BlackRock expands Ethereum staking plans with new Delaware trust

• The trust was formed on Nov. 19 under the Securities Act of 1933.
• A Form S-1 filing with the SEC would be required before the product launches.
• ETHA, BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF, has more than $13 billion in inflows.

BlackRock has taken another step toward a staking-focused Ethereum ETF by setting up a new statutory trust in Delaware, signalling fresh movement in the fast-growing market for yield-generating crypto products.

The trust, called the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, was officially formed on Nov. 19, according to state records.

While the filing does not include product documents, it adds to a broader industry shift toward staking features within regulated ETFs.

The move positions BlackRock to explore yield-bearing structures as competitors such as Grayscale, Fidelity, 21Shares, Franklin Templeton, and REX-Osprey advance their own staking plans across major digital asset funds.

Delaware trust expands BlackRock’s Ethereum plans

The new trust was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, which requires full disclosures before any product reaches investors.

This registration serves as a preliminary step rather than a full submission to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

To move forward, BlackRock would still need to file a Form S-1, but the firm has not provided a timeline.

Delaware continues to be a popular state for early-stage ETF setup because of its regulatory structure, and BlackRock has often used the same route when preparing digital asset products.

Link to BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF strategy

The trust now sits alongside ETHA, the firm’s spot Ethereum ETF that launched in July 2024.

ETHA has attracted more than $13 billion in inflows and currently does not stake its holdings.

Nasdaq filed a Form 19b-4 in July 2025 to allow ETHA to stake ETH with approved validators.

If approved, that update would introduce staking rewards while also requiring detailed disclosures about custody arrangements, slashing risks, validator selection, and the handling of locked ETH.

Staking rewards on Ethereum generally range between 3% and 5% each year, and issuers must explain how they will track, calculate, and distribute those rewards.

Growth in staking-focused ETFs

BlackRock’s move comes as the broader ETF market accelerates toward staking-enabled products.

Grayscale received approval in October 2025 to introduce staking within ETHE and its Mini Trust ETF, making them the first Ethereum funds under the 1933 Act permitted to earn staking rewards.

Other issuers, including Fidelity, 21Shares, Franklin Templeton, and REX-Osprey, have also submitted similar filings.

REX-Osprey already operates a staked Solana ETF and launched a staked Ethereum version in September.

BlackRock’s digital assets head Robert Mitchnick said staking features across ETFs could attract between $10 and $20 billion by mid-2026.

Experts now expect the next catalyst to be BlackRock’s potential S-1 submission, which would move the new trust closer to becoming a yield-bearing Ethereum ETF.

Rising market interest in Ethereum staking

ETF analysts say expanding staking options could lock a significant amount of ETH within regulated products, influencing liquidity and long-term supply.

The combination of new filings, updated fund structures, and rising capital inflows has set up a competitive race among issuers.

BlackRock’s new trust adds another step in that process, signalling how institutional demand for Ethereum staking continues to reshape the ETF landscape.