Grayscale's Ethereum Staking Mini ETF Hits 80% Staking Milestone

Grayscale's Ethereum Staking Mini ETF is pushing the boundaries of staking rewards within a US-regulated exchange-traded fund. As of early August 2026, the fund holds approximately 839,556 Ether in its coffers, with 80.8% actively staked.

The gross staking rewards sit at roughly 2.78%, netting out to 2.61% after fees. Grayscale plans to convert these rewards into cash and distribute them to shareholders on a quarterly basis, satisfying IRS guidelines that treat staking rewards as ordinary income for US holders once received by the trust.

Grayscale's larger Ethereum Trust made history when it executed the first-ever US staking payout in January 2026, distributing approximately $9.4 million in staking rewards to shareholders. This milestone provided real-world operational experience that Grayscale could apply to the Mini ETF's more ambitious staking program.

The quarterly structure helps by creating regular, documentable taxable events rather than a continuous stream of micro-rewards that would be difficult to track.