Key highlights:
- Grayscale’s Ethereum ETFs (ETHE and ETH) now support staking, marking a first for U.S.-listed spot crypto ETPs.
- The firm also activated staking for its Solana Trust (GSOL), which is pending regulatory approval to become a spot ETP.
- Staking will be conducted via institutional custodians and validator partners, providing regulated access to yield opportunities.
Grayscale Investments has officially launched staking capabilities for its Ethereum-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs), making them the first U.S.-listed spot crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) to offer staking rewards. The move allows investors to earn passive income from Ether holdings through regulated brokerage accounts, a functionality previously limited to native crypto platforms.
The two ETFs, Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE) and Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH), operate under the Securities Act of 1933 (’33 Act), the same legal framework used by most spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. While not governed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, these products are fully registered and provide exposure to actual ETH holdings, now enhanced with staking yield.
Grayscale CEO Peter Mintzberg commented:
“Staking in our spot Ethereum and Solana funds is exactly the kind of first-mover innovation Grayscale was built to deliver.”
He emphasized that the firm’s infrastructure and scale as the largest digital asset ETF issuer by assets under management position it to capitalize on emerging investment mechanisms like staking.
Today, Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (Ticker: $ETH) and Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (Ticker: $ETHE) have become the first U.S.-listed spot crypto exchange-traded products (ETP) to enable staking, another first-mover milestone for the firm.
Grayscale Solana Trust (OTCQX:… pic.twitter.com/45963Bn9UW
— Grayscale (@Grayscale) October 6, 2025
Solana Trust staking also activated
In parallel, Grayscale has enabled staking for its Solana Trust (GSOL), a closed-end fund that may soon be converted into an ETP pending regulatory approval. If greenlit, GSOL would become one of the first spot Solana ETFs in the U.S. to feature staking rewards, adding another milestone to Grayscale’s expanding product suite.
Staking for both Ethereum and Solana holdings will be managed through institutional custodians and a network of validator partners, aiming to minimize operational and single-party risks. According to Grayscale, this setup supports long-term network resilience while allowing investors to participate in the economic activity of proof-of-stake blockchains.
A regulatory turning point
This development represents a significant expansion of crypto-related offerings within the regulated U.S. investment landscape. While products like the REX-Osprey SOL ETF have previously used the ’40 Act to offer staking exposure, Grayscale’s funds are the first under the more widely used ’33 Act pathway to integrate staking. This structural difference may pave the way for broader institutional and retail adoption.
Grayscale has indicated plans to expand staking capabilities across more of its products as the regulatory and market environments evolve. The move comes amid growing institutional interest in yield-generating digital assets and follows the SEC’s landmark approvals of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs earlier in 2024.
With over $35 billion in assets under management as of September 30, Grayscale continues to assert its leadership in developing new investment vehicles that bridge traditional finance and decentralized protocols.
Source:: Grayscale Becomes First to Enable Staking on U.S.-Listed Spot Ethereum ETFs