Grayscale Launches First U.S. Crypto ETPs With Staking
- Grayscale launches the first U.S. spot crypto ETFs with staking for Ethereum and Solana.
- Investors can now earn staking rewards from ETHE, ETH, and GSOL through brokerage access.
- Staking integration signals growing institutional demand for Ethereum and Solana.
Grayscale Investments has launched the first spot crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) that include staking for Ethereum and Solana. This move allows investors to earn staking rewards while holding exposure to the underlying digital assets through traditional brokerage accounts.
The announcement marks another major step for Grayscale, which manages around $35 billion in assets. Its Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE) and Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH) are now the first U.S.-listed spot crypto ETPs to enable staking. The firm also activated staking for the Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL), one of the few products offering access to Solana staking through regulated investment channels.
Grayscale Expands Investor Access to Staking
According to Grayscale, ETHE and ETH provide direct exposure to Ether, while GSOL offers access to Solana. By integrating staking, the company aims to allow investors to benefit from network rewards while continuing to track spot prices.
Chief Executive Officer Peter Mintzberg said the addition of staking to its funds demonstrates Grayscale’s ability to lead market innovation. He noted that the company’s established scale and infrastructure enable it to convert new blockchain opportunities into long-term value potential for investors.
Grayscale will use institutional custodians and a broad network of validator providers to handle staking operations. The firm stated that this approach strengthens the underlying protocols while supporting long-term network resilience. Through passive staking, investors gain exposure without directly managing the technical aspects of staking or custody.
ETHE and ETH are structured as exchange-traded products that are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This implies that they are not like standard ETFs and mutual funds in terms of regulation and protection of investors. Grayscale emphasized that there is a risk in investing in such products, such as losing the capital.
Staking Extends to Solana Amid Broader Product Strategy
Alongside Ethereum staking, Grayscale confirmed that GSOL has activated Solana staking capabilities. The trust is quoted on the OTCQX market and is awaiting regulatory approval for uplisting as an exchange-traded product. Once approved, it will become one of the first Solana spot ETPs with integrated staking.
GSOL provides exposure to Solana’s spot price while giving investors an indirect method to participate in staking rewards. However, Grayscale cautioned that the Solana protocol is still in its early stages and may experience technical or operational issues that will affect its value.
Grayscale also announced plans to expand staking features across additional products in the future. The company said it remains focused on transparency, investor-first practices, and education as the digital asset market evolves.
Related: Bitwise CIO: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana Target Trillions in Finance
Recently, Grayscale released an educational paper titled Staking 101: Secure the Blockchain, Earn Rewards. The report outlines how staking strengthens blockchain security, supports network integrity, and provides earning opportunities for participants. It also explains the differences between active and passive staking approaches.
ETHE, ETH, and GSOL have filed registration statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are encouraged to review the official prospectuses available through the SEC’s EDGAR website for full details on the offerings.
Mintzberg emphasized that this launch reinforces Grayscale’s leadership as the top digital asset-focused ETF issuer by assets under management. He said that staking is a major development of how investors can participate in crypto networks without violating regulatory laws.
This development comes as the institutional need for Ethereum and Solana is on the rise. The two networks are significant parts of the blockchain ecosystem, with Ethereum dominating in the decentralized application and Solana gaining momentum for its high-speed, low-cost transactions.
As Grayscale brings staking to mainstream investment products, the firm positions itself at the forefront of integrating blockchain yields into traditional finance. The company expects that the combination of staking and spot exposure will shape the next phase of institutional crypto adoption.
