- Cboe BZX Exchange filed to allow Ethereum staking in the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF, marking a first for U.S. ETFs.
- The SEC’s stance on crypto is shifting under the Trump administration, with a new task force reviewing token classifications.
- If approved, this could set a precedent for staking in ETFs, opening up new opportunities for institutional investors.
Big move in the ETF world—Cboe BZX Exchange just filed to allow Ethereum staking in the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF. If approved, this would be the first U.S. ETF to integrate staking, marking a major shift in the crypto investment landscape.
SEC Filing: Staking Could Be Coming to U.S. Ethereum ETFs
The filing, submitted as a Form 19b-4, was made public on Wednesday afternoon, outlining proposed amendments to allow staking for ETH held by the Trust.
“Based on discussions with the Sponsor, the Exchange proposes to amend several portions… to allow the staking of Ethereum,” the document states.
Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst James Seyffart was quick to point out that this is the first known ETF filing to include staking, making it a landmark moment for regulated crypto funds.
Will the SEC Greenlight It?
This move comes at a pivotal time. The SEC under Trump’s administration is expected to take a friendlier stance on crypto, having already formed a crypto task force to reclassify certain tokens as non-securities.
- The SEC previously forced firms to remove staking from their filings under ex-Chair Gary Gensler, who labeled proof-of-stake tokens as securities.
- With regulatory shifts happening, some analysts believe the SEC may approve staking in ETFs, but it’s still uncertain.
“Assuming this is acknowledged by the SEC (I’d probably make that assumption right now but you never know),” Seyffart posted on X.
The Bigger Picture: A Changing Crypto Regulatory Landscape
The 21Shares Ethereum ETF was approved last year alongside offerings from BlackRock and Fidelity, but staking was left out at the time.
Now? The tides might be turning. If this amendment goes through, it could set a precedent for future crypto ETFs, unlocking staking rewards for institutional investors—something that wasn’t possible before.
Bottom line? This could be a game-changer for Ethereum-based investment products, but all eyes are on the SEC’s next move.
