- VanEck has registered a Lido Staked Ethereum ETF in Delaware as part of its crypto expansion plans.
- The ETF would offer exposure to staking rewards without locking assets or needing technical knowledge.
- LDO token price rose after the filing, as trading and investor interest in liquid staking continued to grow.
VanEck has formally registered its Lido Staked Ethereum ETF in Delaware. The registration appears as a statutory trust, with CSC Delaware Trust Company as the agent. This early-stage move could pave the way for wider access to staking-linked crypto investments.
Registration in Delaware often serves as a first step before filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, the registration itself does not mean automatic approval.
The proposed ETF aims to provide exposure to Ethereum staking through Lido’s liquid staking platform. It targets investors seeking staking rewards without needing technical blockchain knowledge. VanEck already manages spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, both of which have seen steady inflows.
Lido Platform Plays Central Role
Lido plays a critical role in this new offering. It allows users to stake Ethereum and still maintain liquidity through stETH tokens. This feature solves the issue of locked assets while enabling users to earn staking rewards. The proposed ETF would track staked Ethereum via Lido, allowing investors to gain yield passively.
Currently, Lido holds over 30% of all staked Ethereum. This makes it the largest liquid staking provider. The ETF could significantly expand access to staking for institutional and retail investors. As a result, Lido could see a rise in protocol revenue and broader user engagement.
Market Activity Reacts to Filing
The Lido DAO (LDO) token price rose following the ETF registration. It gained 7% to reach $1.29, supported by a 20% rally over the past week. LDO also saw a 16.25% rise in the past week and a 53.78% increase over six months. Trading volume surged nearly 30% to $158.5 million. The volume of derivatives increased by 45% to $426.9 million. The open interest rose by 6.6% to $228.3 million, which shows that there was a change in the mood of the investors.
These figures show heightened investor interest in liquid staking assets. The ETF news has become a major catalyst in driving fresh capital into LDO markets.
Regulatory Climate and Competitive Push
VanEck’s filing comes after the SEC approved Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF listing. This was after the SEC delayed ruling on Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF staking plan until July. Delaware remains the preferred registration hub due to its favorable trust laws. VanEck’s move also positions it early against major competitors like BlackRock and Fidelity, who are exploring similar products.
Recent SEC guidance clarified that some liquid staking models are not securities. This creates room for new offerings. Meanwhile, Lido is expanding its reach through Layer-2 integrations and restaking efforts. Last month, VanEck filed for a Hyperliquid spot-staking ETF as HYPE hit $55.34. These efforts enhance scalability and decentralization, making the protocol more appealing for ETF inclusion.
