iShares Ethereum Trust May Soon Support Staking, According to BlackRock Filing

BlackRock has filed to amend its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) to include staking capabilities, potentially making it the first U.S.-listed spot ether ETF to offer native yield from Ethereum’s proof-of-stake mechanism.

In a revised 19b-4 filing submitted by Nasdaq on Thursday, the asset management giant outlined plans to enable ETH staking via trusted third-party providers. If approved by the SEC, ETHA could distribute staking rewards to shareholders—offering a hybrid exposure to Ethereum’s price and its on-chain yield.

The move signals growing confidence that regulators may soon allow staking within ETF structures, a feature long sought by issuers such as Grayscale, Ark, and Franklin Templeton. So far, none have received approval.

Since launching in June 2024, ETHA has drawn more than $7.2 billion in assets under management, becoming one of the fastest-growing crypto ETFs. Shares closed at $25.42 on Thursday.

By integrating staking, BlackRock aims to offer traditional investors access to a core function of Ethereum’s ecosystem—validating transactions and earning rewards—without requiring any technical setup or custody risk.

If greenlit, this enhancement could redefine Ethereum ETFs as income-generating instruments, broadening their appeal to both institutional allocators and yield-focused retail investors.