January 2026 was a big month for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). They saw big gains in areas like defense, crypto, and commodities. Even though we’re still waiting for the exact numbers, we can see who did well.
These performance figures reflect short-term moves and, in some cases, leveraged exposure. They do not indicate future returns.
📊 Performance Highlights — January 2026
Here’s a table showing the top ETFs. It includes their year-to-date returns and monthly performance. Sources like Zacks, Nasdaq, and financial news helped us gather this info:
| ETF Name / Ticker | Theme / Exposure | Approx. Jan 2026 Return / YTD |
|---|---|---|
| CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI) | Cryptocurrency / Bitcoin miners | ~+33.4% YTD (to Jan 20) |
| REX Drone ETF (DRNZ) | Drones / Defense tech | ~+33.1% YTD (to Jan 20) |
| Roundhill Meme Stock ETF (MEME) | Meme / Social-driven stocks | ~+31.9% YTD (to Jan 20) |
| Natural Gas Leveraged ETF (BOIL) | Commodity / Natural Gas leveraged | +72%+ in late Jan weekly move |
| Sprott Junior Uranium Miners UCITS ETF (URNJ) | Uranium miners | ~+~30%+ monthly gains |
| WisdomTree Silver / ESVR / SLVR | Physical silver exposure | +12-14% weekly gains in Europe |
⚠️ Note: “YTD” (year-to-date) numbers reported near late January are used to approximate strong performance in the month, where direct January-only percentages are not routinely published simultaneously for every ETF by global data sources.
Sources used include: Zacks & Nasdaq ETF performance snapshots (Jan 20 2026) and European ETF flows/performance reports (late January) that highlight leading sectors.
Key Market Themes Driving ETF Returns
January’s strongest ETF gains reflected several macro and market themes:
- Crypto and Alternative Asset Exposure:Â Bitcoin-linked and crypto-technology ETFs like WGMI rallied sharply as risk assets regained momentum.
- Defense & Geopolitical Plays: ETFs tied to defense, drones, and aerospace sectors benefited from elevated geopolitical tensions.
- Commodities & Energy Volatility: Leveraged natural gas and precious metals funds saw strong intra-month moves tied to energy price spikes and safe-haven demand.
- Precious Metals:Â Silver and gold-related ETFs delivered notable gains as investors sought hedges against economic uncertainty and inflation expectations.
Context & Data Limitations
- Exact monthly percentage returns for every ETF are not standardized across all markets; different data vendors release performance figures on different schedules. The table above synthesises reported YTD figures and weekly performance bursts as proxies for January strength.
- Geographic concentration matters:Â Many high-performing ETFs tracked niche or region-specific themes (e.g., crypto indices, uranium miners, and leveraged commodities) rather than broad market indices.
- The performance list is not exhaustive but reflects widely reported leaders across ETF categories for January 2026.
Conclusion
January 2026 saw a big move into special markets. Many ETFs did much better than usual broad market indices. Investors saw big wins in crypto, defense, and commodities.
These results show short-term market moves. They don’t promise the same results over longer times.