When most investors think about ETFs, they picture broad equity indexes or sector plays.

Few imagine corn, soybeans, or XRP.

Yet for Sal Gilbertie, CEO of Teucrium Trading, that’s the point.

Teucrium was founded on the belief that investors should have simple, exchange-traded access to the world’s most essential and often overlooked markets.

Speaking with Bilal Little on the ETF Central Podcast, Gilbertie shared how a career in commodities led him to create some of the most unique ETFs on Wall Street, and why the firm is now leaning into digital assets with the same pioneering spirit.

The Early Days: Packaging Commodities for Investors

Gilbertie started his career trading oil at Cargill, cutting his teeth in a world where prices were set by hard supply-and-demand realities. After watching the launch of the U.S. Oil Fund (USO) in the early 2000s, he realized ETFs could bring futures markets to investors in an accessible way.

Teucrium’s breakthrough came in 2010 with the Corn Fund (CORN), launched on the NYSE. Later came wheat (WEAT), soybeans (SOYB), and sugar (CANE) ETFs, straightforward ways for investors to tap into agriculture, a sector that directly impacts global food supply and inflation.

“Commodities are simple,” Gilbertie told Little. “There’s either enough or there’s not. When there’s a surplus, prices fall. When there’s a deficit, they rise. And demand keeps growing as the global population and middle class expand.”

Why Agriculture Still Matters

While oil and gold often dominate headlines, Gilbertie believes agriculture deserves more investor attention. Corn, he notes, has doubled in price three times since 2007, often triggered by droughts or supply shocks.

Advisors are starting to notice. One, Gilbertie recalled, uses a strategy he calls “wait, weight, drought”:

• Wait for corn to trade near its cost of production (around $3.50–$4 per bushel).
• Weight it into portfolios modestly.
• Drought years then provide the upside.

For investors seeking diversification and real assets tied to everyday needs, agriculture may be one of the most underrepresented asset classes.

From Fields to Futures: Entering Digital Assets

Teucrium’s story didn’t stop with farming. As a derivatives-focused shop, the firm naturally turned to Bitcoin futures when they launched.

While not first to market with a product, Gilbertie says Teucrium’s persistence helped shape regulatory precedent, eventually paving the way for Grayscale’s landmark court case against the SEC.

The bigger splash came with the Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF (XXRP), the world’s first 2x leveraged XRP futures ETF.

Teucrium saw demand among traders for an aggressive, short-term tool to capture XRP’s daily moves.

“This is not a buy-and-hold product,” Gilbertie stressed.

“It’s designed for single-day trading, giving investors roughly 200% of XRP’s daily performance, up or down.”

The response?

Overwhelmingly positive. Traders embraced the liquidity and accessibility, and options quickly followed.

The White Label Pivot: Innovation for Others

Beyond its own lineup, Teucrium now operates a fast-growing white-label ETF platform, helping outside issuers bring new ideas to market. For a firm that once focused narrowly on corn, this expansion shows how much the ETF ecosystem has changed.

“Social media and digital marketing have replaced the old model of sales teams and roadshows,” Gilbertie explained. “Innovation in product design and distribution is what keeps you alive.”

Looking Ahead

Gilbertie hinted at more digital asset ETFs to come, though declined to reveal specifics.

What’s clear is that Teucrium’s philosophy hasn’t changed since that first CORN fund launch. The firm continues to find markets investors can’t easily reach and build simple, liquid vehicles to access them.

“Energy and food are the last things anyone will give up,” Gilbertie said.

“If you’re not in those, you’re missing something.”

From wheat fields to blockchain ledgers, Teucrium is betting that investors will continue seeking exposure to the essentials, whether grown in the ground or coded into digital networks.

Please note this article is for information purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decision.