Pre-IPO Investing

ETF Exposure to Anthropic & OpenAI: The Complete 2026 Investor Guide

June 7, 2026 · 10 min read

Two of the most consequential companies in tech history are weeks from going public. Here's exactly which publicly traded ETFs and funds already own them — and which is right for you.

Why this matters right now

On June 1, 2026, Anthropic confidentially filed its S-1 with the SEC at a $965 billion post-money valuation — topping OpenAI's own confidential S-1 filing from May 22, 2026, which targets a valuation of $852 billion to $1 trillion. Both IPOs are expected as early as Q4 2026.

For retail investors who can't buy pre-IPO shares directly, a small but growing set of publicly traded funds already hold stakes in one or both companies. The window to get in at pre-IPO prices via these vehicles is closing fast.

AnthropicOpenAI
Current Valuation$965 billion$852 billion
Revenue Run Rate$47B (May 2026)~$25B (Mar 2026)
IPO StatusConfidential S-1 filed Jun 1, 2026Confidential S-1 filed May 22, 2026
Expected IPOFall 2026Sept–Q4 2026
Key BackersGoogle, Amazon, Spark CapitalMicrosoft, Thrive Capital, SoftBank

Every ETF and fund with direct exposure — detailed breakdown

1. KraneShares Public-Private AI & Technology ETF (AGIX) — Best for Anthropic

AGIXKraneShares Public-Private AI & Technology ETF
Anthropic ✓
Type
Open-end ETF
Expense Ratio
0.99%
Liquidity
Daily
2026 YTD
+17%

The only traditional open-end ETF with material direct Anthropic exposure (~2.76% of AUM). AGIX holds Anthropic via a special purpose vehicle (SPV) alongside Nvidia (4.74%), Alphabet (3.61%), Microsoft (3.43%), and SpaceX. The 0.99% fee is the premium for private-market access in a daily-liquidity ETF wrapper. When Anthropic IPOs, those private shares convert to publicly tradeable stock within the fund.

KraneShares has attributed over 10% of excess returns since adding Anthropic and xAI to the portfolio, making the fund one of the best-performing AI ETFs of 2026. Other private holdings include SpaceX and Nuro (autonomous vehicles).

2. ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) — Best Broad ETF for OpenAI

ARKKARK Innovation ETF
OpenAI ✓
Type
Open-end ETF
Expense Ratio
0.75%
Liquidity
Daily
2026 YTD
~-12% YTD (Apr: +12.1%)

On March 31, 2026, ARK Invest purchased $175M of OpenAI shares in ARKK (~254,476 shares, ~3% of portfolio) as part of a $240M cross-fund deployment. ARKK is Cathie Wood's flagship disruptive innovation fund. While OpenAI is a meaningful addition, it sits alongside volatile holdings like Tesla, Coinbase, and Roku. Best for investors who already have an appetite for ARK's high-conviction, high-volatility style.

3. ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) — OpenAI With a Thematic Fit

ARKWARK Next Generation Internet ETF
OpenAI ✓
Type
Open-end ETF
Expense Ratio
0.88%
Liquidity
Daily
2026 YTD
N/A

ARKW received $43M of the March 31 OpenAI allocation (~62,528 shares, ~3% of portfolio). Focused on internet infrastructure, Web3, and cloud-native businesses, OpenAI is a better thematic fit in ARKW than in ARKK. The 0.88% expense ratio is slightly higher than ARKK's 0.75%, but the portfolio cohesion is stronger for investors focused on internet-era AI winners.

4. ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) — Smallest OpenAI Slice

ARKFARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF
OpenAI ✓
Type
Open-end ETF
Expense Ratio
0.75%
Liquidity
Daily
2026 YTD
N/A

ARKF received ~$22M of OpenAI shares (31,991 shares, ~3% of portfolio). Focused on fintech and blockchain, the OpenAI thesis here is AI's transformative impact on financial services. The smallest of ARK's three OpenAI positions — best for investors who already hold ARKF and want the OpenAI kicker without buying another fund.

5. ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX) — Best for Both Anthropic AND OpenAI

ARKVXARK Venture Fund
Anthropic ✓OpenAI ✓
Type
Interval Fund (quarterly liquidity)
Expense Ratio
~1.5%
Liquidity
Quarterly only
2026 YTD
N/A

ARKVX holds the deepest combined exposure: OpenAI at ~9.3% of fund (total position boosted to $250M) and Anthropic at ~2.96% (added July 2023). Also holds SpaceX and Databricks. The critical constraint: ARKVX is an interval fund that only allows redemptions quarterly, in limited windows. It is not exchange-traded. Suitable exclusively for long-term investors with no near-term liquidity needs.

