Staking ETFs Defy Regulatory Headwinds as US Investors Chase Crypto Yield
Wall Street's latest crypto gambit keeps gaining ground—even as regulators sharpen their knives.
Staking-focused ETFs are quietly building momentum stateside, offering exposure to proof-of-stake assets without the operational headaches. The pitch? Institutional-grade yield without the private key nightmares that keep compliance officers awake.
Never mind that the SEC still considers most staking services unregistered securities offerings. Asset managers are plowing ahead anyway—because when has regulatory ambiguity ever stopped financial innovation? (Spoiler: never.)
The real surprise? These products are gaining traction despite macro conditions that should've killed the crypto golden goose. Turns out yield-starved investors will ignore both inflation data and Gary Gensler's frowns when APYs start with a '5'.
One wealth manager's 'reckless speculation' is another's 'alternative income stream'—and right now, the market's voting with its wallet.
Yield-bearing structures
The report also mapped two macro paths tied to US-China trade talks that could add fuel to boost ETFs offering to stake.
Under the base case scenario, which assumes talks “muddle through” and the Senate softens a pending tax provision, Bitcoin (BTC) retests its record. At the same time, staked currencies receive an extra boost from regulatory momentum.
In the bearish scenario, a tariff re-escalation pressures equities first. Yet, the report still shared expectations that staked tokens and related ETFs WOULD outpace stocks because their yield component would offset price weakness.
Data from DefiLlamastaking and liquid staking yields range between 2.5% and 3% on the largest platforms by total value locked (TVL). The average for SOL using the same data ranges from 6.5% to 8%, while Staking Rewards dataaverage yield for BNB.
Beyond the scenario matrix, the research cited a drop in the equity risk premium below 2.5% and subdued equity volatility as evidence that traditional markets may undercompensate investors for risk.
By contrast, staking-enabled ETFs combine crypto upside with a yield stream that does not rely on corporate earnings.
Nansen concluded that regulatory clarity, macro diversification, and investor appetite for blockchain yield create an opening for funds that pass staking rewards through to shareholders.
