Grayscale launches U.S.'s first 'staking-supported' spot Ethereum ETF

Suehyeon Lee

Summary

Grayscale announced it launched the U.S.'s first staking-supported spot Ethereum ETF (ETH, ETHE).
The launch is considered the first case in the U.S. of a crypto spot ETF providing staking under the Securities Act of 1933.
It said the launch came after the U.S. SEC approved general listing standards for spot ETFs and clarified that staking is not a violation of securities law.

Grayscale launched the first U.S. spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) for Ethereum (ETH) that supports staking.

On the 6th (local time), Grayscale said on X that its 'Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ticker: ETH)' and 'Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (ticker: ETHE)' are the first Ethereum spot exchange-traded products (ETPs) to support staking.

The Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL) also introduced staking, and if it is later upgraded and listed as an ETP, it is expected to become one of the first spot Solana (SOL) products to offer staking.

Meanwhile, Rex-Osprey introduced staking to its ETFs earlier this year, but that was a limited investment structure based on the Investment Company Act of 1940. By contrast, Grayscale's spot Ethereum ETF is regarded as the first U.S. digital asset (cryptocurrency) spot ETF to provide staking under the Securities Act of 1933.

The launch came after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last month approved general listing standards for crypto spot ETFs and earlier this year clarified guidance that staking is not a violation of securities law.

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