BlackRock Sets 18% Staking Fee, Cuts Sponsor Fee to 0.12% for $2.5B
BlackRock will charge an aggregate 18% of gross staking rewards on its forthcoming iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, split between BlackRock and the prime execution agent. The firm will levy a 0.25% annual sponsor fee on NAV—temporarily reduced to 0.12% for the first $2.5 billion in assets for 12 months.
1. ETF Staking Fee Structure
The amended registration reveals an 18% Staking Fee on gross Ethereum staking rewards, covering both BlackRock’s portion and the prime execution agent’s share. Coinbase, acting as custodian and execution agent, manages distribution to staking service providers while the trust retains approximately 82% of rewards.
2. Sponsor Fee and Temporary Waiver
BlackRock’s annual sponsor fee is set at 0.25% of net asset value, with a temporary reduction to 0.12% for the first $2.5 billion in assets during the initial 12 months after listing. This fee is charged separately from staking consideration and is payable quarterly.
3. Investor Yield and Listing Timeline
Assuming a 3% annual staking yield on $2.5 billion, gross rewards of $75 million would net $61.5 million—an effective 2.46% yield before sponsor fees. The ETF is slated to list on Nasdaq under the ticker ETHB once the SEC approves the registration statement.