Grayscale Distributes Ethereum Staking Rewards to ETF Shareholders for First Time

TLDR

• ETHE became the first U.S.-listed Ethereum ETF to distribute staking rewards to shareholders.
• Grayscale distributed $0.083178 per share in staking rewards earned between October 6 and December 31, 2025.
• The payout is scheduled for January 6, 2026, based on record-date holdings as of January 5, 2026.
• The rewards come from net proceeds of Ether staking through Grayscale’s Ethereum ETP structure.
• Grayscale rebranded its Ethereum products in January 2026 to reflect their active staking capabilities.

Grayscale has issued its first staking rewards payout through the Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF (Ticker: ETHE), marking a new development in crypto investment products. The payout reflects staking activity between October 6 and December 31, 2025. Shareholders will receive $0.083178 per share, payable on January 6, 2026, based on records dated January 5.

Ethereum Staking Rewards Flow Through to Public ETF Holders

This is the first instance of a spot crypto ETF in the U.S. distributing staking rewards to shareholders. Grayscale activated staking on its Ethereum products in October 2025, allowing ETHE and ETH to earn network rewards. These exchange-traded products hold Ether but are not direct investments in the asset.

Grayscale CEO Peter Mintzberg called the payout a major step. “We’re reinforcing Grayscale’s role as an early leader in bringing staking into the ETP wrapper,” he said. The renamed funds, formerly Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF and Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF, now reflect staking in both structure and title.

The rewards distributed represent net proceeds from Ether staking, minus applicable costs. The move integrates network participation into a passive fund structure. Grayscale expects continued growth in both investor participation and product capability.

Grayscale Expands Ethereum Strategy With Staking and Payouts

Grayscale has confirmed it plans to extend staking capabilities to more products in 2026. The firm continues to build staking infrastructure while offering investor education and clear reporting. As Ethereum adoption grows, Grayscale sees product innovation as central to market demand. The firm also operates ETH, the Ethereum Staking Mini ETF, which shares the same staking structure and reward model.

Both products deliver rewards without requiring direct wallet management. This removes technical hurdles for investors seeking blockchain-native returns. Grayscale holds over $30 billion in digital assets across various ETFs. These include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and diversified fund products. Its platform supports retail and institutional access to digital asset exposure.

Grayscale has captured the market since the start of the year with new developments. As we previously reported, Grayscale filed an application with the SEC for the First U.S. Bittensor ETF under the GTAO Ticker. The proposed ETF would offer regulated exposure to TAO and trade under the ticker GTAO. If approved, it would mark the first U.S.-listed ETP dedicated to decentralized AI infrastructure.

The post Grayscale Distributes Ethereum Staking Rewards to ETF Shareholders for First Time appeared first on Blockonomi.