▣About First Trust

First Trust is a U.S.-based financial services firm founded in September 1991 (originally launched as Nike Securities) and headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois; it grew from a unit investment trust sponsor into a major ETF issuer and asset manager with over $200 billion in AUM.

The firm has expanded into crypto-related products — including thematic crypto equity ETFs such as the First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry & Digital Economy Fund and, more recently, the launch of its first Bitcoin strategy ETFs announced in April 2025 (with related SEC filings for Bitcoin strategy funds).

Leadership is led by CEO James A. (Jim) Bowen, who bought the firm in 2010 and remains an owner-operator of the privately held company; the firm’s senior team includes public-facing investment professionals such as Chief Economist Brian Wesbury.