The line between decentralized finance and traditional markets is blurring faster than ever.
VanEck has submitted a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a new exchange-traded fund tied to Lido’s staked Ether (stETH), marking what could become the first U.S. ETF linked to Ethereum’s liquid staking ecosystem.
The proposed fund, called the VanEck Lido Staked ETH ETF, is built to replicate Ethereum’s staking yields while maintaining daily liquidity. Instead of locking ETH directly, it would hold stETH, the liquid token issued by the Lido protocol, allowing investors to access staking rewards without the usual withdrawal delays.
Bridging On-Chain Yield With Regulated Finance
VanEck’s move reflects a growing effort to merge blockchain yield generation with traditional investment products. The firm emphasized that stETH is supported by audited smart contracts, strong secondary-market liquidity, and integrations with leading custodians. If approved, the ETF would provide institutions a tax-efficient, compliant gateway to Ethereum’s staking economy.
“The filing shows that liquid staking has matured into a key pillar of Ethereum,” said Kean Gilbert, Head of Institutional Relations at Lido Ecosystem Foundation. Lido currently secures nearly $40 billion in assets and has distributed over $2 billion in rewards since launch.
Regulatory Momentum Meets Bureaucratic Delays
VanEck’s submission follows the SEC’s recent clarification that liquid staking tokens such as stETH do not qualify as securities when managed within administrative boundaries—paving the way for products like this ETF.
However, progress may be slow. The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has delayed multiple crypto ETF reviews, including those tied to XRP, Ethereum, and leveraged altcoin products. Analysts expect a surge in approvals once operations resume, potentially reigniting trading volumes across digital assets.
Global Institutions Join the Staking Wave
Staking interest is spreading worldwide. Sygnum Bank Middle East has launched a regulated validator platform in Abu Dhabi, while a16z’s Jito investment and Blockdaemon’s Earn Stack are expanding liquid staking and validator services. Meanwhile, Charles Schwab reported that one in five of its clients now holds crypto ETFs, reflecting the rapid institutionalization of blockchain-based yield.
If regulators greenlight VanEck’s proposal, Ethereum staking could soon find its way onto Wall Street’s trading screens—bringing liquid staking into the financial mainstream.
