BlackRock Moves Closer to Adding Staking to Ethereum ETF, Laying the Groundwork for a New Growth Phase for the Market
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has just made a major move in its journey to digital finance innovation: it filed an amendment with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to add a staking feature to its Ethereum ETF (ETHA). If approved, this would be the first Ethereum ETF in the US to offer staking rewards to investors, a departure from the traditional approach to digital assets.
Soon after the filing, Nasdaq also proposed a rule change that would allow ETHA to participate in staking a portion of its Ethereum holdings. This collaboration reflects the strategic and serious will from both BlackRock and its exchange partners to realize an Ethereum ETF with a principal return, rather than simply tracking price fluctuations.
BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF Leads in Flows
According to data from SoSoValue, since its launch, BlackRock’s ETHA has quickly risen to the top of all Ethereum spot ETFs in the United States. On July 16, ETHA recorded a net inflow of $499 million, the highest single-day inflow among all ETH spot ETFs.
As of now, ETHA has $7.9 billion in assets under management, equivalent to over 2.02 million ETH. In June alone, BlackRock added approximately $656 million in Ethereum to its portfolio, making it the largest ETH holder outside of the Ethereum Foundation.
Staking: Adding Value to Investors and Tightening Supply
The addition of staking to the ETF will allow ETHA to participate in validating the Ethereum network and receive staking rewards, which typically range from 3–5% annually. This would transform ETHA from a purely price-tracking investment vehicle into a digital fund capable of generating recurring returns, similar to dividend stocks or interest-bearing bonds.
In addition to providing financial benefits to investors, staking also reduces the circulating supply of ETH as the majority of tokens staked will be locked in smart contracts. This increases scarcity, creating deflationary pressure on Ethereum, which is expected to increase the long-term value of the asset.
A New Milestone for the US Cryptocurrency ETF Market
To date, the SEC has not approved any crypto ETFs that incorporate staking. However, BlackRock’s pioneering move and a parallel proposal from Nasdaq could pave the way for the first approval, setting an important precedent for other organizations such as Grayscale or Franklin Templeton, which are also preparing similar products.
If green-lighted, ETHA will not only become an investment tool that brings passive profits to investors, but also a bridge to help the flow of money from pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors pour into the crypto market through a legal and effective channel.
Ethereum Facing a New Growth Phase
In the context of Ethereum price fluctuating around $ 3,400, ETF capital inflows continue to increase, and the amount of ETH on exchanges continues to decrease, the addition of staking could be a key catalyst to trigger a new wave of growth for Ethereum. It not only strengthens the role of ETH as a strategic digital asset, but also elevates it as a comprehensive financial investment tool for the traditional financial community.
The whole market is currently watching the decision from the SEC, which could reshape the future of digital asset ETFs in the US. If approved, Ethereum could not only gain wider recognition, but could also become the first “digital bond,” offering both growth and yield, an opportunity that institutional investors would find hard to ignore.