In 2025, Taiwan’s exchange-traded fund (ETF) market emerged as Asia’s key innovation hub, revealing its first active ETFs in April. Together with the robust mainland China and Hong Kong markets, these spurred Asia-wide trends, including strong retail demand for high-dividend and AI-themed products, alongside the rapid rise of active ETFs.

Assets under management (AUM) across APAC surpassed US$2 trillion, led by market developments in Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong, as investors sought yield, diversification, and downside protection to address heightened market volatility.

In Taiwan, the ETF market surged to NT$7.5 trillion (US$241 billion) in 2025, marking an 18% annual expansion and cementing the island's position as Asia's third-largest ETF hub, with 311 listed products.

Over the past few years, the Taiwanese stock market has gained strong momentum as the island’s semiconductor sector surged with the rise of AI. As a result, the local ETF market has become equity-dominant, with equities now accounting for roughly 60% of total AUM, compared with 40% for fixed income.

In addition to the stock market’s robust gains, the Taiwanese ETF market's growth has also been fuelled by a significant broadening of its issuer base, which expanded from 17 to 24 ETF providers over the past year as both foreign asset managers and local boutique houses entered the fray, bringing the total number of newly listed ETFs to 44 – the highest in half a decade.

Foreign asset managers, in particular, have been quick to capitalize on market opportunities. Last year, after the regulator gave the green light for active ETFs, ETF providers moved fast to launch such products. The majority of the active ETFs were launched right after US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” in April 2025, when the market was picking up again. The good timing successfully attracted retail investors to the new playground.

Active ETFs in Taiwan amassed NT$170 billion in their inaugural year in 2025, capturing a 2.3% share of the island's total ETF AUM. This uptake far outpaced the 0.1% to 0.5% typically seen in other markets during their first year of active ETF availability, according to ETF providers in Taiwan, suggesting local retail investors are unusually receptive to hybrid products that offer passive wrappers with active discretion.

Global players are also increasingly active in liquidity provision. In addition to local market makers, international quantitative trading firms such as Jane Street and Susquehanna are now avid participants in the local ETF market.

Inevitably, this has intensified competition, particularly within the wildly popular high-dividend segment. Issuers have engaged in aggressive fee warfare – a race to the bottom that underscores the challenge of product differentiation in a crowded landscape.

Meanwhile, retail investors have been eager to subscribe to active ETFs with higher fees. ETF providers with strong product R&D capabilities stand out, delivering astonishing double-digit returns in a short period.

As Taiwan's ETF ecosystem evolves into a diversified equity platform with burgeoning active management, the tension between democratized access and sustainable issuer economics will likely define its next phase of development.

Looking ahead, Taiwan’s ETF market will continue to be driven by the rising demand for asset allocation, product innovation, and gradual regulatory liberalization. In addition to the frenzy over active ETFs and high-dividend offerings, strategy-based ETFs using futures and options, such as covered-call structures, are gaining attention, according to ETF market makers.

Additionally, more global asset managers are accelerating their presence in Taiwan by listing locally tailored versions of established global ETF strategies. The rise of cross-border products is gradually shifting the market from domestically oriented investing towards a more internationally connected capital market.

It is in this context that we at The Asset announce the winners of the Best ETF Provider Awards for 2026:

BEST ETF PROVIDERS

ASIA

Yuanta Securities Investment Trust

Sitting at the most dynamic ETF hub in Asia, Yuanta Securities Investment Trust has been the market leader for years, servicing 5.84 million beneficiaries. Last year also marks Yuanta's flagship ETF Taiwan Top 50 ETF officially becoming the first investment vehicle in Taiwan’s history to surpass NT$1 trillion (US$31.4 billion) in AUM. Offshore investors, including sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, and international investment banks, are also actively using Yuanta's ETFs to access AI-themed opportunities in the Taiwan market.

AUSTRALIA

Betashares

Betashares stands as a premier ETF provider in Australia. One of the largest by funds under management and inflows, it captures significant market share with innovative, high-performing funds. Popular offerings like the A200 Australia 200 ETF and NDQ NASDAQ 100 ETF deliver low-cost, diversified exposure. Strong 2025 performers such as MNRS (gold miners) and thematic ETFs in tech, defence, and energy transition highlight its edge in both broad-market and specialist strategies. Investors value BetaShares for choice, performance, and accessibility.

CHINA

China Asset Management

As the leader in China's mutual fund and ETF market, China Asset Management provides a wide spectrum of more than 100 products. Last year, it tapped opportunities in the Sci-Tech Innovation Bonds swiftly and timely covered the AI and semiconductor themes. These moves have kept it atop the domestic rankings for 21 consecutive years.

HONG KONG

CSOP Asset Management

As the second largest ETF provider in Hong Kong, CSOP Asset Management continues to launch new products in the market, including 19 last year. A number of their products made it into the list of the most actively traded ETFs in the market. In particular, their leveraged and inverse products accounted for over 98% of market share by AUM as of the end of last year.

JAPAN

Amova Asset Management

Amova Asset Management has emerged as a top ETF provider in Japan. Formerly Nikko AM, it boasts one of the largest ETF lineups with flagship products such as the Amova Exchange Traded Index Fund TOPIX and Nikkei 225 trackers, delivering low-cost, high-liquidity exposure to Japanese equities.

