VanEck has made a daring move into the rapidly expanding realm of high-risk digital markets by formally renaming its long-running Gaming ETF (BJK) as the VanEck Degen Economy ETF. On December 5, 2025, the fund’s board authorised the change, which will go into effect on April 8, 2026.
As a result, VanEck is the first international asset management firm to include the colloquial term “Degen” in an ETF name. This phrase is frequently used in online trading and cryptocurrency groups to define high-risk, high-reward behaviour.
The MarketVector Degen Economy Index, which focuses on international businesses that generate at least 50% of their income from gig-driven, digital-first, and speculative industries, will be tracked by the new Degen Economy ETF.
These consist of ride-sharing apps, food delivery services, cryptocurrency exchanges, neobanks, BNPL platforms, and digital brokerages like Robinhood.
VanEck claims that the redesign reflects shifting investor behaviour, particularly among millennials and Generation Z, who are spending more in digital markets and demonstrating a significant interest in high-volatility assets.
Additionally, the change coincides with an increase in risk-taking sentiment brought on by Fed rate reduction and surging inflows into digital asset funds.
With indifferent investor sentiment and about $75 million in assets under management, the original Gaming ETF had suffered in recent years.
According to industry experts, the rebranding is a clever move to rekindle interest by fitting in with contemporary trading culture.
The VanEck Degen Economy ETF seeks to capitalise on one of the decade’s fastest-growing investing themes by concentrating on online gambling, digital finance, gig work, and speculative trading.
VanEck cautions that the fund will continue to be extremely volatile due to the quick changes in the digital and “degen” economies.
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