ConsenSys CEO Joseph Lubin Is Hopeful of Regulatory Approval Soon for Staking Features on ETH ETFs

The lack of staking features in the Ethereum ETFs launched last year left many investors disappointed.

ConsenSys CEO Joseph Lubin has expressed optimism regarding the potential approval of staking features on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the performance of Ethereum (ETH). In a recent interview, Lubin stated that he is hopeful that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will grant approval for such integration in the near future.

Despite the launch of several Ethereum ETFs in 2023, the absence of staking features left many investors feeling underwhelmed. According to analysts, the lack of staking options, which could have driven greater adoption of these products, contributed to their poor performance. However, the decision to approve such integration lies with the SEC.

The SEC has undergone significant changes in recent months, which may explain Lubin’s optimism. Following the departure of Gary Gensler and Jamie Lizarraga, a new task force has been established within the SEC, with Hester Pierce serving as the acting chair. Crypto industry members are hopeful about Pierce’s leadership, given her past statements. In December, the new SEC leader expressed optimism that regulatory agencies would take a kinder approach to the crypto industry under the new administration.

Before the SEC approved the first batch of ETH ETFs in 2023, Lubin noticed a political angle in the structure of the ETFs. The ConsenSys CEO pointed to a campaign strategy employed by Donald Trump’s team in the lead-up to last year’s election, which involved making promises and commitments. He anticipates that these will now be fulfilled as the administration takes control of national affairs.

ConsenSys CEO Expects Pressure on SEC

Lubin anticipates that the pressure on the SEC will ultimately compel the commission to adopt a more natural stance. This explains his optimism over the potential approval of staking features on ETH ETFs.

Since the approval of ETH ETFs in 2023, Ethereum’s performance has fallen short of expectations. Following the approvals, many users anticipated a BTC-like rally for ETH. However, the altcoin rarely experienced any gains attributable to the ETFs. Perhaps the integration of staking features could boost the products’ adoption and propel Ethereum's rally into a new phase of price discovery.

The grandiose vision for Web3 painted by ConsenSys in 2023 included the launch of ETH ETFs and the approval of staking features on these products. ConsenSys, a blockchain technology firm, is best known for creating the MetaMask crypto wallet and Infura blockchain API. The company played a key role in the development of several crypto ETFs, including the Valkyrie ETF Trust, which began trading on the CBOE BZX Exchange in January.