On September 25, 2025, REX Shares and Osprey Funds announced the launch of the REX-Osprey ETH Staking ETF (ESK) on the Cboe exchange. It is the first Ethereum-based product in the U.S. with the ability to stake fund assets.
As a reminder, companies have applied to launch Ethereum and Solana-based ETFs in early June 2025. Their key difference is that both products are registered under The Investment Company Act of 1940.
Unlike other funds that fall under the Securities Act of 1933, they are classified as C Corporations. This has allowed REX Shares and Osprey Funds to avoid a lengthy application period.
According to Cboe’s official website, this is the companies’ fourth cryptocurrency product launched on the exchange. The other three are Solana, Dogecoin and XRP-based funds.
ESK invests directly in Ethereum. Also, the structure of the trust assumes the ability to use the purchased assets for staking, distributing rewards to the holders of the fund’s shares.
According to the official website, the assets under management (AUM) of this product is $625,000. There are 25,000 shares outstanding.
Despite the gains on the daily chart, Ethereum is still trading below $4,000. This event did not have a significant effect on the price of the asset:
Note that the other issuers are still waiting for the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to approve the addition of staking to the already traded spot Ethereum-ETFs. The regulator has yet to make a decision, despite having issued a clarification that shakings do not violate federal securities laws.