AI power ETF AIPO surpasses $500 million in assets in 10 months

The Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure ETF (AIPO) has accumulated over $500 million in assets in under ten months, signaling strong investor demand for strategies targeting the energy infrastructure required to power artificial intelligence.

"The AI trade has moved beyond semiconductors and software into the physical infrastructure layer," said Sylvia Jablonski, Chief Executive Officer of Defiance ETFs. "AIPO gives investors targeted access to the companies that make AI compute physically possible — from power generation and grid equipment to data center construction and energy storage."

The fund’s assets crossed $100 million in January 2026 and accelerated, jumping from $200 million to $500 million in about ten weeks. Year-to-date through April 14, AIPO has returned 29.99%, compared to a 2.35% return for the Nasdaq-100 Index, per Bloomberg data.

The rapid asset growth highlights a broadening recognition among investors that the AI build-out requires a dedicated allocation to power infrastructure. This capital influx into a niche thematic fund suggests the investment narrative is shifting from pure technology to the essential, power-intensive backbone supporting it.

A Differentiated Approach

AIPO, which was named Best New Thematic ETF at the 2026 ETF.com Awards, is the first exchange-traded fund focused specifically on AI power infrastructure. It tracks the MarketVector US Listed AI and Power Infrastructure Index, which requires companies to derive at least 50% of their revenue from related sectors.

The index offers exposure across four main tiers of the AI power value chain:

Power Generation: Nuclear, natural gas, and decentralized energy providers.
Grid Infrastructure: Companies involved in electrical equipment, transmission, and grid modernization.
Utilities & Construction: Utilities with significant data center exposure and engineering firms building AI facilities.
Data Centers & AI Hardware: Operators and component manufacturers.

The fund, which carries an expense ratio of 0.69%, caps individual security weights at 8% to manage concentration risk.

Investing in a thematically concentrated fund involves significant risks. The fund is exposed to sector-specific risks in technology, utilities, and energy, which can be more volatile than the broader market. As a new fund with a limited operating history, its performance is subject to the risks of rapid innovation cycles, regulatory changes, and commodity price volatility inherent in its underlying industries.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.