Recognized as the ETF Manager of the Year for its consistent innovation, competitive fees, and strong performance amid Japan’s market resurgence, Amova excels in both broad-market and thematic strategies. Investors praise its reliability, user-friendly products, and deep local expertise.

MALAYSIA

AmInvest / AmFunds Management

AmInvest (AmFunds Management) is Malaysia’s best ETF provider for 2025. As the dominant player with about 1.8 billion ringgit in ETF AUM and 75.4% market share, it leads with flagship products such as the FBM KLCI ETF. Awarded Malaysia’s Best ETF Provider for the fourth consecutive year, AmInvest excels in innovation, performance, and SRI/ESG offerings, delivering reliable, low-cost exposure to Malaysian equities for local investors.

SINGAPORE

Amova Asset Management

Amova (formerly Nikko AM) ranks among the top ETF providers in Singapore. It offers competitive low-cost products like the popular Amova Singapore STI ETF (cheaper than SPDR’s rival) and strong Reit/bond ETFs, delivering reliable local exposure with solid inflows and investor appeal.

TAIWAN

Capital Investment Trust – Overall 

Capital Investment Trust (CIT) maintained its fast expansion last year. As of the end of 2025, CIT’s total ETF AUM grew by almost 30%, amounting to approximately NT$1.21 trillion, with nearly 2.16 million beneficiaries, both ranking among the top three in the industry. In 2025, CIT launched three new ETFs, including active ETFs, tapping dynamic market momentum. CIT is also the largest bond ETF provider in Taiwan.

Nomura Asset Management Taiwan – Active ETFs

As a foreign asset manager in Taiwan, Nomura Asset Management Taiwan last year captured business opportunities in active ETFs and swiftly launched successful products focused on Taiwanese stocks.

CTBC Investments – Global Allocation

As the fifth largest ETF provider in Taiwan, CTBC Investments now manages 33 ETFs. With the launch of the CTBC ARK Innovation Active ETF, CTBC NASDAQ 100 ETF and CTBC US Innovation Technology ETF, it focused on providing global asset allocation tools to Taiwanese investors to tap opportunities, especially in the US tech sector.

Yuanta Securities Investment Trust – Best IPO

Yuanta Securities Investment Trust launched the Global AI New Economy Active ETF on December 22, 2025, raising US$634 million during its IPO. This initial share sale was the largest for the year, achieved through a sophisticated "reservation-first" distribution model across major securities channels.

BEST ETF MARKET MAKER

TAIWAN

Fubon Securities

As a major market maker in Taiwan, Fubon Securities’ Quantitative Trading Department has been building up its capability and expanding its inventory over the years. It provides liquidity to all ETF products in the market and maintains long-term partnerships with 24 local and global asset management companies. Through active participation in primary market creations and redemptions, the team helps secondary market prices track NAV more effectively, thereby enhancing overall market efficiency.

BEST INDEX PROVIDER FOR ETFs, ASIA

BEST INDEX PROVIDER FOR ETFs, ASIA - EQUITY

S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI)

S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) is recognized as the premier index provider for Asia-Pacific equity ETFs in 2025. With over 2,000 global ETPs linked to its benchmarks and US$4.4 trillion in AUM (up 33% YoY), S&P DJI excels through extensive regional coverage, rapid product innovation (over 180 new APAC indices in 2024), and award-winning methodologies. Its indices deliver robust liquidity, transparency, and performance for diverse Asia strategies, from broad-market to thematic and dividend-focused products, making them the trusted choice for issuers and investors.

BEST INDEX PROVIDER FOR ETFs, CHINA

BEST INDEX PROVIDER FOR ETFs, CHINA - EQUITY

China Securities Index

As the leading index provider in China, China Securities Index (CSI) continues to provide passive investment tools to about 2,500 funds, managing a total AUM of about 5.14 trillion yuan (US$750 billion). CSI currently manages the CSI index family, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) index family, alongside other indices, covering asset classes such as equity, fixed income, and commodities. The total number of indices managed by CSI had surpassed 8,400 by the end of 2025.

BEST INDEX PROVIDER FOR ETFs, China - FIXED INCOME

ChinaBond Pricing Center

With a challenging market in 2025, more fixed income investors shifted to passive investment tools to cut costs and deliver better returns. Against this backdrop, bond funds tracking China Bond Pricing Center increased by more than 30%, standing at about 800 billion yuan last year.

MOST INNOVATIVE ETFs

iShares S&P 500 Premium Income ETF

Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence & Big Data UCITS ETF

Capital Taiwan Select Premium Active ETF

CTBC Value Strategy High Yield Bond Active ETF

S&P 500 Covered Call Active ETF

UPAMC Taiwan Growth Active ETF

Yuanta Global AI New Economy Active ETF

SUSTAINABILITY ETFs

Cathay MSCI Taiwan ESG Sustainability High Dividend Yield ETF

Fubon Taiwan Net Zero ESG 50 ETF

Please click here for the full list of winners.

To learn more about these awards please go here.

To join the in-person annual celebratory dinner in Hong Kong on June 30 2026, please contact us at celebrate@theasset.com.