. Its active management and crypto-adjacent tilt have produced large swings in both directions, so it behaves very differently from a broad, low-cost index fund.
More on ARKF
Whether ARKF is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is ARKF a buy?
ARKF yields approximately 0.1% as of early 2026, paid by passing through the dividends of its underlying holdings. For the payout schedule, history, and how the distributions are taxed, see ARKF dividend: yield and schedule.
Build a portfolio around ARKF with Walnut
Use ARKF as your core holding, then let Walnut's AI propose thematic satellites: AI infrastructure, dividend growth, clean energy, whatever you believe in. Connect your broker, build the basket in conversation, track it as one unit.
FAQ
What is ARKF?
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ARKF is the ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF, an actively managed fund from Cathie Wood's ARK Invest. It invests in companies ARK believes are driving fintech and blockchain innovation, such as payment networks, digital wallets, neobanks, and crypto exchanges. It launched in February 2019 and was renamed from the ARK Fintech Innovation ETF in November 2025.
What is ARKF's expense ratio?
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ARKF has an expense ratio of about 0.75%, meaning roughly $7.50 a year on a $1,000 investment. That is typical for an actively managed ARK fund but much higher than passive fintech or broad-market index ETFs, which often charge a fraction of that. The higher fee pays for ARK's active research and stock selection.
Is ARKF actively managed?
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Yes. ARKF is actively managed and does not track an index. ARK Invest's research team selects and weights holdings based on its long-term views about fintech and blockchain disruption, and the portfolio can change meaningfully over time. This is the opposite of a passive fund that simply mirrors a published benchmark.
What does ARKF hold?
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ARKF holds a concentrated set of fintech and blockchain-related companies. Recent top positions have included Shopify, Coinbase, Block, Robinhood, Circle, and Nu Holdings, plus bitcoin exposure through ARK's own spot bitcoin ETF. The fund typically holds roughly 30 to 50 names, with its largest positions making up a large share of assets.
Does ARKF pay a dividend?
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ARKF pays only a very small dividend, with a yield of roughly 0.1%. Most of its holdings are growth-oriented technology and fintech companies that reinvest earnings rather than pay them out, so income is minimal. Investors generally hold ARKF for potential price appreciation, not for dividend income.
Is ARKF a good investment?
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Whether ARKF fits any portfolio depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. It is a concentrated, high-volatility, actively managed fund whose value can swing sharply with the growth and crypto cycle, and it charges a higher fee than passive options. Walnut is informational, not investment advice, so consider your own situation or consult a licensed professional.
How does ARKF relate to Cathie Wood and ARK Invest?
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ARKF is run by ARK Invest, the firm founded by Cathie Wood, who is known for high-conviction bets on disruptive innovation. ARK's research team drives the fund's stock selection, so its performance is closely tied to the firm's investment views. That active, conviction-driven approach is the main reason ARKF differs from passive fintech ETFs.
How volatile is ARKF?
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ARKF has historically been very volatile. Its concentrated positions in high-growth fintech and crypto-adjacent companies have led to large drawdowns in downturns and sharp rebounds in rallies, with wide swings even within a single year. Investors should expect bigger price moves than from a broad, diversified index fund.
How do I compare ARKF to similar ETFs?
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Put a few fields side by side: the expense ratio (fees compound over decades), the index or strategy it tracks, the top holdings and how much they overlap with what you already own, the dividend yield, and the AUM, liquidity, and bid-ask spread that affect trading costs. For index funds, tracking error (how closely it follows its index) and tax efficiency matter too. ARKF's figures are above; the full method is in Walnut's guide on how to compare ETFs.
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Holdings weights and fund statistics on this page are approximations stamped to early 2026; verify current figures against ARK Invest (ARK Investment Management LLC)'s fund page or your broker before investing.