ARKK vs. BTC-USD

Last updated Apr 4, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD).

ARKK is an actively managed fund by ARK. It was launched on Oct 31, 2014.

Performance

ARKK vs. BTC-USD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

ARKK vs. BTC-USD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF	-10.87%	35.49%	8.40%	69.04%	-66.97%	-23.60%	152.71%	35.08%	3.52%	87.33%
BTC-USD Bitcoin	-23.54%	-6.27%	120.76%	155.82%	-64.23%	59.40%	304.57%	94.10%	-73.37%	1,324.24%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ARKK achieves a -10.87% return, which is significantly higher than BTC-USD's -23.54% return. Over the past 10 years, ARKK has underperformed BTC-USD with an annualized return of 14.27%, while BTC-USD has yielded a comparatively higher 65.95% annualized return.

ARKK

• 1D: 0.23%
• 1M: -8.50%
• YTD: -10.87%
• 6M: -22.37%
• 1Y: 51.95%
• 3Y*: 20.43%
• 5Y*: -10.47%
• 10Y*: 14.27%

BTC-USD

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: -7.96%
• YTD: -23.54%
• 6M: -45.31%
• 1Y: -19.57%
• 3Y*: 33.40%
• 5Y*: 2.82%
• 10Y*: 65.95%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Return for Risk

ARKK vs. BTC-USD — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ARKK

ARKK Risk / Return Rank: 44
ARKK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
ARKK Sortino Ratio Rank: 57
ARKK Omega Ratio Rank: 43
ARKK Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
ARKK Martin Ratio Rank: 30

BTC-USD

BTC-USD Risk / Return Rank: 36
BTC-USD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 59
BTC-USD Sortino Ratio Rank: 53
BTC-USD Omega Ratio Rank: 50
BTC-USD Calmar Ratio Rank: 18
BTC-USD Martin Ratio Rank: 1

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ARKK vs. BTC-USD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	ARKK	BTC-USD	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.93	-0.44	+1.38
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.56	-0.38	+1.95
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	0.96	+0.23
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.39	-1.12	+2.51
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	3.54	-2.00	+5.54
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ARKK vs. BTC-USD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ARKK Sharpe Ratio is 0.93, which is higher than the BTC-USD Sharpe Ratio of -0.44. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ARKK and BTC-USD, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ARKK	BTC-USD	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.93	-0.44	+1.38
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.23	0.05	-0.28
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.36	0.97	-0.61
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.32	1.19	-0.87

Correlation

The correlation between ARKK and BTC-USD is 0.22, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Drawdowns

ARKK vs. BTC-USD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ARKK drawdown since its inception was -80.97%, smaller than the maximum BTC-USD drawdown of -85.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARKK and BTC-USD.

Drawdown Indicators

	ARKK	BTC-USD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-80.97%	-85.30%	+4.33%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-31.35%	-49.65%	+18.30%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-77.23%	-76.67%	-0.56%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-80.97%	-83.80%	+2.83%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-55.61%	-46.36%	-9.25%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-29.82%	-42.00%	+12.18%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	12.27%	27.91%	-15.64%

Volatility

ARKK vs. BTC-USD - Volatility Comparison

ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD) have volatilities of 11.92% and 12.05%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ARKK	BTC-USD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.92%	12.05%	-0.13%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	27.61%	35.91%	-8.30%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	42.55%	36.60%	+5.95%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	46.37%	46.89%	-0.52%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	40.10%	56.71%	-16.61%