BlackRock Files for iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF
Ethereum is experiencing a dual boost this week, with BlackRock filing for a staked ETH ETF and lower-timeframe charts indicating a resurgence of buyer control. This combination of ETF interest and improving market structure suggests growing anticipation for Ethereum's next significant price movement.
BlackRock has submitted a new registration statement to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for an iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF. This proposed product aims to hold Ether and provide investors with staking yields. It will operate independently of the firm's existing iShares Ethereum Trust ETF, offering a distinct vehicle that merges spot ETH exposure with staking rewards.
According to the S-1 filing, the new ETF, intended to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker ETHB, will maintain Ethereum in custody and allocate a substantial portion of these holdings to staking. Under normal market conditions, the trust plans to stake approximately 70% to 90% of its Ether, reserving the remainder as a liquidity buffer to manage redemptions.
Coinbase Custody Trust Company is designated as the primary custodian for the fund's ETH, with Anchorage Digital Bank serving as an alternative custodian to diversify operational risk. BlackRock will utilize third-party staking service providers instead of operating its own validators. Staking rewards, after deducting fees, will be directed back to the trust and distributed to shareholders periodically.
The filing initiates the SEC's review process, but approval is not guaranteed. A separate rule-change filing from the listing exchange is still necessary before regulators can establish a formal decision deadline. If approved, ETHB would expand BlackRock's portfolio of cryptocurrency products, providing U.S. investors with regulated access to both Ethereum's spot price and on-chain staking yield within a single ETF.
Ethereum Lower Timeframes Indicate Potential for Further Upside
Ethereum's chart on lower timeframes reveals a pattern of price grinding higher from support levels, with buyers consistently defending recent dips around the $2,700–$2,800 range. The current market structure displays a series of higher lows, signaling strengthening momentum following the pullback experienced in November.
Analyst Jelle observes that ETH "looks very eager to push higher" and suggests that the next significant upward move will be influenced by Bitcoin's trajectory. He anticipates Ethereum will accelerate its gains once Bitcoin surpasses the $93,000 level, as such a breakout is likely to stimulate increased risk appetite in the market.
Concurrently, the ETH/BTC trading pair is also beginning to stabilize, indicating that relative strength may start to shift towards Ethereum. If this pairing continues its recovery, Ethereum could potentially outperform Bitcoin for a period, with spot prices following the improving short-term trend.