KraneShares has launched a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to capture the fast-growing humanoid robotics sector, marking another bold step in the firm’s AI investment strategy. The KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF (KOID) began trading on the Nasdaq on June 5, 2025.
A Strategic Bet on AI-Powered Robotics
KOID aims to offer investors exposure to the next frontier in artificial intelligence: humanoid robots. These machines combine advanced robotics with AI capabilities that allow them to learn, sense, and interact with human environments. The fund tracks the MerQube Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index, which includes companies involved in humanoid robot development, components, systems integration, and supporting technologies.
According to KraneShares, humanoid robots represent a subset of the broader embodied intelligence ecosystem—a term referring to AI embedded in physical, human-like forms designed to operate in everyday settings.
Big Tech and Big Capital Backing the Trend
Industry leaders such as Unitree Robotics, known for its Go2 robotic “dog,” and Tesla, with its Optimus humanoid robot, are already at the forefront of this rapidly advancing field. Other global manufacturers are also bringing sophisticated human-like machines to market.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang highlighted the potential scale of this sector in a recent Bloomberg interview, calling humanoid robotics “the next multitrillion-dollar industry.” Huang specifically emphasized the scalability of Tesla’s Optimus, noting its potential to be the first widely deployable humanoid platform.
Research from Morgan Stanley supports this bullish outlook. The firm estimates the humanoid robotics market could surpass $5 trillion by 2050, with adoption likely to accelerate significantly in the 2030s. Analysts suggest that over 1 billion humanoid robots could be in use by mid-century.
KOID ETF: A Gateway to the Humanoid Revolution
KraneShares says KOID is designed to offer a forward-looking investment strategy, targeting not only the manufacturers of humanoid robots but also the broader infrastructure supporting their development. The ETF’s portfolio includes companies engaged in:
- Mechanical and actuation systems
- Humanoid robot integration
- Sensor and perception technology
- Semiconductors and AI hardware
- Critical minerals essential to robotics production
“KOID gives global investors a new way to participate in one of the most transformative megatrends of our time,” said Jonathan Krane, CEO of KraneShares. “As humanoid and embodied intelligence technologies scale, we want to ensure our clients are positioned to benefit from this unprecedented growth opportunity.”
ETF Structure and Fee Details
The KOID ETF carries a management fee of 0.69%, with a fee waiver in place until August 1, 2026. As part of KraneShares’ suite of thematic global ETFs, KOID joins other offerings focused on disruptive technologies and future-forward sectors.
The firm emphasizes that humanoid robots are not science fiction anymore—they are emerging as practical solutions for labor, logistics, security, and even personal assistance across industries.
Related topics: