Editor’s note: Dividend investing is not as glamorous as picking the next moonshot stock.
But it’s proven that — if you know what you’re doing — you can compound that income into enormous gains over the years.
What if there is a way to use crypto the same way?
In truth, there is a way to make income from crypto.
Unfortunately, it is something that takes effort and knowledge of how decentralized exchanges work.
That could change … and soon.
Get the whole story from Crypto Income Analyst Marija Matić below …
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| By Marija Matic |
The next generation of crypto ETFs doesn’t just want to hold crypto.
They want to earn from it.
And, in a quiet regulatory U-turn, the SEC has begun to work directly with ETF issuers to make that a reality.
How?
By allowing the inclusion of staking in spot crypto ETFs.
That’s the process that powers proof-of-stake blockchains like Solana and Ethereum.
Validators provide their liquidity to the blockchain to help secure it. In return, they receive a percentage of the network’s fees.
Just over a year ago, the agency rejected Ethereum ETF filings that mentioned staking.
But last month, with the regulatory body under new management, the SEC issued fresh guidance.
And now, at least seven major firms submitted revised Solana ETF filings.
This group includes Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, VanEck, Bitwise, Galaxy, 21Shares and others.
Each one promises to stake SOL tokens inside the ETF structure and distribute rewards to investors.
This would be a first in U.S. markets.
Fidelity’s filing offers one of the clearest signals. The word “staking” appears 148 times in its prospectus — a deliberate emphasis to confirm this isn’t a side feature.
Here’s the revised language from Fidelity’s Solana ETF application:
“The Sponsor will utilize the services of the Custodian to stake, or cause to be staked, a portion of the Trust’s SOL with one or more trusted staking providers (each, a “Staking Provider”). The Trust will receive a portion of the staking rewards generated by a Staking Provider.”
The message from issuers is clear: They’re not just building a way for institutions to track crypto prices anymore.
They are paving the way for TradFi firms to participate in the crypto economy.
From Digital Gold to Digital Dividends
Traditional crypto ETFs, like the spot Bitcoin and Ethereum products approved last year, are historic.
But they’re also static.
They offer exposure, not income.
Staking-enabled ETFs are different. They represent a move from holding tokens to putting them to work.
In short, they capture the same on-chain rewards that crypto-native investors have long enjoyed.
Think of it as the dividend era of crypto ETFs. You’re not just owning the asset. You’re earning from it.
For institutions, this changes everything.
They’ve long been interested in staking, but operational and custodial challenges kept them sidelined.
Now, they would be able to access this opportunity through traditional brokerage channels — no wallets, no validators, no complexity.
Just yield.
Why the SEC’s Shift Is a Big Deal
With the potential to earn “digital dividends” from ETFs, it’s no wonder issuers rushed to add staking to their filings.
What is surprising, however, is that the SEC is proactively working with issuers to make it work.
The agency has asked for revised language around in-kind redemptions and staking mechanics.
That’s a clear signal: The SEC is not just evaluating — it’s planning.
This kind of technical collaboration with issuers is rare. And it suggests that staking may not just be permitted … but could become standard in future crypto ETF structures.
Analysts say a decision could come within weeks.
While some believe we could see an approved Solana ETF by late July, others believe the real action will start in Q4.
The Bigger Picture: Crypto ETFs Are Growing Up
If staking-enabled ETFs are approved, both Solana and Ethereum are likely to be in the first wave.
While it's unclear which will get the green light first — as both face SEC decision deadlines in October — the broader direction is unmistakable …
Regulated, yield-generating crypto funds are coming.
For the first time, institutional investors could gain yield-generating exposure to proof-of-stake assets through a fully regulated ETF.
That aligns incentives.
It validates staking as a core function, not a crypto curiosity.
And it finally gives TradFi players access to what DeFi users have known for years: In crypto, you can earn while you hold.
Best,
Marija Matić
P.S. Something else is converging — not just crypto income and TradFi ETFs. And it is even bigger.
In fact, we’re hosting “The Great Convergence 2025” on Tuesday, June 24, at 2 p.m. Eastern to discuss this rare 30x triple-cycle convergence.
This event is even more important if you are following geopolitical news of late. Grab your spot while you can.
