Defiance makes European ETF debut with UCITS version of its US AI & Power Infrastructure strategy (AIPO)

March 2026, London

HANetf, Europe’s first and leading white-label UCITS ETF and ETC platform,[4] is delighted to announce Defiance’s entry to the European ETF market with the launch of Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure UCITS ETF (ticker: AIPO).

Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure UCITS ETF
ISIN: IE000WUTBLT5
TER*: 0.69%

*The TER does not include trading costs, bid-ask spreads, or potential currency hedging costs, which may affect total investor returns.

Founded in 2018, Defiance is a leading U.S.-based ETF issuer specialising in thematic, income, and leveraged exchange-traded funds. It currently has approximately $8 billion in assets under management (AUM). With a track record of bringing innovative investment ideas to market quickly and effectively, Defiance has established itself as a first mover in several high-growth thematic categories, including AI, quantum computing, and leveraged single-stock ETFs.

The firm’s investment philosophy is grounded in identifying structural, long-term trends and translating them into accessible, liquid ETF products for investors worldwide. Led by a team of seasoned finance professionals, Defiance brings deep expertise in ETF product development, capital markets, and investor education.

Defiance’s flagship US-listed AIPO ETF, which made headlines as the first-ever ETF focused on AI and power infrastructure[5], recently earned the Best New Thematic ETF Award 2026 from etf.com. The new European UCITS ETF is based on the U.S.-listed ETF, which has accrued $250 million in assets under management (AUM) since its inception in July 2025.

The AIPO ETF aims to provide investors with targeted exposure to the companies building and enabling the energy backbone required to support next-generation artificial intelligence (AI), hyperscale data centres, grid modernisation, and electrification demand.

According to Goldman Sachs, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the US Department of Energy, the total capital requirement for AI-driven power and infrastructure buildout is estimated to exceed $2 trillion through 2030, spanning electricity generation, grid modernisation, data centre construction, and AI computing hardware.[6]

This demand is underpinned by several structural trends.

• Data centre power consumption alone is projected to more than double by 2030, reaching approximately 1,000 TWh annually.[7]
• Grid modernisation upgrades are expected to require $820 billion through 2035.[8]
• A global revival in nuclear energy is also underway, with over $500 billion in new capacity announced or under development through 2040.

In parallel, the rapid growth of AI is fuelling demand for advanced hardware, with the global AI chip and accelerator market forecast to exceed $500 billion annually by 2028.[9] Supporting this buildout, construction and engineering activity remains robust, with data centre construction spend alone expected to surpass $300 billion per year by 2027.[10]

Reflecting the breadth of this opportunity, the ETF takes a full value chain approach to AI-driven infrastructure.

Exposure is constructed across four complementary pillars:

• Power Generation & Electric Grid Equipment (50% weighting)
• Construction & Engineering (15% weighting)
• Electric Utilities & Power Producers (15% weighting)
• Data Centres & AI Hardware (20% weighting)

With rapid growth in the European ETF market, which grew by 40% last year[11], Defiance is also partnering with HANetf on the Ukraine Reconstruction UCITS ETF (ticker: UKRN) and Drone UCITS ETF (ticker: DRON). The full list of HANetf and Defiance products is below:

Sylvia Jablonski, CIO of Defiance ETFs, commented: “European investors are increasingly seeking targeted exposure to the transformative themes shaping global markets, and we’re excited to partner with HANetf to help meet that demand. This launch marks an important step in Defiance’s global expansion and reinforces our commitment to delivering differentiated, high-conviction thematic ETFs to investors worldwide.”

Hector McNeil, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of HANetf, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Defiance as the firm makes its debut in the European ETF market. Our goal is always to break down the barriers to entry in the UCITS ETF space, and allow asset managers from around the world to launch their exchange-traded strategies in a timely, and cost-effective, manner.

“AIPO is an exciting launch, providing targeted exposure to one of the most important structural themes in global markets today: the convergence of artificial intelligence, energy demand and infrastructure buildout. As the scale of investment required to support next-generation AI continues to grow, we believe strategies that capture the full power and infrastructure value chain will become increasingly relevant for investors.

Key Risks

• When you invest in ETFs your capital is at risk.
• The ETF shall invest predominantly in companies in the technology, energy and infrastructure sectors. These industries can be significantly affected by rapid technological change, government regulation and changes in capital spending priorities.
• AI and power infrastructure companies may face supply chain constraints, regulatory headwinds and project execution risks.
• Concentration in US-listed securities may expose investors to USD/EUR exchange rate movements.
• For a complete overview of all the risks, please refer to the “Risk Factors” in the Prospectus.

[1] Defiance ETFs. Data as of 20.03.2026. Approximately $8 billion in sponsored and advised assets as of 20.03.2026. Inclusive of ETF assets sponsored by Defiance ETFs LLC and advised by Tidal Investments LLC.

[2] Defiance ETFs. Data as of 23.03.2026; etf.com, 2026. The etf.com Best New Thematic ETF award is based on a rigorous four-phase process: a quantitative screening of eligible funds; a qualitative deep-dive measuring each fund’s Merit, Position, Utility, and Power; an editorial review of the shortlist; and a community vote to determine category winners. No fees were paid for consideration.

[3] HANetf; ETF Book. Data as of 31.12.2025.

[4] As shown in the ETF Database.

[5] “First” as reported by ETFGI, 25.07.2025.

[6] Goldman Sachs; IEA; DOE; Defiance research, 2026.

[7] IEA, 2025.

[8] DOE, 2025.

[9] The Economic Times; AMD, 2025.

[10] JLL, 2025.

[11] HANetf; ETF Book. Data as of 31.12.2025.