BlackRock Launches First Staked Ethereum ETF, Letting Investors Earn Rewards
BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) began trading on Nasdaq Thursday, giving investors the ability to earn staking rewards while holding Ethereum (ETH). Unlike earlier spot ETH ETFs, ETHB stakes a portion of its holdings on the Ethereum network, combining price exposure with potential yield.
The fund is BlackRock’s third crypto ETF and its first to include staking, joining the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which manage roughly $55 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively.
“This is about investor choice,” said Jay Jacobs, BlackRock’s U.S. head of equity ETFs. “Some investors want to combine ETH price exposure with staking rewards to maximize total returns.”
Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system allows holders to lock coins to validate transactions and earn rewards. ETHB addresses the gap for investors who previously avoided ETFs due to lack of staking, while offering institutional-grade custody, brokerage access, and portfolio integration.
The fund carries a 0.25% sponsor fee, temporarily reduced to 0.12% on the first $2.5 billion in assets during the first year. BlackRock expects interest from retail investors, advisors, and institutional allocators.
BlackRock oversees roughly $130 billion in crypto investment products, capturing about 95% of flows into digital asset ETPs in 2025. Jacobs noted that ETF adoption for digital assets is still early, with ETHB providing a first step for many investors into crypto.
