First Ethereum Staking ETF Begins Trading, Boosting ETH Demand
Highlights
- REX Shares launches $ESK, first U.S. Ethereum ETF merging staking and spot.
- Grayscale prepares 1.5M ETH for staking as SEC reviews approval.
- SEC decision could reshape ETH market by unlocking staking ETFs for competitors.
The first U.S staking Ethereum ETF is listed. It marks a change in the way investors can access ETH price exposure as well as staking rewards in regulated markets.
Ethereum Staking ETFs Gain Momentum as Grayscale Prepares Move
REX Shares launched the REX-Osprey ETH + Staking ETF, trading under the ticker $ESK. The fund gives investors direct spot ETH exposure while distributing rewards generated from real on-chain staking.
The REX-Osprey™ ETH + Staking ETF, $ESK, is now trading!
With $ESK, investors can now access spot $ETH exposure combined with real on-chain staking rewards that seek to provide monthly distributions.
This latest launch continues our push to make digital assets more accessible… pic.twitter.com/sKFBwNbpPi
— REX Shares (@REXShares) September 25, 2025
The company said the goal is to provide monthly returns, similar to income-based products in traditional finance. REX has already rolled out ETFs for Dogecoin, XRP, and Solana but $ESK is the first to merge Ethereum spot holdings with staking yield.
By locking ETH for staking, these products reduce liquid supply while giving institutions and retail investors yield options previously available only through decentralized finance. The growth and income investment might be more attractive considering the estimated 3% to 5% yield every year on ETH.
Grayscale appears to be equally planning to stake its ETH once it gains approval. Blockchain data shows its Ethereum Trust shifted more than 40,000 ETH in the last week.
It could represent part of a plan to prepare 1.5 million ETH for staking. Transfers of 3,200 ETH per wallet, each worth roughly $14.6 million, suggest the firm is actively setting up for validator operations.
BREAKING: Grayscale is preparing to stake their $ETH holdings. $ETHE $ETH
They’ve moved over 40K $ETH in the last hour as they position (1.5M $ETH) for staking rewards.
They are the first Ethereum ETF in the US Markets to do so. pic.twitter.com/vSOmr0vnHQ
— Emmett Gallic (@emmettgallic) September 18, 2025
SEC Decision on ETH Staking ETFs Could Reshape Market Dynamics
The SEC’s final deadline for decisions on most ETH ETFs is next month, and approval of staking features could open the door for competitors. James Seyffart, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg, stated that the SEC has not made up its mind about staking for ETH.
Recently, Grayscale Ethereum ETFs gained approval to trade under generic listing standards, a move seen as a step toward broader staking integration. When there are a high number of ETFs that involve staking, a significant amount of ETH would be tied up.
Thus, more demand will alter ease of trading within exchanges and cause an increase in ETH price. This modification has the potential to render Ethereum more valuable in the long term. It combines institutional adoption with decentralized yield.
The development shows an increased connection between blockchain and Wall Street. The income plans are now being built into ETFs and are available to regular investors.
Previously, these plans were only accessible to crypto investors. If the SEC accepts staking for more ETH ETF issuers, Ethereum could set the precedent for future yield-driven ETF products.
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