As we enter the second half of the decade, conversations around the best ETFs 2025 are heating up. From AI-focused funds to sustainable indexes, the traditional ETF market is evolving fast. But beyond Wall Street and major asset managers, something entirely different is emerging in the crypto space.

It’s not just another ETF.

It’s ETF 2.0 — and it’s fully on-chain.

What Is an ETF?

An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is a type of investment fund traded on stock exchanges, much like individual stocks. ETFs typically track a particular index, commodity, or a basket of assets, allowing investors to gain diversified exposure without purchasing each asset individually.

Benefits and Drawbacks of the best ETFs 2025

ETFs remain a popular choice for both retail and institutional investors. The best ETFs 2025 offer:

  • Diversification with a single purchase
  • Low expense ratios compared to mutual funds
  • Liquidity, since they trade throughout the day like stocks

However, traditional ETFs also come with limitations:

  • Custodial risks, since assets are held by third parties
  • Management fees, even for passive funds
  • Lack of transparency, with delayed reporting and limited on-demand data
  • Limited access, due to geographic or regulatory barriers

In an increasingly digital world, these constraints create opportunities for innovation — and that’s where ETF 2.0 comes in.

What Is ETF 2.0?

ETF 2.0 represents a fundamental shift in how portfolios are built, accessed, and managed. Unlike traditional ETFs, this new model operates without intermediaries, uses smart contracts instead of fund managers, and ensures global, 24/7 access through blockchain technology.

At the forefront of this new wave is PBG Token — a decentralized, non-custodial crypto asset that gives holders access to a diversified portfolio of digital assets, fully governed and executed on Cardano.

If you want to explore the full concept behind ETF 2.0 and how PBG Token implements it in practice, you can visit the full overview here.

Introducing the DVP: Decentralized Vault Portfolio

PBG Token is powered by a Decentralized Vault Portfolio (DVP) — a next-generation portfolio architecture that replaces traditional fund management with blockchain-based logic. Each DVP is governed by smart contracts, ensuring that all transactions, strategies, and fee structures are executed transparently and without third-party custody.

This model gives users access to financial strategies previously reserved for institutional players, while maintaining full control over their assets. With real-time tracking and decentralized execution, DVPs represent the foundation of what makes PBG an ETF 2.0.

“This advanced financial technology enables non-custodial asset management without intermediaries. It offers seamless access, intuitive interaction, and instant liquidity — among many other advantages and features.”
— Pablo Antonio Bejarano, CEO of PBG.io

How PBG Token Works

Best ETFs in 2025

With PBG, users mint tokens by depositing ADA into a smart contract. Each PBG Token represents a share of a carefully managed crypto portfolio. The funds can include major tokens, stablecoins, and evolving DeFi assets.

No banks. No middlemen. No delays.

When users wish to exit, they can burn their tokens and retrieve a proportion of the portfolio — instantly and transparently. Everything is auditable on-chain.

This system introduces a new paradigm in asset management. Users maintain full control of their tokens and enjoy a level of performance tracking and transparency that traditional funds simply can’t match.

Watch this video for more information:

Why It’s Different From the best ETFs 2025

Most ETFs in 2025 still rely on custodians and traditional fund managers. PBG Token flips the model:

  • Decentralized by design
  • Non-custodial and transparent
  • Real-time performance tracking
  • Completely on-chain governance
  • Global access from day one

This is not a wrapped ETF in crypto clothing. It’s a protocol-native structure redefining the ETF category altogether.

PBG also offers active and passive portfolio strategies, supports instant liquidity, and registers all fees on-chain. It’s a financial product built with code, not paperwork.

The Future Is Programmable and Transparent

PBG doesn’t just follow market trends. It sets new ones. With built-in governance, tokenized performance, and a focus on community participation, it’s not just aiming to be among the best ETFs 2025 — it’s shaping the next generation of what funds should be.

If you’re evaluating your options among the best ETFs 2025, it’s worth looking beyond the legacy system. PBG Token — a fully on-chain crypto portfolio — introduces a transparent and incorruptible model that aligns perfectly with the spirit of Web3.

ETF 2.0 is more than a buzzword. It’s a movement — and PBG is at the center of it.