BlackRock expands with staked Ether ETF while rejecting more exotic crypto fund structures

On Thursday, BlackRock launched the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB), adding a staking-focused Ether ETF to its existing spot Bitcoin and Ether products that began trading in 2024. Robert Mitchnick said BlackRock will avoid more complex or exotic crypto ETF designs, even as ETHB recorded over $15.5 million in first-day trading volume and $43.5 million in inflows. He added that BlackRock is also developing a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF while investor demand remains concentrated in Bitcoin and Ether.