Goldman Sachs Buys Into Bitcoin Income ETFs With $2.25 Billion NEOS Deal

Goldman Sachs agrees to acquire NEOS for $2.25 billion

Goldman Sachs announced on 12 August 2026 that it agreed to acquire NEOS Investments in a deal worth up to $2.25 billion in cash and equity. The final figure depends on certain performance and service commitments. The purchase moves the Wall Street bank directly into bitcoin income exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a fast-growing part of the fund market that pairs crypto exposure with options-based monthly income. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, pending regulatory approval.

NEOS brings bitcoin income ETFs and $30 billion in assets

NEOS Investments manages $30 billion across 19 options-based income ETFs as of 30 June 2026. The firm, founded in 2022, uses options strategies to generate monthly payouts for investors. Its lineup includes the Neos Bitcoin High Income ETF, known as BTCI, along with boosted bitcoin and ether income products. According to CoinDesk and The Block, BTCI holds about $1.1 billion in assets and has generated an annual yield near 27% since launching in October 2024.

Deal makes Goldman the eighth-largest active ETF manager

The purchase adds to Goldman Sachs Asset Management's existing $40 billion in income and outcome-oriented options-based ETFs. Combined, the platform will hold $80 billion in active ETFs across a $130 billion global ETF business as of 30 June 2026. That scale would make Goldman the eighth-largest active ETF manager, according to Morningstar. The deal also sits alongside Innovator, an earlier options-based ETF business the bank controls.

Solomon ties the deal to active ETF demand

David Solomon, chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, linked the purchase to rising demand for active ETFs. He said NEOS adds strength across buffer, managed outcome and income strategies. Industry-wide, derivative income ETFs have grown to about $180 billion in assets, with a compound annual growth rate above 70% since 2021, according to Morningstar.

"As investor demand for active ETFs grows, NEOS' disciplined investment approach is highly complementary to our capabilities across buffer, managed outcome and income strategies. Together, we will give investors a diverse toolkit for different market environments", 12 August 2026. — David Solomon, Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs

Goldman had already targeted bitcoin income ETFs

Goldman had moved toward the category before this deal. According to CoinDesk, the bank filed for its own bitcoin premium income ETF on 14 April 2026. Rival BlackRock runs a bitcoin income fund, BITA, that targets a 15% to 25% annual yield. Buying NEOS gives Goldman an established billion-dollar product immediately, rather than growing one from a standing start.

Bitcoin trades near $63,600 as the deal lands

Bitcoin traded at $63,628.22 at the time of publication, little changed over the past 24 hours (−0.15%, versus the previous close) and down 1.8% over the past week (CoinPaprika, 13 August 2026). Trading volume reached about $18.1 billion over the prior 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 13 August 2026). The token sits about 49% below its record high of $126,173, set on 6 October 2025.

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