ETF Zoo: Is it XOVR For Privates in Public ETFs?
In this episode of ETF Zoo, the crew dives into early 2026 flows, the staying power of the AI trade, the mysterious lack of crypto bears despite recent dips, and new developments with XOVR and transparency issues, before concluding with new filings of prediction market ETFs.
Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. In this episode, the group covers where investing money has gravitated to so far this year, as well as the surprising lack of crypto bears, despite some significant drawdowns in recent weeks. The crew also discusses new developments in the ongoing SpaceX/private equity ETF arena centered around XOVR, and prediction market filings.
ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst, are joined this week by Cinthia Murphy, Investment Strategist at TMX VettaFi; Jeffrey Ptak, Managing Director at Morningstar; and Mike Akins, Founding Partner of ETF Action.
Topics Covered
- Investment Flows in 2026: The Zoo crew this week highlight how exceptionally strong investing flows have been so far this year, significantly exceeding historical averages and putting the market on pace to break previous records.
- The AI Trade and Thematic ETFs: Is the AI tidal wave of investments finally slowing? The group touches on the changing trend but is careful to note that while thematic AI ETFs are relatively small, much of the AI growth is baked into broad market ETFs and semiconductor funds.
- Cryptocurrency Sentiment: Despite recent sell-offs in major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, Cinthia Murphy can't find signs of any genuine crypto bears. Advisors and firms she has talked with recently continue maintaining a bullish long-term outlook.
- SpaceX and the XOVR ETF: The conversation explores the complexities of the XOVR ETF, which aims to provide exposure to SpaceX through private holdings. Morningstar's Jeffrey Ptak notes that fees and dilution have made it difficult for shareholders to benefit from SpaceX's rising valuation.
- Prediction Market ETFs: The discussion concludes with the emergence of new ETFs based on "event contracts" (such as political outcomes), raising regulatory concerns and questions about how these high-volatility products will trade as events approach.
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