VanEck has taken a significant first step toward launching a staked Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) by registering a statutory trust in Delaware, according to a public filing dated October 2. The proposed product, called the VanEck Lido Staked Ethereum ETF, aims to provide investors with exposure to ether (ETH) that is staked through Lido, the leading decentralized protocol for Ethereum staking.
The ETF would be a groundbreaking development in U.S. crypto investment products, as it combines the accessibility of ETFs with the yield-generating power of staked Ethereum. Unlike traditional staking, which requires users to lock up their ETH, Lido enables liquidity by issuing derivative tokens known as stETH. This system lets investors earn staking rewards while retaining flexibility to trade their assets.
Currently, Lido dominates Ethereum staking with more than $38 billion worth of ETH, representing roughly one-third of all staked ether. By integrating this protocol, VanEck’s ETF could attract institutional investors who prefer regulated, exchange-traded products while bypassing the complexities of direct staking.
In financial terms, the ETF would function like a traditional interest-bearing fund, but instead of bonds or cash, it would hold staked ETH. This structure opens the door for institutions and retail investors to access crypto staking yields through a familiar investment wrapper.
While registering the trust is only a procedural step and not yet a formal SEC application, the move signals VanEck’s intent to lead in the race to launch a staked ETH ETF in the U.S. If approved, it would be the first of its kind, setting a new precedent in the digital asset market.
Meanwhile, Lido’s governance token LDO has responded positively, gaining over 3% in the past 24 hours, reflecting growing optimism around the protocol’s central role in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake ecosystem.
With competition intensifying among crypto fund issuers, VanEck’s early move highlights the growing institutional demand for staking-based investment products.
