Asset management giant BlackRock launched its staking-enabled Ethereum ETF, the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB), which will begin trading on Nasdaq on Thursday. The fund will hold spot Ethereum and stake a portion of its assets on the network, allowing investors to gain exposure to ETH prices while earning staking rewards. ETHB is BlackRock's third crypto ETF and its first to introduce a staking mechanism. Previously, the company launched the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), with IBIT managing over $55 billion in assets and ETHA approximately $6.5 billion. BlackRock stated that the introduction of staking functionality aims to meet the needs of some investors who want to earn returns while gaining exposure to ETH prices, while retaining the traditional financial advantages of ETFs in custody, trading, and asset allocation. (CoinDesk)