Lucía Peña
REX Shares and Osprey Funds have officially introduced the first Ethereum staking ETF in the United States, marking a major step forward in crypto-focused investment products.
Trading under the ticker ESK, the fund is structured under the Investment Company Act of 1940, making it the first U.S. ETF to offer direct spot Ethereum exposure through this framework. Investors not only gain cost-efficient access to Ethereum, but also enjoy the added benefit of ETH staking, which distributes rewards on a monthly basis by participating in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system.
Regulatory Context
The timing of this launch is notable. Just weeks earlier, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delayed decisions on applications from BlackRock, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton that aim to introduce staking features to their Ethereum ETFs. Currently, spot Ethereum ETFs in the U.S. oversee nearly $25 billion in assets, with BlackRock’s ETHA leading the pack. Industry giants continue to push for staking integration to enhance returns for their investors.
Building on Solana and Dogecoin Success
This isn’t the first groundbreaking product from REX Shares and Osprey Funds. The firms previously launched SSK, the first U.S. Solana ETF with staking distributions, and even rolled out the first Dogecoin ETF just last week. Both products were also registered under the 1940 Act, giving the companies a regulatory edge compared to rivals pursuing different routes.
What’s Next: BNB on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the firms are preparing for another potential milestone. In August, they submitted a filing to the SEC to register the first U.S. spot BNB ETF, which, like their Ethereum and Solana products, would also include a staking component.
