VanEck Files with SEC to Launch Lido Staked Ethereum ETF

Highlights:

• VanEck has applied with the United States SEC to list a Lido Staked ETH ETF.
• If approved, the ETF will become the first to give investors exposure to Staked Ethereum (stETH).
• The filing highlights VanEck’s growing interest in the Ethereum staking economy.

Investment management firm, VanEck has filed an S-1 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the “VanEck Lido Staked ETH ETF.” The crypto investment company announced the move in a press release on October 20, highlighting its growing interest in Ethereum’s staking economy.

If approved, it will become the first-ever U.S. exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to give investors exposure to Staked Ethereum (stETH). For context, stETH is a token representing Ethereum staked via Lido, one of the world’s largest decentralized staking platforms. Through Lido, users stake their Ethereum and earn stETH tokens in return in addition to other rewards. So far, Lido users have earned over $2 billion in staking rewards, while the protocol has secured almost $40 billion in total value locked (TVL).

Kean Gilbert, Lido Ecosystem Foundation’s Head of Institutional Relations explained that VanEck’s filing highlights liquid staking’s importance in the Ethereum ecosystem. He also spoke on merging decentralization and institutional standards into a single entity.

Gilbert stated:

“Lido protocol’s stETH has shown that decentralization and institutional standards can coexist, providing a foundation the broader market can build on.”

VanEck has filed an S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the “VanEck Lido Staked ETH ETF.” This fund aims to provide investors with regulated exposure to Ethereum staked via the Lido protocol (stETH). If approved, it will become…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) October 20, 2025

SEC’s New Regulatory Guidelines Support VanEck Proposed ETF

According to the press release, the VanEck Lido Staked ETF will hold stETH, to track Ethereum’s staking returns. In addition it will offer daily liquidity and transparent on-chain backing. Additionally, stETH’s liquidity allows trading or redemption without delays from Ethereum’s withdrawal process. This allows ETF issuers to manage redemptions and creations more effectively in a regulated and tax efficient way, eliminating the technical complexities of staking directly on-chain.

VanEck’s latest filing aligns with new directives from the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance. The new guidelines stipulate that standard liquid staking activities, including issuing, redeeming, or trading staking tokens will not qualify as security transactions when handled properly.

The updated rule also provides a better legal foundation for products tied to staking tokens like stETH. This confirms that these tokens are not securities since they represent ownership of assets that are themselves not classified as securities.

Lido Labs’ Executive Speaks on the New Filing

Over the years, Lido Labs Foundation has emerged as one of the most active entity in policy discussions around staking regulations. Sam Kim, Lido Labs Foundation Chief Legal Officer (CLO), noted that the team has worked with many associations to educate regulators and increase awareness on decentralized staking systems.

The CLO stated:

“Through our work across the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI), CCI’s Proof of Stake Alliance, and Blockchain Association, we’ve aimed to help shape that conversation constructively and ensure decentralized protocols like Lido’s can support transparent access to Ethereum staking.”

VanEck has filed an S-1 for the VanEck Lido Staked ETH ETF, a proposed fund holding stETH — ETH staked via the Lido protocol.

A milestone moment for liquid staking and recognition of stETH’s role in Ethereum’s institutional evolution.@vaneck_us https://t.co/9P8OsS1Vtm pic.twitter.com/ofQFo2DRoi

— Lido (@LidoFinance) October 20, 2025

VanEck also filed the first ETF backed by a liquid-staked Solana token, JitoSOL with the US SEC. Notably, Jito Labs and VanExk spent about eight months collaborating with the SEC on the ETF filing. The collaboration is targeted towards establishing a framework that will integrate blockchain Innovation and traditional finance. The S-1 registration remains one of the two main procedures required to list ETFs on a national exchange. VanEck already listed Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in 2024.