On March 13, 2026, the barrier between institutional finance and on-chain yield finally crumbled.
BlackRock, having already dominated the Bitcoin ETF inflows with over $115 million earlier this week, has upped the ante by launching the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB). This is not just another spot ETF; it is the first major regulated fund that pays investors to "HODL".
Trading on the Nasdaq, ETHB is designed to stake between 70% and 95% of its underlying Ether holdings through Coinbase Prime, allowing institutional and retail investors to capture approximately 82% of gross staking rewards. With current annual yields hovering around 3.1%, BlackRock is effectively turning Ethereum into a digital bond that pays out monthly distributions directly to brokerage accounts.
This launch was made possible by the GENIUS Act of 2025, which established the legal framework for yield-bearing crypto products in the U.S. While the previous "Spot" era focused on pure price exposure, ETHB marks the transition to "Productive Capital."
On its debut day, the fund recorded a solid $15.5 million in volume, proving that the appetite for native crypto yield remains high despite a volatile macro backdrop. For the retail investor, this offers a "hands-off" way to benefit from Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake security without the technical headaches of running a validator.
For Wall Street, it is the birth of a new asset class: the Tokenized Yield Bond. As BlackRock and Coinbase retain an 18% staking fee, this partnership cements their duopoly over the institutional crypto gateway. The message to the market is clear: the future of ETFs is not just about holding; it is about earning.
Disclaimer. The data provided is collected by the author and is not sponsored by any company or token developer. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coinidol.com. Readers should do their research before investing in funds.
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