Grayscale Investments has made a major move in the U.S. crypto market by launching the first spot staking exchange-traded products (ETPs) for Ethereum and Solana.
The firm’s Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE), Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH), and the staking-enabled Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL) now allow investors to gain exposure not only to the spot prices of these leading proof-of-stake blockchains but also to staking rewards, all through traditional brokerage accounts.
ETHE and ETH, both listed on regulated U.S. exchanges, are the first spot crypto ETPs to feature native staking, following recent guidance from the SEC on liquid staking receipts. Meanwhile, GSOL, previously traded on OTC markets, has activated staking and is expected to become a fully listed ETP once regulatory approvals are complete.
Institutional custodians and a network of validators manage the staking process, with Grayscale maintaining transparency by publishing regular reports on staking operations and validator partnerships.
Before this development, most U.S. crypto ETPs did not pass on protocol-based rewards to investors, leaving potential yield on the table. Grayscale’s initiative addresses this gap, effectively turning its Ethereum and Solana products into yield-generating instruments for both retail and institutional clients.
Grayscale has already staked over 40,000 ETH, valued at roughly $4.8 billion, with its Ethereum ETPs now holding about half of all Ethereum in U.S. ETPs. Current staking yields for Ethereum stand at approximately 2.06% annually, while the new Solana staking option is expected to attract additional interest from yield-focused investors.
Peter Mintzberg, Grayscale CEO, said, “Staking in our spot Ethereum and Solana funds is exactly the kind of first mover innovation Grayscale was built to deliver,” adding “As the #1 digital asset-focused ETF issuer in the world by AUM, we believe our trusted and scaled platform uniquely positions us to turn new opportunities like staking into tangible value potential for investors.”