According to @CNBC, an analyst said many ETFs compete on price, but fees should not always drive the investment decision for traders and investors; source: CNBC social post dated Jan 2, 2026. Traders should evaluate total cost of ownership including expense ratio, bid-ask spread, any premium or discount to NAV, and brokerage commissions because these costs can outweigh a low fee during execution; source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Investor Bulletin on Exchange-Traded Funds. This framework is directly relevant to crypto-related ETFs such as Bitcoin BTC and Ethereum ETH funds where spreads and NAV premiums or discounts can widen in volatile markets, increasing slippage relative to fee savings; source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Investor Bulletin on Exchange-Traded Funds discussing spreads and market stress. Actionable takeaway for ETF selection: compare expense ratio alongside average daily volume, historical tracking difference versus the index, and disclosures in the fund prospectus to minimize trading costs; source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Investor Education guidance on ETF due diligence.