Key takeaways
- More robotics ETFs launched in 2025 and 2026 than in all prior years combined on our list, driven by humanoid robots, physical AI and autonomy.
- The newest launch on our list is $RBTX, which started trading on October 20, 2026.
- $KOID has become the largest of the new humanoid funds with $322M in assets. Many others hold only a few million dollars.
- Young funds have no track record, can trade with wide spreads and sometimes close. Use limit orders and check assets before buying.
- Many new funds overlap heavily. Compare top holdings before owning more than one.
For most of the last decade, robotics investors had a short menu: $ROBO, $BOTZ, $ARKQ and a few broader AI funds. That changed fast. Starting in 2025, a wave of new funds arrived from KraneShares, Roundhill, Themes, Defiance, VistaShares, iShares, WisdomTree, Corgi, Tuttle and others, most of them built around one idea: humanoid robots and the physical AI that powers them.
This guide covers every new fund on our list: when it launched, what it targets, how big it has grown, and what to watch with young ETFs. All figures update daily from our data.
The launch wave in one chart
Source: RobotETFs fund data, updated November 7, 2026.
The bars for 2025 and 2026 tell the story. Robotics went from a niche theme with a handful of funds to one of the busiest launch categories in the ETF market. Our list now covers 25 funds, and the majority of them are less than two years old.
Every robotics ETF, newest first
| ETF | Provider | Category | AUM | Expense | Yield | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $RBTX iShares Future Robotics and Related Technologies Active ETF | iShares (BlackRock) | Core robotics | $12M | 0.65% | 0.00% | Oct 20, 2026 |
| $HOID Tuttle - Rareview Humanoid Robotics ETF | Rareview Capital | Humanoid | n/a | 0.75% | 0.00% | Oct 15, 2026 |
| $TORK KraneShares Actuator ETF | KraneShares | Core robotics | $2.4M | 0.65% | 0.00% | Sep 23, 2026 |
| $AT Defiance Robotics Actuators ETF | Defiance | Humanoid | $1.8M | 0.69% | 0.00% | Sep 14, 2026 |
| $CROB Defiance China Robotics ETF | Defiance | Humanoid | $2.3M | 0.89% | 0.17% | Aug 17, 2026 |
| $RTOO VistaShares Robotics Supercycle ETF | VistaShares | Core robotics | $3.2M | 0.75% | 0.00% | Jul 15, 2026 |
| $WDRN WisdomTree Physical AI, Humanoids and Drones Fund | WisdomTree | Physical AI | $18M | 0.45% | 0.00% | May 14, 2026 |
| $CBOT Corgi Robots & Humanoids ETF | Corgi | Humanoid | $1.5M | 0.35% | 0.00% | May 6, 2026 |
| $CABZ Roundhill Robotaxi, Autonomous Vehicles & Technology ETF | Roundhill | Autonomy & drones | $3.1M | 0.59% | 0.00% | Jan 14, 2026 |
| $DRNZ REX Drone ETF | REX Shares | Autonomy & drones | $78M | 0.65% | 0.00% | Oct 29, 2025 |
| $PBOT Pictet AI & Automation ETF | Pictet | AI & robotics | $14M | 0.70% | 0.07% | Oct 15, 2025 |
| $HUMN Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF | Roundhill | Humanoid | $83M | 0.75% | 0.77% | Jun 26, 2025 |
| $KOID KraneShares Global Humanoid Robotics and Physical AI Index ETF | KraneShares | Humanoid | $322M | 0.69% | 0.80% | Jun 4, 2025 |
| $BOTT Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF | Themes ETFs | Humanoid | $59M | 0.35% | 0.16% | Apr 22, 2024 |
| $IBOT VanEck Robotics ETF | VanEck | Core robotics | $100M | 0.47% | 0.31% | Apr 5, 2023 |
| $THNQ ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF | Exchange Traded Concepts (ROBO Global) | AI & robotics | $484M | 0.68% | 0.15% | May 11, 2020 |
The newest launch on our list is $RBTX, which started trading on October 20, 2026. Assets for the youngest funds are often tiny, so treat early numbers as a starting point rather than a verdict.
Why now: what is driving the launches
Humanoid robots went mainstream. Automakers, AI labs and startups began showing humanoid robots doing real work in factories and warehouses. Investor interest followed, and fund companies moved to give investors a way in.
AI moved into the physical world. After years of AI investing focused on chips and software, the next chapter is "physical AI": machines that see, decide and act. Robotics is the most direct way to express that idea.
Supply chain stories became investable. A humanoid robot needs dozens of precise actuators, reducers, sensors and batteries. Issuers realized they could build funds around those component makers, many of which are established public companies.
The ETF industry is competitive. Being first to a hot theme matters. Issuers often launch quickly and let the market decide which products survive.
