BlackRock's iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) begins trading on Nasdaq, combining ETH price exposure with staking rewards.
BlackRock has launched ETHB, its first crypto ETF to incorporate staking, marking a new chapter for institutional Ethereum exposure.
BlackRock's iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) began trading on Nasdaq on March 12, 2026. The fund launched with over $100 million in initial assets and recorded $15.5 million in first-day trading volume.
ETHB stakes between 70% and 95% of its ether holdings via Coinbase Prime, distributing approximately 82% of gross staking rewards to investors. The current annual yield runs at roughly 3.1%, paid monthly. The fund charges a 0.25% sponsor fee, with a promotional discount to 0.12% on the first $2.5 billion in assets.
This is BlackRock's third crypto ETF, following its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and spot Ethereum fund. Two regulatory developments made it possible: the GENIUS Act stablecoin framework passed in July 2025, and the departure of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who had previously instructed firms to remove staking from ETF filings.
ETHB addresses a key gap in institutional crypto products. Until now, spot Ethereum ETFs only offered price exposure, missing the staking yield that is central to Ethereum's economics. Staking rewards effectively act as a dividend for ETH holders, and their absence made ETFs less attractive compared to direct ownership.
The launch also arrives days after the SEC and CFTC signed their Memorandum of Understanding on March 11, formally classifying Bitcoin and Ethereum as digital commodities. This regulatory clarity likely accelerated BlackRock's timeline and signals that more staking-enabled crypto products could follow from competing asset managers.
Market watchers will track ETHB's asset growth over its first week to gauge institutional appetite for yield-bearing crypto funds. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs already recorded $568 million in net inflows during the first two weeks of March, suggesting broader momentum in crypto fund products. Competing issuers like Fidelity and VanEck may accelerate their own staked ETH ETF filings in response.
BlackRock's ETHB represents a significant step in bringing staking to traditional finance. As regulatory clarity improves and institutional demand grows, yield-bearing crypto ETFs could become a standard offering across major asset managers.
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