Validators have deposited 77.85M ETH—about 46% of the total supply—bringing the value locked to roughly $256 billion; the milestone boosts network security but raises liquidity and centralization concerns.
BitMine bought $105 million of Ether to push its staked ETH holdings past $2.87 billion while maintaining a $915 million cash reserve. The purchase aims to earn passive staking yield and underscores continuing institutional interest in Ethereum.
Grayscale has paid $0.083178 per ETHE share as the first staking distribution to ETF investors, reflecting Q4 Ethereum staking activity. The move marks the initial flow of staking revenue to holders of the firm’s Ethereum ETF.
ETH is testing key support after a breakout above $3,100, while on-chain metrics show record December accumulation and a sharp rise in staking deposits.
Tom Lee’s BitMine has staked 342,560 ETH (about $1B), a move that is slowing new validator onboarding and further tightening Ethereum’s liquid supply. Market watchers say the deposit may bolster staking momentum and reduce short-term sell pressure on ETH.
A bipartisan draft bill led by Reps. Miller and Horsford would clarify U.S. crypto tax rules for small stablecoin transactions and staking/mining income. The proposal aims to reduce compliance burdens and give clearer guidance for consumers and businesses.
VanEck’s new Avalanche ETF will route AVAX staking through Coinbase Crypto Services and charge a 4% staking service fee; all staking rewards will accrue to the fund and be reflected in its NAV. The structure aims to give investors passive exposure to AVAX staking yields inside an ETF wrapper.
VanEck amended its Avalanche ETF filing with the SEC on Dec. 19, 2025, revealing management fee details and a staking arrangement as it moves toward launch. The disclosure signals the product is in final preparations pending regulatory approval.
Standard Chartered and Coinbase announced a collaboration to build institutional-grade trading, prime brokerage, custody, staking, and lending solutions. The partnership blends Standard Chartered’s global client reach with Coinbase’s crypto infrastructure to target banks, asset managers, and hedge funds.
BlackRock launched the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust, offering institutional-grade exposure to ETH plus staking rewards while handling custody and validator operations. The move underscores growing institutional appetite for yield-bearing crypto even as regulatory uncertainty persists.