Trump-Linked Crypto Platform Moves $33M in Ether, Fuels Speculation About ETF Staking.

Trump-Linked Crypto Platform’s $33M Ether Stake Fuels Hopes for ETF Staking Approval

Sentiment around Ethereum’s ether (ETH) has been subdued recently, but a significant move by a Trump-affiliated crypto platform may spark optimism for a turnaround.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform tied to the Trump family, staked 10,000 ETH worth $33 million on Lido Finance (LDO), the largest Ether staking platform, according to blockchain data from Arkham Intelligence. Lido currently holds over $31 billion in staked assets, making it the dominant player in the ETH staking ecosystem.

This comes shortly after WLFI acquired more than $110 million worth of crypto assets, including ETH, wrapped bitcoin (wBTC), Tron’s TRX, AAVE, LINK, and Ethena’s ENA, as previously reported by CoinDesk.

The staking move has reignited speculation about the possibility of staking-enabled spot ETH ETFs, with market observers noting the potential regulatory shift could boost ETH’s price and related tokens like Lido’s LDO. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, now heading the agency’s crypto task force, indicated in a recent Coinage interview that she is open to considering staking for ETFs.

This stance marks a departure from the tenure of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, known for his stricter approach toward crypto, who stepped down on January 20, coinciding with Donald Trump’s inauguration.

If approved, staking-enabled ETFs would enhance the appeal of these investment products by allowing investors to earn staking rewards, thereby offsetting product fees. Currently, U.S.-based spot ETH ETFs collectively manage $12 billion in assets, according to SoSoValue data.

ETH staking ETFs could also reignite enthusiasm for Ethereum, whose price and ecosystem have faced headwinds recently. ETH has dropped to a 4-year low relative to Bitcoin (BTC) and has lost market share to fast-growing blockchains like Solana. Concerns about Ethereum’s leadership disputes and development roadmap have further weighed on sentiment.

“Sentiment towards ETH may shift dramatically once staked ETH ETFs gain approval,” noted crypto trader Pentoshi in a recent post. “I’ll never trade ETH again after that, but watch for a strong rebound.”

Similarly, Alex Krüger, partner at Asgard Markets, predicted a significant rally in ETH around the ETF staking news. “ETH will have a multi-week giga pump in 2025 tied to staking ETF approval,” Krüger said on X. “That’s when you switch to better-performing assets if you’re overly long on ETH.”

As regulatory developments unfold, Ethereum could see a renewed wave of interest, with staking ETFs potentially catalyzing a significant price rebound and bolstering related ecosystem projects.