ETF FAQ

1. What Is ETF ?

ETF functions similarly to traditional ETFs in conventional finance. They track the price movements of a given underlying asset, typically with a leverage factor of three or five times the market fluctuation of the underlying asset. Unlike traditional margin trading, users do not need to deposit any collateral when trading ETFs. Instead, they can achieve leveraged exposure simply by buying or selling the tokens.

Each ETF token is backed by futures positions, which are managed by the platform’s fund manager. This allows users to maintain a fixed leverage investment portfolio without needing to understand the underlying mechanisms.

2. What Is the Underlying Asset?

The underlying asset of an ETF token can be identified from its name. For example, BTC3L and BTC3S have BTC as their underlying asset.

3. Do ETF Tokens Have a Fixed Supply?

ETF tokens, like perpetual futures, are financial derivatives rather than cryptocurrencies. Therefore, they do not have a fixed total supply or a burning mechanism.

4. How Do ETF Tokens Amplify Returns?

ETF tokens magnify price fluctuations to enhance potential gains (or losses). For instance, after rebalancing, if BTC experiences a 5% price change, the net value of BTC3L (3x long BTC) would change by approximately +15%, while the net value of BTC3S (3x short BTC) would change by approximately -15%, assuming no additional intraday rebalancing is triggered.

5. How Do ETF Tokens Differ from Margin Trading?

Margin trading involves borrowing assets exceeding the initial margin to amplify returns and losses, with leverage determined by the borrowed amount relative to the collateral.
ETF tokens , on the other hand, amplify price movements rather than positions. They do not require collateral or borrowing, and they eliminate the risk of liquidation.

6. How Do ETF Tokens Differ from Perpetual Futures?

No margin or liquidation risk: ETF tokens do not require margin and are not subject to liquidation.
Fixed leverage ratio: In perpetual futures, the effective leverage varies with position value. However, ETF tokens undergo scheduled rebalancing, keeping the leverage ratio stable at 3x or 5x.

7. Why Can't ETF Tokens Be Liquidated?

The platform's fund manager dynamically adjusts futures positions to maintain a fixed leverage ratio over a certain period. When profitable, positions are automatically increased after rebalancing; when losses occur, positions are reduced accordingly. This prevents forced liquidations.

Note: Rebalancing adjusts the futures positions underlying each token but does not change the number of tokens held by users.

8. Why Is There a Management Fee?

ETF tokens require active risk hedging in the perpetual futures market, which incurs costs. Gate charges a daily management fee of 0.1% , covering all expenses, including futures market fees, funding rates, and slippage.

Despite this, Gate's management fee does not fully cover the operating costs of ETF tokens, and the platform absorbs the deficit. In the future, Gate plans to introduce portfolio ETFs and low-leverage inverse ETFs, utilizing advanced technology to reduce costs and provide users with more cost-effective trading solutions.

9. What Is Net Asset Value (NAV)?

The net asset value (NAV) represents the fair market value per token. It is calculated as follows: Previous Rebalancing NAV × (1 + Underlying Asset Change × Target Leverage Multiple)

The "Previous Rebalancing NAV" refers to the NAV after the last rebalancing.
The actual market price of ETF tokens in the secondary market may deviate slightly from NAV but remains closely anchored. For example, if BTC3L's NAV is $1, its market price might be $1.01 or $0.99.

Gate displays both the NAV and the latest market price of each ETF token to help users avoid trading at a significant premium or discount, which could lead to losses.

10. How Is the 3x Movement Reflected in Gate's ETF Tokens?

ETF tokens exhibit price changes at three times the fluctuation of the underlying asset, which is reflected in their NAV. For instance:

If BTC rises 1%, BTC3L's NAV increases by 3%, while BTC3S’s NAV decreases by 3%.
If BTC falls 1%, BTC3L's NAV decreases by 3%, while BTC3S's NAV increases by 3%.

11. Does Rebalancing Change the Number of Tokens Held?

No, rebalancing adjusts the futures positions underlying the ETF tokens, but it does not alter the number of tokens held by users. Its primary function is to maintain the 3x or 5x leverage ratio.

12. Rebalancing Mechanism

Gate's ETF rebalancing mechanism includes Scheduled Rebalancing and Non-Scheduled Rebalancing.

3x ETF Tokens

Scheduled Rebalancing

3x Long Tokens: At 16:00 (UTC) daily: no rebalancing if leverage fluctuates within 2.25x–4.125x; if it falls outside this range or if the underlying asset’s daily price change exceeds 1%, leverage is adjusted to 3x
3x Short Tokens: At 16:00 (UTC) daily: no rebalancing if leverage fluctuates within 1.5x–5.25x; if it falls outside this range or if the underlying asset's daily price change exceeds 1%, leverage is adjusted to 3x.

Non-Scheduled Rebalancing

3x Long Tokens: No rebalancing if leverage remains within 2.25x – 4.125x; otherwise, adjusted to 3x.
3x Short Tokens: No rebalancing if leverage remains within 1.5x–5.25x; otherwise, adjusted to 3x.

5x ETF Tokens