Humanoid robots are machines designed to mimic the human body and perform human tasks, combining sensors, artificial intelligence, and dexterity to operate in real-world environments such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and consumer services.
In this industry, the main players are mostly Chinese companies like UBTech Robotics. However, Western firms such as Tesla are also developing humanoid robot models. The potential is vast: Goldman Sachs projects that the global humanoid market could reach $38 billion by 2035, while Morgan Stanley forecasts up to 1 billion robots by 2050, expected to generate around $5 trillion in revenue.
ETFs Are Emerging to Capitalize on This Investment Megatrend
KraneShares is preparing to launch the first humanoid robotics-focused ETF in the European market: the KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index UCITS ETF (KOID) has been approved by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) for listing on the London Stock Exchange.
This is the latest in a wave of ETF launches this year. KraneShares had already introduced the first version of this ETF on the Cboe U.S. exchange. Shares of the fund—which has global exposure to companies primarily based in the United States, China, and Japan, and seeks to replicate the MerQube Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index—have risen 28% from its June launch through the end of September.
Following this launch came ETFs from Roundhill and Themes ETF, a firm affiliated with Leverage Shares. Roundhill acknowledges on its website that humanoid robotics “represents one of the most transformative frontiers in artificial intelligence and automation.” To capitalize on this potential, it launched the Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF (HUMN) at the end of June, an actively managed fund listed on the Cboe. As of September 30, its shares had appreciated 20%.
Themes ETF, meanwhile, introduced the Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF (BOTT) in August. This is a passively managed product that aims to track the Solactive Global Humanoid Robotics Index and is listed on the Nasdaq.
