21Shares expands crypto ETP services with BitGo custody and staking integration

21Shares, one of the world’s leading issuers of cryptocurrency exchange‑traded products (ETPs), and BitGo Holdings, Inc. have announced a major expansion of their partnership to include enhanced custody and staking services across the United States and Europe.

The agreement, unveiled Thursday, builds on an existing relationship between the two firms and aims to strengthen 21Shares’ offerings by leveraging BitGo’s institutional‑grade infrastructure for both custody and staking of digital assets. BitGo will serve as a qualified custodian, execution partner, and staking provider for a broader range of 21Shares’ ETP products listed across US and European markets.

BitGo helps 21Shares manage its crypto ETPs by providing custody for assets and staking services

21Shares needs stronger systems behind the scenes as it grows its product lineup, so BitGo will help it store digital assets safely for its U.S. exchange-traded funds and its European exchange-traded products.

The company will also introduce more liquity and trading support so that 21Shares can access electronic markets and over-the-counter trading desks easily to handle large trades and reduce delays in moving large amounts of crypto.

21Shares can now use BitGo’s staking services to earn staking rewards while keeping its assets safe, as institutions today seek profit and strong assurance that their assets are secure.

BitGo will support 21Shares as its global product lineup continues to grow, while 21Shares said it chose BitGo because of its strong compliance record, high security standards, and careful governance approach.

21Shares expands its crypto investment platform as more people seek safe, regulated staking options.

More traditional investors are entering the crypto markets through regulated products, rather than directly through tokens. This is because, for a company like 21Shares, which already has over $5 billion in assets and runs dozens of ETPs on exchanges across the globe, the need for better infrastructure is imperative.

Working with BitGo is part of a wider trend in which institutions are paying closer attention to staking rewards, as it allows investors to profit by supporting proof-of-stake networks. Institutions now want staking options that operate within regulated frameworks, where assets remain secure, and custody standards remain strong.

For example, Coinbase partnered with Figment to expand its custody-based staking and enable institutional clients to stake assets like Solana and Avalanche directly from their custody accounts. The crypto exchange’s revenue and profit slid in the final quarter of last year, following a brutal Bitcoin selloff that is still hurting crypto markets.

The US’s biggest crypto exchange on Thursday posted a net income loss of $667 million for the final three months of the year, down from a $1.3 billion profit from the same period in 2024.

Another example is Anchorage Digital, which also added staking services through its regulated entities, allowing institutions to stake rewards. Ripple also integrated with tools that help banks and custodians offer crypto custody and staking support. These examples show just how much institutions want to stake access through trusted and regulated systems.

Liquid staking has also garnered considerable interest due to the ability to earn staking rewards while retaining an asset that remains tradable and usable. This allows users to still make trades and transfers, and even use them for borrowing and lending markets. More institutions are exploring these models, driving staking innovations deeper into the financial system.

The evolving relationship between BitGo and 21Shares is a prime example of how crypto-based investment products are becoming more regulated. Rather than just offering a safe haven to store your cryptoassets and/or provide exposure to them and receive a return from staking, the next step will be to offer staking rewards alongside safe-haven storage within a strong, institutional-grade setup.

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