ETFs - 2026 ICI ETF Conference Takeaways

Research evidence excerpt

ETFs - 2026 ICI ETF Conference Takeaways

June 16, 2026

ETFs – 2026 ICI ETF Conference Takeaways

Exchange Traded Funds

Summary

David Cheng AnalystWe attended the 2026 ICI ETF Conference in Nashville from June 8 to 10. The

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Investment Company Institute (ICI) is a trade association that primarily focuses on the

Lemeng Chen, CFA VP AssociateU.S. asset management industry. It works with regulators to promote robust policies

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and publishes research and educational content for asset managers and individual

investors. Discussion in this year’s conference included updates on ETF share class

conversions in the U.S., tokenization of ETFs, distribution trends and statistics, and a Legal Entity: BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

panel dedicated to recent developments within the Canadian ETF industry. We highlight

the key takeaways from the panels in this report.

Key Points:

Update on ETF Share Classes. Compared with last year, when many firms were still

seeking exemptive relief, more than 100 have now received approval and shifted their

focus toward implementation. A live poll hosted during the discussion revealed that

while most issuers intend to use the exemption, the main roadblock in bringing new

ETF share classes to market is in updating internal systems, operational programs, and

legacy processes. Distribution remains another important consideration, as not all

mutual funds translate well into an ETF structure. Issuers are urged to prioritize active

strategies that are better aligned with demand from the fast-growing RIA channel.

Tokenization of Assets. The interest surrounding tokenization was clearly visible during

this year’s conference as there were four panels discussing different aspects of the new

technology.