Anthropic Becomes the New ETF Dream Asset — Just Like SpaceX Once Was

Anthropic, one of the leading generative AI companies, has become the newest obsession for exchange-traded fund issuers. Since the company remains privately held and its shares are not traded on public markets, ETF providers are devising creative workarounds — launching funds that invest in publicly listed companies that have backed or partnered with Anthropic. This mirrors the wave of SpaceX-themed ETFs that emerged when fund managers tried to give retail investors indirect access to Elon Musk's private rocket company. The surge in so-called proxy ETFs reflects enormous retail demand for a piece of the AI revolution. Analysts caution that such products offer only indirect exposure and come with their own unique risks. Still, appetite for these instruments keeps growing as enthusiasm around artificial intelligence shows no signs of cooling.