The new funds, grouped by strategy
Humanoid robot funds
This is the largest group. $KOID from KraneShares has grown into the biggest with $322M, tracking companies that build humanoid robots and their key components. $HUMN from Roundhill holds $83M. $BOTT from Themes launched earlier, in 2024, and stands out for its 0.35% fee. Newer entrants include $CBOT from Corgi, $HOID from Tuttle and Rareview, and $CROB from Defiance, which focuses on Chinese robotics companies.
| ETF | Provider | Category | AUM | Expense | Yield | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $KOID KraneShares Global Humanoid Robotics and Physical AI Index ETF | KraneShares | Humanoid | $322M | 0.69% | 0.80% | Jun 4, 2025 |
| $HUMN Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF | Roundhill | Humanoid | $83M | 0.75% | 0.77% | Jun 26, 2025 |
| $BOTT Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF | Themes ETFs | Humanoid | $59M | 0.35% | 0.16% | Apr 22, 2024 |
| $CROB Defiance China Robotics ETF | Defiance | Humanoid | $2.3M | 0.89% | 0.17% | Aug 17, 2026 |
| $AT Defiance Robotics Actuators ETF | Defiance | Humanoid | $1.8M | 0.69% | 0.00% | Sep 14, 2026 |
| $CBOT Corgi Robots & Humanoids ETF | Corgi | Humanoid | $1.5M | 0.35% | 0.00% | May 6, 2026 |
| $HOID Tuttle - Rareview Humanoid Robotics ETF | Rareview Capital | Humanoid | n/a | 0.75% | 0.00% | Oct 15, 2026 |
Robot component funds
Two funds take a picks-and-shovels approach by focusing on the parts that make robots move. $TORK from KraneShares and $AT from Defiance both target actuators and motion components. The logic: whichever robot makers win, they all need precise motors, reducers and actuators.
Big-issuer entrants
$RBTX brings iShares, the largest ETF issuer in the world, into actively managed robotics investing. $PBOT from Pictet brings a long-time European thematic manager to US investors. Large issuers often have the distribution to help a new fund grow quickly.
Physical AI, drones and robotaxis
$WDRN from WisdomTree mixes humanoids and drones under a physical AI banner. $CABZ from Roundhill targets robotaxis and autonomous vehicles, and $DRNZ from REX focuses on drones. We cover these in depth in our drone and robotaxi ETF guide.
Broader robotics
$RTOO from VistaShares targets a long "supercycle" of robotics adoption across manufacturing, logistics and consumer markets.
How the new funds compare with the veterans
Source: RobotETFs fund data, updated November 7, 2026.
Despite all the launches, most of the money in robotics still sits in older funds. $BOTZ, $ROBO and $ARKQ each hold billions or close to it, while many 2026 launches hold under $20 million. Assets matter because they affect trading costs and the odds that a fund survives.
Six things to check before buying a new robotics ETF
- Assets under management. Funds with very little money are at higher risk of closing. There is no fixed cutoff, but funds that stay very small for a long time are the ones most likely to be shut down.
- Trading volume and spreads. Thinly traded funds can have wide bid-ask spreads. Use limit orders.
- Top holdings. Many humanoid funds own the same component makers. Owning three of them may not diversify you much.
- Geography. Humanoid supply chains run heavily through China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. That adds currency and political risk.
- Index vs. active. Index funds follow fixed rules. Active funds can change direction quickly. Read how each fund picks its holdings.
- Fees. New funds often launch with competitive fees, but compare them against established options. See our cheapest robotics ETFs ranking.
What to expect next
Launch waves in hot themes usually follow a pattern: a rush of new funds, then consolidation as the market picks winners and the smallest funds close or merge. Expect more humanoid and physical AI funds to launch, and expect a few of today's smallest funds to disappear. We track every launch and closure on the robotics ETF table.
For the humanoid side of the story, read our humanoid robot ETF guide. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any fund.
Sources and methodology
Fund figures (assets, expense ratios, yields, launch dates) come from our RobotETFs data sheet, which we check against issuer materials and refresh daily. Always confirm the latest numbers with the issuer before investing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the newest robotics ETF?
The fund at the top of the launch table above is the most recent launch on our list. We add new funds as they start trading.
Why are so many robotics ETFs launching?
Interest in humanoid robots, physical AI and robotaxis surged, and fund companies launched products to meet that demand. ETF issuers often race to be first to a hot theme.
Are new ETFs riskier than older ones?
They carry extra risks: no track record, small asset bases, wider trading spreads and a higher chance of closing. The underlying stocks may be just as volatile as in older funds.
What happens if a new ETF closes?
The fund announces a closing date, sells its holdings and pays shareholders the cash value. You do not lose the value of your shares, but a sale can create a taxable gain and you will need to reinvest elsewhere.
Which new robotics ETF is the biggest?
On our list, KOID from KraneShares is the largest of the 2025 and 2026 launches. Check the live table for current assets.
RobotETFs.com is published by Dividend Empire LLC for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, tax or legal advice. Nothing here is a buy or sell signal. Fund data comes from our own data sheet and issuer materials, is refreshed daily and can be delayed, incomplete or incorrect. Always verify against the issuer's website and prospectus, do your own research and consult a licensed financial professional. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Leveraged ETFs reset daily and are not suitable for most long-term investors. Price charts are provided by TradingView and may be delayed.