Bitwise Reports Mixed Performance Across Option Income ETFs — Bitwise Asset Management, Inc.

Event summary

Bitwise announced monthly distributions for six Option Income Strategy ETFs on June 25, 2026.
IGME reported the highest distribution rate at 20.48%, while IETH had the lowest at 7.44%.
Most funds showed negative returns over one month and one year, with IMST down -32.43% monthly and -69.28% yearly.
All distributions were classified as return of capital (100%), indicating no income from dividends or capital gains.

The big picture

Bitwise's Option Income ETFs represent an attempt to generate yield in volatile markets through covered call strategies. While the funds offer attractive distribution rates, their negative performance highlights the challenges of this approach during market downturns. The crypto-focused funds face particular risks from digital asset volatility and regulatory uncertainty.

What we're watching

Performance Sustainability: Whether Bitwise's option income strategy can deliver positive returns amid volatile underlying asset prices.
Investor Appeal: How the high return-of-capital distributions will affect investor perception and fund flows.
Regulatory Scrutiny: The potential impact of evolving digital asset regulations on Bitwise's synthetic option strategies.