BlackRock Forces SEC Crypto Talks—Pushes Staking & Tokenization Agenda

Wall Street’s $10T gorilla storms SEC meeting—staking and tokenization now on the menu.

No more ’crypto is a scam’ dismissals—BlackRock’s muscle flex signals institutional adoption is inevitable. The SEC task force? Suddenly all ears.

Bonus jab: Watch regulators pivot faster than a hedge fund dumping meme stocks at the first whiff of real money.

BlackRock Says Ethereum ETFs Incomplete Without Staking Option

BlackRock has previously argued that Ethereum-based ETFs WOULD be more complete if staking were permitted.

Staking allows users to lock up tokens to support blockchain operations in return for yield—a key feature of proof-of-stake networks like ethereum and Solana.

BlackRock is not alone in advocating for this functionality. In February, the New York Stock Exchange proposed a rule change to allow staking services for Grayscale’s spot Ether ETFs.

The SEC has since delayed a final decision on the matter, but approval could pave the way for staking-enabled ETFs across other blockchains, including Solana.

The meeting also covered tokenization—transforming traditional securities like stocks and bonds into blockchain-based tokens.

Tokenized securities offer advantages such as 24/7 trading, faster settlements, and reduced operational costs compared to legacy financial systems.

BlackRock met with the SEC Crypto Task Force on May 9, sought guidance on staking, tokenization, ETF approval standards, and options on ETFs. pic.twitter.com/GSKgJnikq1

BlackRock already manages BUIDL, a tokenized fund backed by U.S. Treasury assets with a market cap of $2.9 billion—the largest of its kind.

Competitors include Franklin Templeton’s BENJI fund. Robinhood is also reportedly exploring tokenized securities, developing a blockchain to let European retail users trade U.S. stocks.

As institutional players push for regulatory clarity, these discussions may help shape the future of blockchain in traditional markets.

BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Surpasses Gold Rival

BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) has recorded $6.96 billion in net inflows since the start of 2025, surpassing the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) to become the sixth most popular ETF by inflows.

GLD, the world’s largest physically backed Gold ETF, slid to seventh place on Monday with $6.5 billion in net inflows.

Despite Bitcoin’s recent price dip, which is down more than 10% from its January peak, investors appear confident in the cryptocurrency’s long-term value.

In contrast to Bitcoin, gold has climbed more than $3,000 this year amid concerns over inflation, global trade tensions, and geopolitical instability.

Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted on X that the strong inflows into IBIT are “a really good sign for the long term” and support projections that bitcoin ETFs could eventually hold three times as much capital as their gold counterparts.

$IBIT took in another half a billion yest, extending inflow streak to 15 days and is now 6th in YTD flows, passing $GLD which is notable bc IBIT is only up 4% vs GLD having the run of its life. To take in more cash in that scenario is really good sign for long term, and inspires… pic.twitter.com/9HWqYxtyJ4

While spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have already received approval, the SEC has yet to greenlight any ETF product with staking functionality — something already seen in markets like Canada and Europe.

In a parallel development, the Crypto Council for Innovation, backed by major firms including a16z crypto, Consensys, and Kraken, has called on the SEC for regulatory clarity on staking.

Currently, more than 70 crypto ETF applications are awaiting a decision from the SEC, according to Bloomberg.