Ethereum ETF issuers expect staking to be greenlit soon: Joe Lubin

Ether exchange-traded funds issuers are hopeful that funds offering staking could “soon” be given the regulatory go-ahead, says Consensys founder Joe Lubin.

“We’ve been in discussions with the ETF providers, and they’re already working hard on that, so they expect that to be greenlit reasonably soon,” Lubin told Cointelegraph in reference to staked Ether (ETH) ETFs.

The Ethereum co-founder added fund issuers are “working hard on creating the best solutions” for customers to deal with “any complexities around staking and slashing.”

“I think it’s going to be great for the technology and the ecosystem because they are leaning in to enable us to — as an ecosystem — do a better, more robust, more diversified job,” he said. “I think it’s going to lead to greater client diversity as well.”

The US Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot Ether ETFs last year, and nine products were launched in July. The funds had a slow start compared to their Bitcoin (BTC) counterparts and currently have a cumulative inflow of around $2.7 billion.

The SEC has yet to approve a staked Ether ETF, but this may be about to change under new leadership, according to industry experts.

Around 33.7 million ETH worth around $113 billion, representing 28% of the total supply, is currently staked: Source: Beaconcha.in

On Jan. 21, the SEC announced it was creating a crypto task force dedicated to developing a framework for digital assets led by the crypto-friendly Commissioner Hester Peirce.

In a December interview with Coinage, Peirce hinted at a very early pro-crypto shift at the financial regulator under the new administration. 

“If it changes from a majority of Commissioners who don’t want things to go through to a majority of Commissioners who do want things to go through, then yeah, it’s easier,” she said on the potential approval of staked Ether ETFs.

Related: Ether ETFs poised to surge in 2025, analysts say

On Jan. 22, former Polygon financial chief Young Ko said a crypto task force led by Hester Peirce “is great for the industry.” 

“She understands the tech and is a champion for the builders,” he said. “Despite all the crap I give ETH, this benefits the ecosystem more than any other IMO. She has publicly said ETFs should be able to stake for yield.”

Bernstein Research said last month it believed that “ETH staking yield [ETFs] will likely be approved” under a crypto-friendly SEC put in place by Trump.

Magazine: BTC’s ‘reasonable’ $180K target, NFTs plunge in 2024, and more: Hodler’s Digest