- BlackRock introduces ETHB, combining spot ETH exposure with staking income
- Coinbase will serve as custodian and staking provider for the new ETF
- The move expands institutional access to Ethereum’s staking economy
BlackRock is expanding its crypto investment lineup once again, this time with a product focused on Ethereum staking. The asset management giant has introduced the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, known as ETHB, a Nasdaq-listed exchange-traded product designed to combine direct exposure to Ether with potential income generated through staking.
The new product builds on BlackRock’s already successful digital asset offerings. Its iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF currently holds more than $55 billion in assets under management, while the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF manages over $6.5 billion. With ETHB, the firm is now attempting to capture another growing segment of the crypto ecosystem by allowing investors to access staking rewards through a regulated investment vehicle.
ETHB Combines Ethereum Exposure With Staking Rewards
According to BlackRock, the ETHB product will hold spot Ether while staking a portion of those assets to generate yield. The staking rewards are expected to be distributed to investors monthly, though the trust states that payouts will occur no less frequently than quarterly.
BlackRock’s global head of digital assets, Robert Mitchnick, said the product aims to provide investors with a new way to participate in Ethereum’s evolving ecosystem. By merging price exposure with staking income, ETHB attempts to replicate a core feature of Ethereum’s proof-of-stake network inside a traditional investment wrapper.
Coinbase Will Handle Custody and Staking
Regulatory filings show that Coinbase will act as both custodian and staking provider for the new trust. In addition, the fund will rely on approved validators including Figment, Galaxy Digital, and Attestant, a staking infrastructure firm owned by Bitwise.
The ETF will launch with a sponsor fee of 0.25%. However, BlackRock has introduced a one-year fee waiver that reduces the charge to 0.12% on the first $2.5 billion in assets under management. The fee structure is designed to attract early inflows while the product gains traction in the market.
Ethereum Staking ETFs Are Becoming a Competitive Market
BlackRock’s launch comes as several asset managers expand their own staking-focused crypto products. Grayscale, one of BlackRock’s largest competitors in the crypto ETF market, previously introduced staking capabilities for its Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF and the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF in October 2025.
The company also added staking support to its Grayscale Solana Trust and recently launched the Grayscale Avalanche Staking ETF. Other firms, including 21Shares and REX-Osprey, have also entered the Ethereum staking ETF space, with some products expected to distribute staking rewards in the coming years.
Institutional Access to Ethereum’s Yield Economy Is Growing
The emergence of staking-enabled ETFs reflects a broader shift in how institutional investors approach crypto assets. Instead of simply holding tokens for price exposure, many funds now want access to the yield-generating mechanics built directly into blockchain networks.
For Ethereum, staking represents a core part of the network’s economics. By offering a regulated vehicle that captures both price movement and staking rewards, BlackRock’s ETHB could make it easier for traditional investors to participate in the network without directly managing crypto wallets or validators.
