SEC Confirms Liquid Staking Exclusions from Securities Laws

The U.S. SEC announced on August 5, 2025, that liquid staking activities involving tokens such as Lido, Marinade Finance, and JitoSOL do not necessarily constitute securities offerings.

This clarity allows institutional adoption of liquid staking tokens in ETFs, potentially heightening liquidity and market expansion for staking assets, influencing cryptocurrencies like Ethereum.

SEC Excludes Liquid Staking from Securities Spotlight

The U.S. SEC’s recent guidance clarifies that specific liquid staking activities do not necessitate securities registration. Major platforms, including Lido and Marinade Finance, are spotlighted, aligning with demands from leaders in the sector.

This update allows financial products to seamlessly integrate liquid staking tokens (LSTs), addressing prior liquidity issues in ETF structures. Experts note the potential for significant revenue generation and market expansion through these innovations.

Industry leaders have praised this development, with commitments from notable figures like SEC Chair Paul Atkins, who stated, “Today’s staff statement on liquid staking is a significant step forward in clarifying the staff’s view about crypto asset activities that do not fall within the SEC’s jurisdiction” – SEC Speech.

Market Surge as Ethereum Gains 40.40% in 30 Days

Did you know? The SEC’s exclusion of liquid staking from securities parallels regulatory clarifications seen when ETFs first gained traction, providing similar growth opportunities.

In cryptocurrency markets, Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $3,610.04, with a market cap of $435.77 billion, contributing to 11.71% market dominance as per CoinMarketCap. Notably, its 30-day price surged by 40.40%, showcasing significant volatility alongside its 99.19% rise over the past 90 days.

Research from the Coincu team indicates that this SEC guidance might catalyze broader financial product involvement in staking activities, reducing previous barriers seen in regulatory frameworks, potentially leading to enhanced technological infrastructure within the DeFi space.