The US Approves the First Crypto ETFs with Staking: How This Will Change the Market
Date: 2025-10-07 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: CRYPTO PAYMENTS
Grayscale Investments announced the launch of the first-ever US-based cryptocurrency spot ETFs with staking capabilities. The new products—the Ethereum Trust ETF (ticker ETHE) and the Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ticker ETH)—allow investors to earn income by staking their assets on the Ethereum network.
Until now, US spot ETFs, including those from giants like BlackRock, held 5.6% of the total Ethereum supply (approximately $30.5 billion according to Sosovalue as of October 6), but these assets remained unused and unprofitable for their holders. The lack of staking has long hindered investment in cryptocurrency funds, especially compared to similar Bitcoin-based structures.
The SEC's decision to allow Grayscale to enable staking sets an important precedent. The regulator has previously avoided approving such initiatives, and this move could be a turning point for the entire crypto market.
In addition to Ethereum, the company also added staking functionality to its Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL). Although this fund is not a traditional ETF and is not traded on exchanges, it has become the foundation for further expansion of Grayscale's product line, which includes existing Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
Investors will be able to earn staking rewards without having to operate network nodes themselves: the company plans to utilize a network of institutional partners and validators, making the process completely passive.
Staking is a mechanism whereby users lock up their crypto assets to participate in the network and receive rewards in the form of newly minted coins. Unlike mining, which requires hardware and significant energy consumption, the PoS model allows for income generation simply by holding assets.
According to analyst Steven Zheng, the lack of staking previously raised investor doubts about Ethereum's appeal as an investment vehicle. Now, however, ETFs with staking could strengthen the cryptocurrency's position and increase institutional confidence.
Converting the current ETH volumes managed by ETFs into potential returns, we can expect approximately 4% per annum, corresponding to approximately $1.2 billion in potential profits for issuers. Solana's staking returns reach 7% per annum, and Grayscale's $122.5 million in assets are capable of generating approximately $8.5 million in passive income annually.
Grayscale is once again an innovator: it was the company that previously secured a court ruling compelling the SEC to reconsider its denial of a spot Bitcoin ETF. Now, it is the first to offer US investors the opportunity to earn staking income through exchange-traded products on Ethereum and Solana—a move that could mark a new stage in the institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies.
