VanEck unveils Australia’s first quantum computing ETF

The first dedicated quantum computing exchange-traded fund in Australia will begin trading on the ASX next week, part of a trio of new ETFs launched by VanEck to target emerging technology sectors.

The VanEck Quantum ETF (ASX: QNTM) will track the MarketVector Quantum Computing Ecosystem Index, charging a 0.65% annual management fee. It joins two other funds—SMHG, focused on global semiconductors, and RESM, which excludes Chinese rare earth and strategic metals—on the exchange from August 6.

Narrow focus, not broad themes

VanEck’s Asia-Pacific chief executive Arian Neiron said the new ETFs were designed to offer precise exposure to industries building the infrastructure for future economies, rather than vague thematic plays.

“The next generation of ETFs won’t be defined by the themes they claim to capture, but by how precisely they capture them,” Neiron said. “Investors are after genuine exposure to the structural forces shaping tomorrow’s economy rather than broad interpretations of a headline theme.”

He pointed to artificial intelligence as an example, noting it had evolved from a software trend into one of the largest physical infrastructure investment cycles in history. “It has become a global race for computing power, semiconductor capacity and secure access to the strategic materials that advanced technologies cannot function without,” he said.

The launch builds on VanEck’s existing global funds in these sectors, including a semiconductor ETF (SMH) and a rare earth and strategic metals ETF (REMX) listed in the U.S. The firm also manages a UCITS quantum computing ETF in Europe, making QNTM the first of its kind in Australia.

ETF market growth amid investor selectivity

The three new funds arrive as Australia’s ETF market enters a period of rapid expansion. VanEck forecasts the number of ASX-listed ETFs could reach 530 by the end of 2026, with industry assets exceeding $400 billion.

But growth isn’t the only shift. Investors are becoming more discerning, favoring funds with clear, targeted strategies. The semiconductor ETF (SMHG), for instance, charges a lower 0.35% management fee, while the rare earth and strategic metals fund (RESM) sits at 0.59%.

For now, QNTM will give Australian investors a way to bet on the companies developing the hardware, software, and supporting infrastructure for the quantum computing ecosystem.

Neiron suggested the real value in these sectors might not come from the most visible companies. “The next wave of value creation won’t necessarily come from the companies making the headlines,” he said. “It will come from the technologies and materials making those companies possible.”

The ETFs’ underlying indices are all provided by MarketVector, a global index provider specializing in thematic and niche market segments. VanEck has positioned the launch as a response to demand for more specialized investment options.

Trading begins at market open on August 6.