BlackRock Proposes ETH Staking in iShares Ethereum ETF, GameStop Plans $70M ETH Treasury

Published: 2025-07-18 13:07:41 |

BlackRock has submitted an amended 19b-4 proposal to the US SEC seeking to integrate Ethereum staking into its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). If approved, the move would allow the fund to participate in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus, generating staking rewards alongside tracking ETH price performance. This filing follows the SEC’s recent guidance classifying staking rewards as income, which has spurred record inflows into Ethereum ETFs, including over $726 million in a single day and positive flows in 11 of the past 12 sessions. Data from Dune Analytics shows more than 36 million ETH—over 29% of circulating supply—has been staked on the network, underlining rising institutional interest in ETH staking. Meanwhile, in a separate development, GameStop plans to allocate $70 million to ETH in its treasury through a new stock offering, partnering with crypto fund Dialectic. These coordinated moves highlight growing TradFi–DeFi convergence and intensifying institutional adoption of Ethereum. Anticipating the SEC decision, ETH price briefly surged to around $3,600, with analysts eyeing $4,200 as the next resistance before a potential rally toward $5,000. The proposal could set a precedent for future spot and staking-enabled Ethereum ETF products and further support bullish sentiment in the Ethereum ETF market.

Bullish

BlackRock’s proposal to include ETH staking in an iShares Ethereum ETF could enhance fund returns by capturing staking rewards, while the SEC’s clarification on staking income reduces regulatory uncertainty. Combined with record ETF inflows and GameStop’s $70M ETH allocation, these developments signal increasing institutional demand for ETH. In the short term, ETH price is likely to remain buoyant, targeting resistance levels at $4,200 and beyond, as traders anticipate approval and capital inflows. Over the long term, approval could set a benchmark for future staking-enabled ETFs, broadening access and solidifying Ethereum’s role as a core institutional asset, further supporting price appreciation.