The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially acknowledged a Nasdaq-filed amendment to BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which would allow the fund to stake its Ethereum holdings and treat any resulting rewards as income for investors Investopedia+15CoinGape+15CryptoSlate+15.
This acknowledgment marks the beginning of a public comment period (typically 45 days, extendable to 90) and puts the staking proposal under review for possible regulatory approval by early 2026 CryptoSlateThe Block.
What Is Covered in the Filing?
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Scope: The amended 19b-4 proposal from Nasdaq authorizes ETHA to stake all or part of its Ethereum holdings—either directly or through trusted providers—with staking rewards credited to the ETF MarketWatch+4CryptoSlate+4Crypto Briefing+4.
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Background: While BlackRock and other issuers initially omitted staking features due to SEC scrutiny, the regulator may now be embracing staking activities under its Division of Corporation Finance clarification issued in May 2025 CoinDesk+8The Defiant+8CryptoSlate+8.
Why This Matters
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Bridging Yield Gaps: Without staking, Ethereum ETFs miss out on ~3–4% annual yield. If BlackRock’s proposal is approved, it may align ETHA’s returns more closely with on-chain staking economics MarketWatch+2CryptoSlate+2Crypto Briefing+2.
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Market Signal: SEC’s willingness to consider staking suggests growing regulatory acceptance of crypto-native yield strategies—even within regulated frameworks.
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ETF Competition: Other issuers like Fidelity, Grayscale, 21Shares, and Franklin Templeton have also filed staking amendments and could follow suit if approvals advance BinanceCoinDesk+4Crypto Briefing+4CryptoSlate+4.
Broader Implications
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Institutional Investment Flows: Staking-enabled ETFs could increase demand for Ethereum, potentially driving sustained capital inflows and deeper institutional adoption.
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ETH Supply Pressure: ETF staking may affect Ethereum’s liquid supply, as ETH is locked up in validation processes.
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DeFi & Treasury Strategies: As staking returns become accessible within mainstream vehicles, it may influence treasury decisions and portfolio allocations globally.
What Comes Next?
| Step | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Filing acknowledged & public notice | July 29, 2025 |
| Comment period | ~45 to 90 days |
| SEC decision timeline | By early April 2026 (unless extended) |
| Potential staking operations begin | Post-approval |
For investors in Bangladesh and emerging markets, this development points toward regulated exposure to Ethereum combined with passive staking yield—impacting both investment strategies and crypto financial product adoption.
CentBit.Online will stay on top of updates related to SEC rulings on staking-enabled ETFs, regulatory commentary, and institutional trends within crypto markets.
