The Best ETFs to Buy Now: Top Picks and Trends for the Second Half of 2025

2025 has been a wild ride for investors. Markets have whipped back and forth between recession fears and rallies, inflation remains stubbornly high, and global headlines—from trade wars to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence—are reshaping investment strategies seemingly overnight. In this uncertain landscape, one trend is clear: ETFs have become the backbone of modern portfolios.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are no longer just a niche product or a passive alternative to mutual funds—they are now the primary building blocks for both new and experienced investors. With record inflows in early 2025, total U.S. ETF assets now stand at a staggering $11 trillion and counting. Even more impressive, ETFs now cover almost every asset class and strategy imaginable, from broad market staples to next-gen innovations like crypto and AI.

But with thousands of options out there, how do you know which ETFs to buy for the second half of 2025? What themes and trends are driving the best opportunities right now? This guide breaks down the top ETFs across categories—broad market, growth, income, crypto, small/mid-cap, thematic, and more—while also highlighting emerging trends every investor should have on their radar.