Investment in Humanoid Robotics Heats Up with Dedicated ETFs Launching in South Korea, Proposed in US

TL;DR: Investor interest in humanoid robotics is rising, with new ETFs launching in South Korea and a proposed fund in the U.S. These funds offer targeted exposure to companies developing human-like robots and enabling technologies, driven by advances in AI, labor shortages, and aging populations. While the sector shows high growth potential, it also carries significant risks due to early-stage commercialization and rapid technological change.

Humanoid Robotics ETFs Emerge, Signaling Growing Investor Interest

Investment vehicles focused specifically on the burgeoning field of humanoid robotics are beginning to appear, offering investors targeted exposure to a sector fueled by advancements in AI and automation demands. Following launches in South Korea, a similar fund is now proposed in the United States.

South Korea Sees Triple ETF Launch

The Korea Exchange (KRX) saw the listing of three distinct exchange-traded funds (ETFs) dedicated to humanoid robotics on April 15, 2025, according to Korea Bizwire. Managed by major local asset firms, these funds reflect increasing investor appetite for companies developing human-like machines and their underlying technologies.

• Samsung Asset Management's KODEX U.S. Humanoid Robot ETF: Focuses on U.S. companies identified via natural language processing (NLP) keyword filters, holding 20 stocks with specific weighting caps.
• KB Asset Management's RISE U.S. Humanoid Robot ETF: Also targets U.S. firms, classifying them into hardware, software, and application categories, selecting 18 stocks based on keyword similarity.
• Hanwha Asset Management's PLUS Global Humanoid Robot Active ETF: Takes an active management approach, investing in 27 global companies (U.S., South Korea, Japan, Europe) involved in humanoid robot production or key components like actuators and sensors, requiring minimum market cap and trading volumes.

The KRX cited drivers like generative AI progress, rising labor costs, and demographic shifts (aging populations, low birth rates) as factors boosting demand for humanoid robots capable of replicating human tasks.

US Firm Proposes Dedicated Humanoid Fund

Meanwhile, New York-based Roundhill Investments, known for its thematic tech ETFs, has filed a prospectus with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a Humanoid Robotics ETF, as reported by Decrypt. If approved, this would be the first U.S. ETF solely dedicated to the humanoid niche, distinct from broader robotics and AI funds like BOTZ and ROBO.

The proposed fund aims to invest at least 80% of its assets in companies considered leaders in the field – those developing commercial humanoid robots, moving towards commercialization, or supplying critical enabling technologies. The filing acknowledges the sector's high growth potential, citing a market forecast projecting growth from $2.21 billion in 2023 to over $76 billion by 2032, but also highlights significant risks.

Opportunities and Hurdles

The emergence of these specialized ETFs coincides with heightened activity from companies like Tesla (Optimus), Figure AI, Boston Dynamics (Atlas), and others racing to develop and deploy general-purpose humanoid robots.

However, the path to widespread adoption faces challenges. Roundhill's prospectus explicitly notes risks including the early stage of commercialization, potential technical and operational hurdles, regulatory uncertainties, global competition (particularly from China), and the high risk of rapid technological obsolescence.

While the launch of dedicated investment funds marks a milestone in the sector's maturation, potential investors are being cautioned about the inherent volatility and complexities involved in bringing sophisticated humanoid robots from lab prototypes to commercially viable products.

Read more about the Roundhill ETF at decrypt.co

Read more about South Korean ETFs at koreabizwire.com