What were the best and worst-performing ASX ETFs in 2026?

fool.com.au Aug 3, 2026

What were the best and worst-performing ASX ETFs in 2026?

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 3, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

InvestSMART data reveals significant volatility in the ASX ETF market for 2026, driven by a sharp divergence between artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency sectors. While AI and technology funds surged, cryptocurrency products collapsed. The Digital Bitcoin ETF, the top performer in 2025, plummeted 48.4% in 2026, ranking among the worst. Similarly, the Van Eck Bitcoin ETF fell 48%, placing 384th out of 387 ETFs. Conversely, AI-linked funds dominated the top rankings. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF led with a 170.8% return, followed closely by the Global X Semiconductor ETF at 160.8%. This performance reflects strong demand for semiconductors from industry leaders like Samsung and TSMC. Gold miners also performed well, with the Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF returning 49.0%. The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF remained the most popular, attracting $3.8 billion in inflows. These results highlight a clear shift in investor preference toward technology and critical minerals, while digital assets and gaming sectors faced substantial declines compared to the previous financial year.

💡 Why It Matters

· The collapse of crypto ETFs alongside the surge in semiconductor funds signals a decisive rotation away from speculative digital assets toward tangible industrial infrastructure.
· Investors are prioritizing the physical hardware powering the AI revolution over volatile digital currencies.

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Hyperscale Data Establishes Bitcoin-Backed DeFi Financing Program Through Morpho Protocol; Current Borrowings…

Hyperscale Data, Inc., an AI data‑center operator listed on NYSE American, announced that it has activated a Bitcoin‑backed decentralized‑finance (DeFi) borrowing program through the Morpho Protocol. As of August 2, 2026 the company holds roughly $30 million of outstanding loans secured by a portion of its Bitcoin treasury, carrying a variable interest rate of about 4.9 percent. The proceeds are earmarked for expanding the firm’s Michigan AI‑data‑center campus, working capital and other corporate needs, while the firm retains ownership of the collateralized Bitcoin. Executives say the arrangement converts a passive reserve into a low‑cost liquidity source, reducing dependence on traditional debt or equity financing and preserving exposure to Bitcoin’s long‑term price appreciation. The initiative makes Hyperscale Data among firms to use DeFi for financing.

💡 By tapping DeFi, Hyperscale Data proves corporate treasury assets can fund growth without diluting shareholders, setting a template for crypto‑rich companies seeking cheaper capital.

analyticsinsight.net · Aug 2

Best Altcoins That Could Lead the Crypto Market in H2 2026

Ethereum, Solana, and Chainlink dominate the altcoin landscape, with AI and real‑world asset projects poised to drive growth in H2 2026. Smaller altcoins offer higher upside but carry greater risk. The market shift focuses on utility, adoption, and tangible use cases, while Bitcoin remains the primary attention driver. Investors prioritize projects with robust technology, active user bases, institutional interest, and clear roadmaps. Promising candidates for H2 2026 include Ethereum, Solana, Chainlink, XRP, BNB, Sui, Bittensor, Render, Hyperliquid, and Ondo, each representing key trends such as AI, real‑world assets, DeFi, payments, and infrastructure.

💡 The spotlight on real‑world asset tokenization and AI integration signals a maturation of crypto beyond speculation, positioning altcoins as viable platforms for mainstream financial services.

thearabianpost.com · Aug 1

Weak wallet seeds expose $70 million in bitcoin

On July 30, an attacker siphoned 1,082.65 bitcoin—about $70 million—from 1,196 addresses in a coordinated sweep lasting less than an hour. The theft spanned six Bitcoin blocks, with transfers grouped in batches and pauses between them, indicating pre‑prepared transactions. Galaxy Research traced the flow beyond the initially reported 594 bitcoin loss, revealing that the stolen coins were consolidated into four destination addresses. The breach did not involve malware, physical access, or seed‑phrase interception; instead, it exploited weak randomness in Coldcard hardware‑wallet firmware (versions 4.0.1‑4.1.9 on Mk3 devices and certain Mk4, Mk5, Q models). Faulty firmware fell back on a low‑entropy software source, allowing an offline attacker to generate likely seed phrases, match funded addresses on the blockchain, reconstruct private keys and empty the wallets.

💡 The incident proves that even air‑gapped hardware wallets can be compromised through flawed firmware, eroding trust in a core security layer of cryptocurrency storage.

popsci.com · Aug 1

This adorable bitcoin miner is just $50

A pink BlockChance Bitcoin Ticket Super Miner, priced at $49.99 (half off its $99.99 MSRP), is now available for consumers to mine Bitcoin without a full computer setup. The 2‑inch, 5.3‑ounce device delivers roughly 1 MH/s of hashing power, claims to be 18 times faster than typical ticket miners, and operates continuously via Wi‑Fi with a quiet cooling fan. Users connect a digital wallet to the built‑in 1.54‑inch smart display, allowing the miner to solve blockchain verification problems and potentially earn Bitcoin, which was averaging about $65,000 in July 2026. Marketed as a novelty gift for tech‑savvy shoppers, the low‑power 5 V unit is positioned as an energy‑efficient, “lottery‑style” entry point into cryptocurrency mining.

💡 It turns cryptocurrency mining into a low‑cost, plug‑and‑play gadget, expanding access beyond hobbyists with high‑end rigs.

thisdaylive.com · Jul 31

FROM BAN TO BLUEPRINT: NIGERIA’S VIRTUAL ASSETS TURN

Nigeria has officially transitioned its regulatory stance on virtual assets, moving from a previous ban to a comprehensive legal framework. This significant policy shift establishes clear guidelines for cryptocurrency operations within the country, aiming to integrate digital currencies into the formal financial system. The new blueprint provides necessary oversight mechanisms for exchanges and service providers, ensuring compliance with international standards while fostering innovation. By replacing uncertainty with structured regulation, the government seeks to protect investors and mitigate financial risks associated with unregulated digital transactions. This development marks a pivotal moment for Africa’s largest economy, signaling its readiness to embrace emerging financial technologies. The move is expected to attract foreign investment and stimulate growth in the fintech sector. Stakeholders have welcomed the clarity, noting it aligns with global trends in digital asset governance. The regulatory body will now oversee licensing and enforcement, creating a safer environment for both retail and institutional participants in the Nigerian virtual asset market.

💡 Formalizing crypto regulations transforms Nigeria from a restricted market into a compliant hub for digital finance. This shift directly enables institutional capital to enter the space, bypassing previous legal barriers that stifled growth.

tekedia.com · Jul 31

Meta Faces Wall Street Pressure as Kaito Bets on Creator Incentives

Meta shares plummeted approximately 9% following a disappointing earnings report that missed Wall Street expectations, reflecting investor intolerance for minor setbacks among major technology firms. The sell-off underscores growing market sensitivity to execution, with concerns rising over slowing advertising revenue, increasing operational costs, and heavy capital spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Investors now demand that billions invested in AI and data centers translate into immediate, sustainable financial returns. Simultaneously, the crypto sector saw Kaito launch Katalyst, a new reward layer designed to compensate creators based on measurable value rather than superficial engagement metrics like likes or views. This initiative aims to align incentives within decentralized networks by rewarding content that drives meaningful discussions and ecosystem growth. The contrasting developments highlight a broader shift across both traditional tech and Web3, where stakeholders increasingly prioritize tangible results, quality contributions, and long-term viability over rapid expansion or vanity metrics.

💡 Meta’s stock drop proves that AI spending must yield immediate profits, while Kaito’s model challenges the industry to value substance over vanity metrics.