BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) packages two return streams into one listed product: Ethereum price exposure and on-chain staking income. The fund launched in February 2026 and trades on Nasdaq, giving investors a way to access ETH through standard brokerage accounts without handling wallets or validator operations.
The structure goes beyond a spot-style crypto ETF that only tracks the market value of its holdings. BlackRock plans to stake roughly 70% to 95% of the ETH held by the fund, while keeping 5% to 30% liquid to support redemptions and daily ETF operations. That leaves investors exposed to ETH price movements while also collecting a share of staking rewards. The estimated yield is about 3% annually, though it depends on blockchain activity.
Fees, discounts, and reward split
ETHB carries a 0.25% management fee, matching the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA). For the first year, the fund includes a temporary fee reduction to about 0.12% on the first $2.5 billion in assets. Staking rewards are not passed through in full: about 82% goes to investors, while the remaining roughly 18% is split between BlackRock and Coinbase for operational services.
That reward layer is the main distinction between ETHB and ETHA. ETHA is built for straightforward ETH price exposure through brokerage accounts and does not stake its holdings. According to the source material, ETHA had a market capitalization of about $6.57 billion and recorded $18.68 million in inflows on March 12. ETHB takes the same access model and adds yield generation on top.
First-day trading and product significance
Nasdaq data cited in the source shows ETHB recorded about $15.5 million in trading volume on March 12, its first trading day, with 592,804 shares traded. The early figures point to market interest in regulated staking-enabled crypto ETFs, though the product still carries the familiar risks tied to crypto price swings, variable staking returns, and regulatory change.
For traditional investors, ETHB is notable because it brings a native blockchain yield mechanism into an ETF wrapper. Investors can gain ETH exposure and staking income without managing private keys, transfers, or validator infrastructure. The convenience is new. The underlying risks remain.