In his latest statement, US Treasury Secretary Bessent spoke on a topic concerning cryptocurrencies:
The US Treasury Department and the IRS have issued new guidance for crypto ETFs. This step clearly paves the way for open staking and reward distribution to individual investors.
The new safe harbor principles announced by Bessent pave the way for trusts and institutional products to legally stake on permissionless Proof-of-Stake networks.
The regulation is considered a critical turning point, particularly for crypto ETFs and trusts.
According to the new guidance, there are five key requirements for a trust to engage in staking. These instruments can only hold a single type of digital asset and cash. All staking transactions must be conducted by a qualified custodian. Furthermore, SEC-approved liquidity policies are implemented to ensure that investor withdrawals proceed smoothly, even when assets are staked. Trusts must maintain a close relationship with independent staking providers and limit their activities to holding assets, staking, and meeting investor demands.
This framework is expected to have a significant impact. Previous legal uncertainties have made ETF issuers, custodians, and portfolio managers hesitant to integrate staking revenue into their products. The regulation, published as Revenue Procedure 2025-31, provides clarity on both tax and compliance issues surrounding staking, effectively removing this obstacle.
According to experts, this move will make it easier for regulated financial institutions to conduct staking on behalf of investors. This is expected to increase staking participation, network liquidity, and decentralization. The statement positions staking returns as a “prudent and legitimate revenue model” and provides a framework to accelerate its adoption in institutional products.
*This is not investment advice.