On September 27, 2025, REX Shares and Osprey Funds officially launched the REX-Osprey ETH Staking ETF (ESK) on the Cboe exchange, marking the first spot Ethereum ETF in the United States to offer staking rewards to investors. Shareholders in the fund are eligible to receive a portion of the rewards generated by Ethereum assets held and staked by the trust.
Unlike traditional ETFs regulated under the Securities Act of 1933, the ESK fund is structured under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a C Corporation, allowing for a faster approval process. This innovative structure differentiates ESK from other crypto funds that have faced lengthy regulatory reviews.
This launch follows earlier filings in June 2025 for Ethereum- and Solana-based ETFs with staking capabilities. ESK joins three other crypto-focused ETFs already issued by REX and Osprey on Cboe, covering Solana, Dogecoin, and XRP.
The ETF invests directly in Ethereum while simultaneously allowing staked assets to generate rewards distributed among shareholders. According to Cboe, ESK currently manages $625,000 in assets under management (AUM) with 25,000 shares in circulation.
Despite daily gains in trading, Ethereum remains priced below $4,000, and analysts note that the ETF’s launch has had a modest immediate effect on ETH’s market value. Other issuers are still awaiting approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to introduce staking features into their existing spot Ethereum ETFs. Although the SEC has clarified that staking does not violate federal securities laws, final approvals are still pending.
The REX-Osprey ETH Staking ETF represents a significant step in bridging traditional investment products with decentralized finance, offering U.S. investors a regulated vehicle to gain exposure to Ethereum while benefiting from staking rewards.
