The record pace of ETF launches is driven by collapsed launch costs, making it trivial to create funds and abandon failures without consequence.
Todd explains that 2026 is on pace to surpass last year's ~1,100 new ETF launches because launch and maintenance costs have dropped dramatically, creating a low-barrier environment where failed funds are simply moved on from. ✦ AI generated
Todd · The Compound · 2026-08-14 · original ↗
starts at this moment · 0:38
“Wait, what are we talking about here?”
I don't know that this is temporary cuz it the cost of launching is is much lower, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's like a It's like and the cost of maintaining a fund that doesn't catch on. ETFs have turned into Napster or just like, 'Hey, come to my shed where I have a recording studio and we'll lay down the tracks and do it for you, everything else for you.' ... I was involved in two ETF launches this year in in the same week. In the same week? Yes. I didn't promote either one of them. You don't have to promote. I don't need to promote them. You can do whatever you want.
verbatim transcript · starts at 0:38
0:38which we'll get [laughter] into. >> I don't know that this is uh I don't know that this is temporary. >> I don't Well, unless you get a really bad bare market. >> Well, yeah, sure. >> No, it's not temporary cuz it the cost of launching is is much lower, >> right? >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's like a It's like >> and the cost of maintaining a fund that
0:55doesn't catch on. ETFs have turned into Napster or just like, "Hey, come to my shed where I have a recording studio and we'll lay down the tracks and do it for you, everything else for you." >> It's like a mix track. >> Yeah. >> Like everyone, you just make one for your friends. You >> and you ship it out. >> I was involved in two ETF launches this
1:12year in in the same >> Oh, yes. >> In the same week. >> In the same week. >> In the same week? >> Yes. >> I didn't promote either one of them. >> You don't have to promote. I don't need to promote them. You can do whatever you want. >> No, no, no. But like ju just like as a as an anecdote of how much activity there is.
1:27>> There's a >> I've never been involved in an ETF before now in this US. >> Dude, Duncan's about to launch one. >> Photography. >> Photography. >> Photography. >> I have books for you, by the way. If we're doing Are we Are we live? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We're always bring I usually bring you real books. These are my books. >> What? What do you mean your books
1:45happen? Oh, you wrote a book? >> Not I didn't I didn't write a book like >> Save it for the end. Okay. >> Save it for the end. They're ETF related though. >> Uh, let me show you a chart. Can we put a chart up yet? >> Uh, which one do you want? >> MSGS. >> MSGS. >> This is Madison Square Garden Sports. >> Wait, this is the Knicks.
- ·2026 on pace to surpass ~1,100 launches from prior year
- ·Launch costs have dropped dramatically
- ·Failed funds simply abandoned, no promotion needed
- ·ETFs compared to Napster's DIY model
- ·Record tracks laid in "sheds" now possible
- ·Multiple launches per week with zero promotion
- ·Low barrier means easy to exit failures
- ·Launched two ETFs in the same week
- ·Neither fund was promoted
- ·You don't have to promote to launch
- ·Cost of failure: negligible