Galaxy Digital has been named an approved validator for BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB), the firm’s first crypto exchange-traded product designed to generate staking rewards, according to a Thursday press release.
Launched last month, ETHB is expected to mirror the success of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, which became a top-performing digital asset fund since 2024.
As of April 8, the fund held more than $435 million in assets under management, including $339 million in staked ETH.
The ETF will stake the majority of its Ether through institutional validators, including Figment, Attestant, and Galaxy, with staking rewards distributed to investors on a monthly basis.
“When a firm like BlackRock selects you as a validator, it’s because you’ve demonstrated the systems, the scale, and the accountability they require,” said Steve Kurz, Global Co-Head of Digital Assets at Galaxy. “That trust is something we’ve earned over years of building.”
Galaxy’s digital infrastructure division ended 2025 overseeing $5 billion in staked assets across Ethereum, Solana, and other proof-of-stake networks.
In 2025 the firm completed custodial integrations with BitGo, Zodia Custody, Fireblocks, and Coinbase Prime, and became the developer behind Liquid Collective, an enterprise-grade liquid staking protocol aimed at institutions seeking yield and liquidity.
“Staking is a core component of the Ethereum ecosystem and we are excited to enable this capability for investors in ETHB,” said Robert Mitchnick, head of BlackRock’s digital assets division. “Working with experienced providers helps us deliver that capability within the structure and standards our clients expect.”
Galaxy recently rolled out staking on its GalaxyOne platform, allowing clients to earn yield without platform commissions. The firm is also expanding institutional on-chain services beyond validation, advancing blockchain-based proxy voting through a partnership with Broadridge on the Avalanche network.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.