Ethereum News Today: Grayscale Launches Staking-Enabled ETPs, Bridging Traditional Finance and Crypto Yields

Grayscale Investments has partnered with Figment, an independent institutional staking provider, to enable staking for its U.S.-listed Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded products (ETPs) and Solana (SOL) Trust. This collaboration marks the first U.S. launch of staking within ETH ETPs and a SOL Trust, offering investors access to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) rewards through regulated investment vehicles. The staking functionality is now live in the Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE), Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH), and Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL) . Figment's infrastructure integrates staking rewards directly into these funds, allowing investors to participate in blockchain security mechanisms while earning yields .

Figment, a genesis validator for both Ethereum and Solana, brings institutional-grade infrastructure and compliance expertise to the partnership. The provider has previously supported staking in ETPs across Canada, Europe, and Latin America, positioning it as a proven entity for large-scale operations. By leveraging Figment's services, Grayscale aims to enhance the scalability and security of its staking solutions, aligning with institutional investor demands for transparency and operational efficiency . Lorien Gabel, CEO and Co-Founder of Figment, emphasized that staking through ETPs enables investors to "participate in securing and processing transactions for the blockchain" while benefiting from Figment's non-custodial design, which ensures asset control remains with the client .

The integration of staking into Grayscale's funds represents a significant step in institutional adoption of digital assets. For Ethereum and Solana, staking allows network participants to validate transactions and earn rewards, a mechanism critical to the security of PoS blockchains. Grayscale's approach involves staking through institutional custodians and a diversified network of validator providers, aiming to balance yield generation with network resilience. This strategy addresses liquidity challenges by maintaining a "Liquidity Sleeve"-a pool of unstaked tokens to fulfill redemption requests without disrupting staking activities .

Market analysts highlight the potential for increased demand for ETH and SOL as a result of these developments. Ethereum's annual staking yield is projected to range between 1.89% and 5.81%, while Solana's estimated yield is higher, at 4.44% to 8-9% . However, concerns about centralization persist, particularly if large ETF providers accumulate significant staked assets, which could influence network governance. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum co-founder, has previously flagged PoS centralization as a risk, a point echoed by critics who argue that custodial staking models may undermine decentralization principles .

Grayscale's CEO, Peter Mintzberg, described the move as a "first-mover innovation," underscoring the firm's position as the world's largest digital asset-focused ETF issuer by assets under management (AUM). The company plans to expand staking to additional products while prioritizing investor education and transparent reporting. Figment's role in this ecosystem is pivotal, given its $17 billion in assets under stake and support for over 1,000 institutional clients. The partnership aligns with broader trends of institutional capital entering the crypto market, driven by regulatory clarity and the demand for yield-generating products .

The launch of staking-enabled ETPs follows regulatory milestones, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) approval of General Listing Standards for crypto ETPs in October 2025. While GSOL currently trades over-the-counter, Grayscale has filed to convert it into an exchange-traded product, pending regulatory approval. This development could further solidify the role of ETPs as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized networks, though challenges such as custody arrangements and liquidity management remain under scrutiny .

Source: [1] Figment (https://figment.io/insights/grayscale-selects-figment-as-a-staking-provider/) [2] Markets Financial Content (https://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/article/breakingcrypto-2025-10-6-grayscale-unleashes-first-us-crypto-etfs-with-staking-for-ethereum-and-solana-revolutionizing-passive-income-for-investors) [3] Morningstar (https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20251009122610/grayscale-selects-figment-as-a-staking-provider-for-us-eth-etps-and-sol-trust)