Nuclear energy’s revival boosts VanEck ETF with a 40% increase this year

Nuclear energy, which has essentially been on the back burner for about 30 years, is making a comeback.

“We’ve seen significant policy changes globally, and there’s now a bipartisan push for nuclear power, which is really needed,” stated Jan Van Eck, CEO of his eponymous firm, during an interview with Fox Business’s Liz Claman.

Additionally, the increasing use of artificial intelligence and the ongoing rise in cryptocurrency popularity is predicted to spike electricity demand in 2025 and 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

This resurgence has given a boost to Van Eck’s Nuclear Exchange Trade Fund, which managed to accumulate $1 billion in assets just this year, bringing its total assets to approximately $2.8 billion.

Vanek Uranium and Nuclear ETF

Van Eck highlighted that ETFs are appealing because they provide diversification options.

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“The only other ETF type available is uranium mining ETFs. While mining has its merits, uranium is positioned for potential growth in the industry. It could also stagnate due to fluctuating demand,” he elaborated.

Among the top holdings are SMR Nuscale, PG&E, and Nano Nuclear Energy.

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With backing from the Trump administration, there seems to be a strong foundation for growth, particularly after the signing of an executive order aiming to quadruple domestic nuclear power over the next 25 years.

“Trump actively supported the push for this technology. You know, they were able to bring a reactor back online last year at Three Mile Island. It’s remarkable because those words hadn’t been uttered in the nuclear industry for 30 years,” he noted.

Looking ahead, the 3-Mile Island Unit 1 Reactor is set to restart in 2027, a year ahead of the initial timeline Constellation proposed back in September when they announced a power purchase agreement.