BlackRock Moves to Add Native Staking to Ethereum ETFs

Reports indicate that BlackRock is preparing a strategic shift to integrate native Ethereum staking into its exchange-traded products.

While headlines referencing “82% or 83%” have drawn attention, the figure does not represent an 80% annual return. Instead, it refers to the portion of staking rewards that would be distributed to ETF shareholders.

How the Staking Model Would Work

Under the proposal, the majority of staking rewards generated by the ETH held inside the ETF would be passed directly to investors.

The structure suggests that roughly 82% to 83% of the total staking yield would flow to shareholders. The remaining 17% would typically cover validator infrastructure costs and ETF management fees.

Ethereum’s native staking yield has historically ranged between 3% and 4.5%. If implemented, investors could see an effective yield enhancement of approximately 2.5% to 3.7%, in addition to ETH price exposure.

Closing the “Yield Gap”

The move appears designed to address a structural issue that existed in the first generation of Ethereum ETFs launched in 2024.

Those products did not include staking, meaning institutional investors gained price exposure but missed out on the network’s native yield. In effect, they were paying management fees while forfeiting the 3–4% annual staking return available to direct ETH holders.

By introducing staking, BlackRock would reposition Ethereum ETFs as total-return vehicles rather than pure price-tracking instruments. For institutional allocators such as pension funds and endowments, this shifts ETH closer to a yield-generating digital asset rather than a non-productive commodity.

Regulatory and Operational Considerations

Despite the strategic appeal, regulatory hurdles remain. The SEC has historically expressed caution around staking within ETF structures, particularly due to liquidity constraints and Ethereum’s unstaking queue mechanics.

Infrastructure is expected to be handled by established institutional providers, potentially including Coinbase Prime or Figment, which would manage validator operations and reward distribution.

If approved, staking-enabled Ethereum ETFs would represent a significant milestone in the continued integration of blockchain-based assets into regulated financial markets, further institutionalizing Ethereum as a yield-bearing instrument.

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