In 2019, Hashdex partnered with Nasdaq to develop a digital asset benchmark to meet the high standards of professional investors: the Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index (NCI™).
The index connects crypto to Nasdaq’s 50 years of experience building financial market infrastructure with crypto, establishing a long-term benchmark for investors seeking exposure to this asset class.
Index-based investing isn’t just a strategy for Hashdex - it’s our foundation. We launched the world’s first crypto index ETF and the first multi-asset crypto ETF in the U.S. Hashdex continues to serve hundreds of thousands of investors across eight countries.
Launched to simplify access to the crypto opportunity
Co-developed the Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index
Pioneered access to digital assets through ETFs
Allowed US investors access to an ETF tracking the NCI™
Captures crypto’s growth potential across a variety of investment theses.
Dynamic, rules-based approach that adapts as the market evolves.
Index constituents meet rigorous requirements for liquidity and other factors.
Passive exposure built on the same framework used in other asset classes.
The Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index (NCI™) is built on three fundamental principles that guide every aspect of its construction and evolution:
Captures diverse market share by selecting a basket of constituent assets on the basis of relative market significance, not according to a predetermined number of assets.
Utilizes straightforward, automated rules and exhaustive selection criteria, including exchange and custody standards that allow the Index to be easily replicated.
Designed to adjust the Index composition over time to ensure that it remains a flexible representation of the asset class as it evolves.
Not all digital assets are suitable for investment. The Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index applies several filters to determine eligibility - ensuring that index constituents all meet strict standards.
Must trade on at least 2 Core Exchanges with USD pairs
Core Exchanges meet strict criteria: regulatory licensing, AML/KYC controls, trade surveillance, robust IT infrastructure, and regulatory cooperation
Current Core Exchanges: Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp, Gemini, itBit, LMAX Digital
Must be supported by at least 1 Core Custodian
Core Custodians provide: regulatory licensing, segregated accounts, multi-signature security, insurance coverage, third-party audits
Current Core Custodians: Coinbase, BitGo, Fidelity, Gemini, Zodia, Komainu
Median daily trading volume must exceed 0.5% of the highest-volume eligible asset
Measured across all Core Exchanges during the 30 days following previous reconstitution
Ensures sufficient market depth for institutional-scale trading
The asset must meet at least one of the following criteria:
(i) be traded on a market that is a member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (ISG);
(ii) be the underlying asset of a futures contract listed on a designated contract market regulated in the U.S. for at least six months; or
(iii) (only at the initial inclusion) be the underlying asset of an ETF with at least 40% of its net assets exposed to the asset, listed on a U.S. stock exchange.
These criteria align the index with Nasdaq standards for Commodity-Based Trust Shares.
Must have market-determined pricing (no stablecoins or pegged assets)
Eliminates assets with centralized price control mechanisms
Ensures true market exposure
After passing all filters, assets must represent at least 0.5% of total eligible market cap
Free-float market cap weighted methodology
Quarterly reconstitution on first business day of March, June, September, December
Not all digital assets are suitable for investment. The Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index applies several filters to determine eligibility - ensuring that index constituents all meet strict standards
The index is calculated by CF Benchmarks Limited, an FCA-regulated benchmark administrator, ensuring independence and regulatory compliance.
Comprised of senior members across Nasdaq's Legal, Risk, Compliance, Trading, Surveillance, IT, and Index teams. The committee provides final oversight and reserves the right to exclude assets based on reputational, legal, regulatory, or security concerns.
Real-time pricing aggregates data from Core Exchanges with penalty factors for abnormal price, volatility, and volume - reducing manipulation risk and ensuring price accuracy.
Since inception
Even modest crypto exposure can meaningfully enhance traditional portfolio returns.
With 1% NCI™ Allocation:
With 2% NCI™ Allocation:
With 5% NCI™ Allocation:
Past performance is not indicative of future results. *Returns shown prior to February 1, 2021 are based on backtested performance. Results from February 2, 2021 onward reflect actual trading performance.
Products Powered by the Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index (NCI™)
The Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index (NCI™) serves as the underlying benchmark for a family of investment products available to global investors:

Hashdex Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index US ETF (First multi-asset crypto ETP in the US)

Hashdex Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index Europe ETP Listed: SIX Swiss Exchange, Deutsche Börse Xetra, Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam

Hashdex Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index ETF (Largest crypto ETF in Brazil)
