BlackRock’s Staked Ethereum ETF Surpasses $15 Million in First-Day Trading

Highlights:

• BlackRock’s ETHB posted strong debut volume and crossed $100 million in assets.
• The fund combines spot Ether exposure with staking income through a brokerage-friendly structure.
• Broader Ethereum ETF inflows added support to Ether’s price and market sentiment.

BlackRock’s new Ethereum fund had a strong first day of trading, which shows investor demand for crypto ETFs with yield features is still healthy. The iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker ETHB, recorded more than $15.5 million in trading volume on its debut. BlackRock’s fund data also showed that the ETF held about $106.1 million in net assets on 12 March. That means the fund crossed the $100 million mark on its very first day.

🚨 BLACKROCK’S STAKED ETH ETF POSTS SOLID DEBUT

BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) recorded $15.5M+ in trading volume on day one.

The ETF also launched with over $100M in assets, marking a “very solid” first day for a new ETF. pic.twitter.com/TLi3Q7DtBt

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) March 13, 2026

BlackRock’s ETHB Opens With a Staking Advantage

Unlike BlackRock’s other crypto ETFs that only follow Ethereum’s market price, ETHB adds a staking element to create extra return potential. Depending on market conditions, the fund can stake around 70% to 95% of its Ether holdings to earn network rewards.

Most of that staking income is expected to go back to investors through monthly distributions. A smaller share will be used by the trust and its service partners to cover related costs. This setup may attract investors who want Ethereum exposure through a normal brokerage account. They do not need to manage crypto wallets, private keys, or handle staking on their own. Fund filings suggest staking yields may average around 3% a year. However, actual returns can change depending on Ethereum network conditions and overall staking activity.

Low Fees and Staking Income Could Draw Early Interest

BlackRock has also launched the fund with competitive pricing. ETHB carries a sponsor fee of 0.25%. However, the company is offering a temporary fee waiver that reduces the cost to 0.12% on the first $2.5 billion in assets for the first 12 months after launch. That lower fee could help the fund attract early interest and build momentum. 

The first-day figures were strong enough to draw positive reactions from market watchers. Trading data showed that 592,804 ETHB shares were traded during the debut session, equal to about $15.5 million in volume. Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst James Seyffart described the launch as “very, very solid” for a first-day ETF debut. For a new crypto fund, this matters because early trading volume can reflect investor interest, market activity, and how easily the product may trade in its early days.

Vast majority of the trading is done and we are at $15.5 million in trading volume for the BlackRock staked Ethereum ETF — $ETHB. Very very solid for a day 1 ETF launch https://t.co/5f9VeA9ivq pic.twitter.com/MpwRqeHnwU

— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) March 12, 2026

Ethereum ETF Strength Backs Price Recovery

This strong ETF debut came as broader demand for Ethereum investment products also improved. Farside’s 12 March data shows that U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $72.4 million in net inflows. Fidelity’s FETH led the day with $52 million, while BlackRock’s ETHA brought in another $18.7 million. A few other issuers also posted smaller inflows, and no major outflows weakened the overall result. That wider ETF strength added support to Ethereum’s price action. At the time of writing, Ether was trading near $2,127 after rising 2.74% over the past 24 hours.