Ethereum Staking ETFs Coming By 2025, Says Lido Institutional Head?

As Ethereum struggles with competition from Bitcoin and Solana, the introduction of staking-enabled ETFs could reignite institutional interest.
In a significant development for the cryptocurrency market, Kean Gilbert, Institutional Relations Contributor to Lido DAO, revealed at the Digital Assets Forum in London earlier this month that Ethereum staking-enabled ETFs could become a reality by the end of 2025. The announcement from a key figure at Lido, the largest liquid staking protocol in the Ethereum ecosystem managing over $25 billion in staked assets, potentially signals a transformative shift in the institutional investment landscape for the second-largest cryptocurrency.
Ethereum and Staking: The Institutional Gap
The prediction comes at a crucial time for Ethereum, which has faced mounting challenges in recent months. Bitcoin ETFs have dominated institutional inflows, compared to the Ethereum ETFs’ more modest success.
"The current inability to stake ETF-held Ethereum represents a significant opportunity cost for institutional investors," Gilbert explained. "We're seeing strong demand for solutions that combine the regulatory clarity of ETFs with the yield-generating capabilities of Ethereum staking."
The stakes are particularly high given Ethereum’s recent market performance. The cryptocurrency has been caught between Bitcoin’s strengthening "digital gold" narrative and Solana’s growing popularity as a smart contract platform. Ethereum’s price currently hovers around $2700, while Bitcoin maintains its position near $97,000. The Ethereum community has been split, with founder Vitalik Buterin making controversial statements on Twitter.
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