GOVT vs. IBIT

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

GOVT (iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF) and IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - GOVT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond Index, while IBIT is a Cryptocurrency fund tracking the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, GOVT returned 3.87% vs -38.74% for IBIT. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. GOVT charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IBIT.

Performance

GOVT vs. IBIT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GOVT achieves a -0.11% return, which is significantly higher than IBIT's -25.48% return.

GOVT

• 1D: -0.18%
• 1M: 0.11%
• YTD: -0.11%
• 6M: -0.34%
• 1Y: 3.87%
• 3Y*: 2.83%
• 5Y*: -0.45%
• 10Y*: 0.87%

IBIT

• 1D: -2.76%
• 1M: -18.50%
• YTD: -25.48%
• 6M: -29.84%
• 1Y: -38.74%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

GOVT vs. IBIT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
GOVT iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF	-0.11%	3.77%	3.38%
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF	-25.48%	-6.41%	99.21%

Correlation

The correlation between GOVT and IBIT is 0.07, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.07
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 12, 2024	0.01

Return for Risk

GOVT vs. IBIT — Risk / Return Rank

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

GOVT

GOVT Risk / Return Rank: 28
GOVT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 29
GOVT Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
GOVT Omega Ratio Rank: 27
GOVT Calmar Ratio Rank: 28
GOVT Martin Ratio Rank: 28

IBIT

IBIT Risk / Return Rank: 2
IBIT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2
IBIT Sortino Ratio Rank: 2
IBIT Omega Ratio Rank: 2
IBIT Calmar Ratio Rank: 2
IBIT Martin Ratio Rank: 2

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.

GOVT vs. IBIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). 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.

	GOVT	IBIT	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.07	-0.89	+1.96
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.62	-1.23	+2.84
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	0.86	+0.32
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.36	-0.79	+2.15
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	4.01	-1.36	+5.37
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GOVT vs. IBIT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GOVT Sharpe Ratio is 1.07, which is higher than the IBIT Sharpe Ratio of -0.89. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GOVT and IBIT, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GOVT	IBIT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.07	-0.89	+1.96
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.08	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.17	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.26	0.30	-0.04

Drawdowns

GOVT vs. IBIT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GOVT drawdown since its inception was -19.07%, smaller than the maximum IBIT drawdown of -49.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GOVT and IBIT.

Drawdown Indicators

	GOVT	IBIT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-19.07%	-49.36%	+30.29%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.85%	-49.36%	+46.51%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-5.43%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.60%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-19.07%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.17%	-48.10%	+40.93%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.25%	-16.02%	+10.77%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.97%	28.44%	-27.47%

Volatility

GOVT vs. IBIT - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) is 1.09%, while iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has a volatility of 9.50%. This indicates that GOVT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IBIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	GOVT	IBIT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.09%	9.50%	-8.41%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.51%	34.44%	-31.93%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.63%	43.73%	-40.10%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.04%	50.19%	-44.15%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.22%	50.19%	-44.97%

GOVT vs. IBIT - Expense Ratio Comparison

GOVT has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than IBIT's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

GOVT vs. IBIT - Dividend Comparison

GOVT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.59%, while IBIT has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
GOVT iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF	3.59%	3.49%	3.14%	2.65%	1.77%	0.96%	2.17%	1.98%	1.97%	1.57%	1.40%	1.25%
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both GOVT and IBIT in my portfolio?

GOVT and IBIT have a correlation of 0.07, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, GOVT or IBIT?

IBIT has higher volatility (9.50%) compared to GOVT (1.09%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GOVT dropped -19.07% vs IBIT's -49.36%.

Which ETF is better, GOVT or IBIT?

On 1-year performance, GOVT leads with 3.87% vs -38.74% for IBIT. On fees, GOVT is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, GOVT has been the lower-risk option at 1.09%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, GOVT or IBIT?

Over the 1-year period, GOVT has performed better with a 3.87% return vs -38.74%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, GOVT or IBIT?

GOVT is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IBIT.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, GOVT or IBIT?

GOVT has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.00% for IBIT.

What is the main difference between GOVT and IBIT?

GOVT is categorized as Government Bonds, while IBIT is Cryptocurrency. GOVT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond Index, while IBIT tracks CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for GOVT and 0.25% for IBIT.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

GOVT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.07 vs -0.89), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.