World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance platform with ties to President Donald Trump’s family, moved 10,000 Ethereum (ETH), valued at approximately $33 million, to Lido Finance for staking, according to blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence. The deposits aim to earn staking rewards on Lido, the largest Ethereum staking platform with $31 billion in assets under management.
Donald Trump’s SEC to Allow Ethereum ETF Staking Soon?
The transaction follows WLFI’s recent acquisition of over $110 million in various cryptocurrencies, including ETH, wrapped bitcoin (wBTC), Tron’s TRX, AAVE, Chainlink (LINK), and Ethena’s ENA. The move highlights WLFI’s expanding footprint in the digital asset space as staking gains traction among institutional players.
DONALD TRUMP’S WORLD LIBERTY FI STAKES 10,000 ETH ($33M)
THEY ARE A TOP 0.1% STETH HOLDER pic.twitter.com/fWVg0faCcv
— Arkham (@arkham) January 22, 2025
Speculation around regulatory clarity for staking within spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has intensified in recent weeks. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, now leading the agency’s crypto task force, indicated in a Coinage interview last month that staking could be incorporated into ETFs. This marks a potential shift in stance for the SEC, which previously resisted crypto-friendly measures under former Chair Gary Gensler, who stepped down on January 20 as the new administration took office.
US Ether ETF Scene
Currently, U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs hold a combined $12 billion in assets, as reported by SoSoValue. The inclusion of staking features could attract broader investor interest by offering a steady income stream while potentially lowering associated fees.
Ethereum’s ecosystem has faced growing scrutiny, driven by price declines, internal disagreements, and uncertainty surrounding its development roadmap. ETH recently reached a four-year low against bitcoin (BTC) in terms of value and has seen its trading activity decline relative to faster-growing competitors such as Solana.
Market participants are closely watching the potential impact of regulatory approval for staking in ETFs, which could affect tokens within Ethereum’s ecosystem, including Lido’s LDO. Lido remains a significant player in Ethereum staking, facilitating substantial liquidity and yield opportunities for institutional and retail participants.
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