6. Destiny Tech100 (DXYZ) — Highest Risk/Reward

DXYZDestiny Tech100
Anthropic ✓OpenAI ✓
Type
Closed-end Fund
Expense Ratio
Varies
Liquidity
Daily (trades on NYSE)
2026 YTD
NAV +210% (FY2025)

DXYZ holds a basket of the hottest pre-IPO names including OpenAI, Anthropic ($100M+ position added Feb 2026), SpaceX, xAI, Databricks, and Shield AI. Impressive on paper — but DXYZ frequently trades at a massive premium to its net asset value (sometimes 200–400% above actual holdings). You can be right about the underlying companies and still lose money if the premium compresses. Strictly for sophisticated investors who actively monitor the NAV premium.

7. BlackRock Science & Technology Term Trust (BSTZ) — Institutional Grade

BSTZBlackRock Science & Technology Term Trust
Anthropic ✓
Type
Closed-end Fund (expires 2031)
Expense Ratio
N/A
Liquidity
Daily (trades on NYSE)
2026 YTD
N/A

BlackRock's BSTZ holds Anthropic alongside a mix of public and private technology investments. As a term trust with a 2031 end date managed by the world's largest asset manager, BSTZ offers institutional-grade risk management and typically trades at smaller premiums/discounts to NAV than DXYZ. Best for investors who want professional oversight and a lower-drama structure than pure-play closed-end funds.

Side-by-side comparison

MetricAGIXARKK / ARKW / ARKFARKVXDXYZ
Anthropic exposure~2.76%None~2.96%Large (~$100M+)
OpenAI exposureNone~3% each~9.3%Yes (undisclosed %)
Fund typeOpen-end ETFOpen-end ETFInterval FundClosed-end Fund
Expense ratio0.99%0.75–0.88%~1.5%Varies
Daily liquidityYesYesNo (quarterly)Yes (NAV risk)
NAV premium riskLowLowLowHIGH (200–400%+)
2026 YTD+17%~-12% / Apr +12.1%N/ANAV +210% FY2025
Best forAnthropic, clean structureOpenAI + ARK themesBoth companies, long-termMax exposure, high risk

Which fund is right for you?

"I want the cleanest, simplest Anthropic bet."
→ AGIX

Standard ETF, daily liquidity, most transparent Anthropic exposure of any open-end fund. The +17% YTD speaks for itself. Yes, 0.99% is steep for an ETF, but it's the price of private-market access in a clean wrapper.

"I want OpenAI exposure before its IPO."
→ ARKK or ARKW

ARKK gives you the largest absolute OpenAI position ($175M). ARKW is the better thematic fit for internet-native AI. Both carry ARK's signature high-volatility DNA — not for the faint of heart, but the only daily-liquidity ETF path to OpenAI today.

"I want BOTH Anthropic and OpenAI in one fund."
→ ARKVX (if patient) or split AGIX + ARKK

ARKVX holds the deepest stakes in both companies but requires quarterly redemptions. If you need daily liquidity, split your position: AGIX for Anthropic, ARKK or ARKW for OpenAI.

"I'm a high-risk speculative investor seeking maximum upside."
→ DXYZ (with caution)

DXYZ holds the most concentrated pre-IPO basket. But only buy when the premium to NAV is at a historically reasonable level. When it trades at 300%+ over NAV, you're mostly paying for hype, not for exposure.

"I want institutional-grade exposure with lower volatility."
→ BSTZ or AGIX

BlackRock's BSTZ offers professional risk management with a stated 2031 term. AGIX, with Nvidia/Alphabet/Microsoft as core holdings alongside Anthropic, provides a balanced blend of AI infrastructure stability and private market upside.

The IPO wildcard: what changes after they go public?

Once Anthropic and OpenAI IPO — both expected Fall/Q4 2026 — the entire dynamic shifts:

  • ETF private stakes convert to public shares — funds like AGIX and ARKVX will hold the newly listed stock, potentially with early-investor cost basis advantages baked in.
  • Broad AI ETFs flood in — index funds and sector ETFs will add both companies as they enter major indices, creating enormous sustained buying pressure.
  • DXYZ's premium compresses — extreme NAV premiums on closed-end vehicles normalize once names are publicly tradeable.
  • New dedicated ETFs emerge — expect Anthropic and OpenAI single-company or AI-pure-play ETFs to launch within weeks of each IPO.

The window to establish a position through these vehicles at pre-IPO-conversion prices is closing fast. Once the S-1s go effective and roadshows begin, the pre-IPO pricing advantage narrows.

Key risks to keep in mind
  • Private company valuations are illiquid and may not reflect tradeable market prices until IPO.
  • Interval funds (ARKVX) restrict redemptions — do not invest capital you may need within 12 months.
  • Closed-end fund premiums (DXYZ) can compress sharply, turning a correct underlying thesis into a losing trade.
  • ARK ETFs carry high tracking risk to the broader market — ARKK can swing 30–50% in a single year.
  • Both Anthropic and OpenAI are unprofitable at scale — OpenAI burned ~$22B in 2025 on $13B in revenue. Post-IPO profitability timelines remain uncertain.

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