VanEck Files for Lido Staked Ethereum ETF Trust, Seeking Regulatory Nod from SEC

VanEck Takes First Step Toward Lido Staked Ethereum ETF With Delaware Trust Filing

VanEck has initiated the process for a potential staked Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) by registering a statutory trust in Delaware, according to a public filing dated October 2.

The proposed fund — called the VanEck Lido Staked Ethereum ETF — would offer investors exposure to Ether (ETH) staked through Lido, the leading decentralized protocol that allows users to earn staking rewards while maintaining liquidity via derivative tokens known as stETH.

The Delaware trust registration marks an early procedural move and does not yet constitute a formal ETF filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Lido currently dominates Ethereum staking, managing roughly $38 billion worth of ETH, or about one-third of the total staked supply. Its protocol enables users to participate in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake network while retaining flexibility over their holdings — a model that has made it central to the staking ecosystem.

If eventually approved, VanEck’s ETF would operate similarly to a traditional yield-bearing fund, except its underlying assets would consist of staked ETH rather than bonds or cash equivalents. Such a structure could bring institutional investors into the staking market, offering exposure to yield without the need for direct on-chain participation.

Meanwhile, Lido’s governance token (LDO) has gained more than 3% in the past 24 hours, tracking investor optimism around potential ETF-linked demand.

A greenlight from regulators would make VanEck’s proposal the first staked Ethereum ETF in the United States — marking a new milestone in the evolving race among issuers to bring innovative crypto-backed funds to market.