HOW HANETF’S HECTOR MCNEIL IS DEMOCRATIZING ETFS AND EXPANDING CRYPTO ACCESS

Few industry leaders have witnessed the full evolution of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like Hector McNeil, co-founder and co-CEO of HANetf. From helping launch the first gold ETF to leading Europe’s first white-label ETF platform, McNeil has been instrumental in making investment products more accessible to everyday investors.

“I began my ETF career at Susquehanna, where I helped establish their ETF trading business,” McNeil recalled. “Back then, ETFs were still experimental in the U.S. and virtually unknown in Europe.”

From Gold to Crypto: How Hector McNeil Became a Disruptor

After co-founding ETF Securities, Hector McNeil helped launch the world’s first gold ETF in Australia and Europe’s Gold Bullion Securities in 2004.

“I was looking at that the other day,” he laughed. “Gold was $418 an ounce back then. It’s up tenfold since ETFs were created. In a way, that’s a nice indicator for crypto, isn’t it?”

The comparison isn’t accidental. McNeil sees strong parallels between early gold ETFs and today’s crypto products. “ETFs have always been about democratizing access. What gold was to institutions in 2004, crypto is to retail investors in 2025,” he explained.

The White-Label Advantage

When McNeil and long-time partner Nik Bienkowski launched HANetf in 2017, their mission was clear: break down barriers preventing smaller asset managers from entering the ETF market.

“We wanted to shatter the idea that only giants like BlackRock or Vanguard could issue ETFs,” McNeil said. “Our model handles everything—from regulation to distribution—so managers can focus on strategy.”

MICHAEL SAYLOR’S COMPANY ACQUIRES 390 MORE BTC IN LATEST $43 MILLION BUY

HANetf’s platform allows firms to launch ETFs in about 10 weeks, providing the infrastructure, legal framework, and listing expertise that would otherwise take years to build internally.

“When we sign a new client, they often say, ‘It’s the first time my mum can buy our product.’ She can go online, buy one share, and access an asset class once reserved for hedge funds,” McNeil added.

Today, HANetf supports over 32 brands out of 145 total ETF issuers in Europe, demonstrating its dominance in a rapidly growing sector. “Europe will follow the U.S. trajectory, and HANetf will be a major player in that growth,” he said.

Regulation and the UK’s Missed Opportunity

Regulation remains critical, especially after the UK recently reversed its ban on retail crypto exchange-traded products. McNeil didn’t hold back on his views.

“From a regulator’s perspective, it’s far better for investors to access regulated products through regulated exchanges and brokers,” he said. “There are guardrails—suitability checks, liquidity requirements, market-maker pricing—that protect investors far better than unregulated crypto platforms.”

He described the UK’s earlier restrictions as “a bit of an own goal.” “They didn’t stop people from accessing crypto markets—they just pushed them into less regulated environments,” he explained. “It didn’t make the UK look very advanced.”

For McNeil, crypto ETPs represent progress, not risk. “If I were a regulator, I’d much rather have Mrs. McNeil trading through Hargreaves Lansdown than on some offshore crypto exchange in Kazakhstan,” he quipped.

Partnering With Citi and Looking Ahead

In July 2025, Citigroup acquired a minority stake in HANetf, a move McNeil calls both strategic and symbolic.

“Citi is launching its own white-label platform, competing with us,” he said. “But we’ll also be one of their service providers for capital markets and other services. It’s as much a partnership as it is an investment.”

He emphasized that the deal wasn’t about funding—HANetf is profitable—but about credibility. “The due diligence from a global bank like Citi gives enormous confidence to our clients. It’s another tick in the box for HANetf.”

SOLANA ETFS LAUNCH SPARKS SPECULATION OF $200 PRICE BREAKOUT

Looking forward, McNeil remains bullish on Europe’s ETF growth. “In the U.S., everyone from YouTubers to pension funds is launching ETFs—even The Motley Fool has one. Europe will follow that trend.”

His passion for ETFs is clear: “I’m an ETF moonie,” he laughed. “I love this industry—and I think it’s only just getting started.”

HANetf & Hector McNeil: Q&A

Q1: Who is Hector McNeil, and why is he important in the ETF industry?

A1: Hector McNeil is co-founder and co-CEO of HANetf. He helped launch the first gold ETF in Australia and Europe’s Gold Bullion Securities in 2004. He has played a key role in democratizing access to ETFs for both institutions and retail investors.

Q2: How does McNeil compare early gold ETFs to today’s crypto products?

A2: McNeil sees strong parallels: ETFs were once for institutional investors in gold, but today crypto products provide retail investors similar access. He says, “What gold was to institutions in 2004, crypto is to retail in 2025.”

Q3: What is HANetf’s white-label platform, and why is it significant?

A3: HANetf’s platform allows firms to launch ETFs in roughly 10 weeks. It provides all the infrastructure, legal framework, and listing support that would normally take years. This enables smaller asset managers to enter the ETF market, a space traditionally dominated by giants like BlackRock and Vanguard.

Q4: How does HANetf make ETFs accessible to retail investors?

A4: McNeil explains that retail investors can now buy one share of an ETF online, which previously was limited to hedge funds or large institutions. The platform’s white-label approach ensures easy access and simplified trading for everyday investors.

Q5: How dominant is HANetf in the European ETF market?

A5: HANetf supports 32 brands out of 145 total ETF issuers in Europe, showing significant influence in a rapidly growing segment. McNeil believes Europe will eventually follow the U.S. market trajectory, where there are about 600 ETF brands.