Ethereum News Today: Institutional Investors Turn to STRK Staking as Yields Outpace Treasuries

Anchorage Digital, a U.S.-federally chartered crypto bank, has introduced custody and staking services for Starknet’s native token, STRK, aimed at institutional investors. The new offering allows institutions to stake STRK tokens and earn an annual percentage rate (APR) of 7.28%, significantly higher than current U.S. Treasury yields, which range between 4% and 4.5%. With markets anticipating a potential September rate cut—now priced in at 98% odds—the APR for STRK staking could become even more competitive as traditional yield options potentially decline [1].

The launch builds on Anchorage’s existing relationship with Starknet, expanding the utility of STRK for institutional investors. The company, which has provided STRK custody services since January, is now enabling staking, marking a key step in its strategy to support institutional-grade digital asset services. “Anchorage Digital has a long-standing relationship with Starknet and now is opening the door to institutional custody and staking of STRK,” the company stated in a recent announcement [2].

Starknet, a layer-2 scaling solution built on Ethereum, recently introduced staking as part of its broader decentralization roadmap. The network uses zero-knowledge proofs to enhance transaction efficiency and scalability. The move to support institutional staking is aligned with Starknet’s goal to increase its adoption among institutional players while offering a secure and compliant infrastructure for asset management [1]. Currently, Starknet ranks as the seventh-largest Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution, with $545 million in bridged value [1].

The broader context of this development highlights a growing trend in the institutional adoption of yield-bearing crypto products. While traditional financial instruments such as U.S. Treasuries remain dominant, crypto staking has emerged as a compelling alternative, particularly as interest rates remain elevated. The Ethereum staking market, for example, has seen increased demand, with on-chain data showing over 860,000 ETH—worth approximately $3.7 billion—queued for staking in September [2]. This growing interest reflects a broader shift in how institutions are evaluating digital assets as part of their yield strategies.

In addition to Anchorage, other traditional financial institutions are also entering the staking space. For instance, Switzerland’s Sygnum Bank launched Ethereum staking services in 2021, and Komainu, backed by Nomura, has expanded custody options for staked Ether in jurisdictions such as Dubai and Jersey. More recently, the Liquid Collective introduced LsSOL, a liquid staking token for Solana, aiming to standardize staking access for institutional clients [2]. These developments underscore a maturing market where regulated and institutional-grade staking services are becoming increasingly mainstream.

Starknet Foundation Executive Director James Strudwick expressed confidence in the collaboration with Anchorage, stating that it not only supports institutional adoption of layer-2 solutions but also opens new doors for participation in decentralized finance. As more institutional players seek yield in a tightening monetary policy environment, crypto staking—offered through secure and compliant channels—is likely to play a growing role in the evolving financial ecosystem [1].

Source:

[1] Unchained Daily (https://unchainedcrypto.com/anchorage-adds-starknet-staking-for-institutions/)

[2] Coin Telegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/anchorage-starknet-staking-institutions-crypto-yields)