Trump-Linked Crypto Platform Stakes $33M in Ether, Igniting Staking ETF Optimism

The outlook for Ethereum’s ether (ETH) could be shifting, as a bold move by World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a crypto platform associated with the Trump family, sparks renewed hope for regulatory progress in the staking ETF space.

This week, WLFI deposited 10,000 ETH—valued at $33 million—on Lido Finance (LDO), the largest Ethereum staking platform with over $31 billion in assets, according to data from Arkham Intelligence. The move follows WLFI’s recent acquisition of more than $110 million worth of digital assets, including ETH, wrapped bitcoin (wBTC), Tron’s TRX, AAVE, LINK, and Ethena’s ENA, as previously reported by CoinDesk.

The high-profile stake has fueled speculation that regulators, including the SEC, could soon approve staking-enabled spot ETH ETFs. These products would allow investors to earn staking rewards, enhancing the appeal of ETH ETFs while reducing overall fees. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, now leading the agency’s crypto task force, said in a Coinage interview last month that she is open to considering staking for ETFs, signaling a departure from Gary Gensler’s more combative stance on crypto. Gensler stepped down as SEC Chair on January 20, the day Donald Trump assumed office.

If approved, staking ETFs could provide a significant boost to Ethereum and related tokens, such as Lido’s LDO, while re-energizing sentiment around the second-largest cryptocurrency. Ethereum has recently struggled against competitors like Solana, hitting a 4-year low price relative to Bitcoin (BTC) and ceding market share in trading activity. Concerns over leadership disputes and the project’s development roadmap have further weighed on ETH’s price.

Despite these challenges, many analysts see potential upside. “ETH sentiment will flip almost overnight when staked ETH ETFs are approved,” crypto trader Pentoshi wrote in a recent post. “While I don’t plan to trade ETH long-term, a strong rally is inevitable.”

Others, like Alex Krüger, a partner at Asgard Markets, foresee Ethereum’s price benefiting significantly from ETF developments. “We’re likely to see a multi-week rally in ETH prices tied to staking ETF news in 2025,” Krüger wrote on X. “For those heavily positioned in ETH, that’s the moment to rotate into faster-performing assets.”

U.S.-listed spot ETH ETFs currently hold $12 billion in combined assets, according to SoSoValue, and approval for staking-enabled ETFs could further drive inflows. With WLFI’s bold move and an evolving regulatory landscape, Ethereum may be poised for a significant resurgence in both market value and investor interest.