• Fidelity revises its Ethereum ETF application to include staking, aiming to boost investor returns.
• The U.S. SEC’s decision is pending, with a notable influence on the cryptocurrency market and Ethereum staking providers.

Fidelity, a leading financial services corporation, has innovatively updated its Ethereum Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) proposal to incorporate staking, enhancing potential investor returns. The application, awaiting the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s decision, proposes staking a part of the ETF’s assets with credible staking providers, though the specific amount remains undisclosed.

This revelation, featured on the CNF YouTube channel, briefly influenced the market, notably increasing the value of Lido DAO, a key player in Ethereum staking, before it returned to previous levels. This move places Fidelity among other major firms like BlackRock and ARK Invest, all anticipating SEC approval for their Ethereum ETFs.

The decision deadline is set for May 23, and Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas estimates a 35% chance of approval by then. This trend reflects the growing interest of financial institutions in cryptocurrency staking as a revenue-generating activity.

Delving deeper, Fidelity, in its March 18 19b-4 amendment to the SEC, detailed plans to stake a portion of the ETF’s holdings through selected, trustworthy staking providers. This could include affiliates of Fidelity itself.

The industry landscape is becoming increasingly competitive. Ark 21Shares, on February 8, announced intentions to stake part of its proposed fund’s Ethereum. Similarly, Franklin Templeton entered the spot Ether ETF competition, aiming to use staking for extra income.

Joining these players are BlackRock, Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest, and Grayscale, a cryptocurrency asset manager. This robust competition highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of the cryptocurrency investment sector.

Should the SEC not grant approval to the eight ETF proposals by the May 23 deadline set by Van Eck, each firm will need to refile their applications.

Despite recent market shifts CNF post previously revealed, with Ethereum’s price dropping by 7.63% in the last 24 hours and 17.06% over the past week, reaching $3,340, investor interest in Ether ETFs remains robust. This continued enthusiasm persists amidst market volatility and regulatory uncertainties, indicating a strong belief in the potential of Ethereum and related investment vehicles.