VanEck Moves to Launch Lido Staked Ethereum ETF Trust, Awaits SEC Approval

VanEck Takes First Step Toward Staked Ethereum ETF With Delaware Trust Filing

VanEck has made an initial move toward launching a staked Ethereum ETF, registering a Delaware statutory trust for the proposed VanEck Lido Staked Ethereum ETF, according to a public filing dated October 2.

The product would offer investors exposure to Ether (ETH) that is staked through Lido, a leading decentralized protocol that enables users to earn staking rewards while maintaining liquidity through its stETH derivative token.

While the registration marks an important procedural milestone, it is not yet a formal ETF application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Lido remains the dominant player in Ethereum staking, holding around $38 billion worth of ETH, or roughly one-third of the total staked supply. Its liquid staking model has become a core component of Ethereum’s proof-of-stake ecosystem, providing both accessibility and flexibility for participants.

If approved, VanEck’s ETF would be structured to function like a yield-bearing investment fund, holding staked ETH instead of traditional interest-generating assets such as bonds. The structure could appeal to institutional investors looking for staking exposure within a regulated ETF wrapper.

Lido’s governance token, LDO, gained more than 3% in the past 24 hours, supported by optimism around potential institutional interest.

A successful approval would mark the first staked Ethereum ETF in the U.S., potentially setting a precedent for future products that bridge DeFi yields and traditional finance infrastructure.