The first SOL Staking ETF begins trading - Anchorage Digital becomes the custodian | CoinDesk JAPAN

• Rex-Osprey SOL+Staking ETF (SSK) has begun trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe).
• Anchorage Digital provides asset custody and Staking.
• This is the first cryptocurrency staking ETF listed in the United States.

Rex Shares and Osprey Funds have selected Anchorage Digital as the exclusive custodian and staking partner for the newly established REX-Osprey SOL+Staking ETF (SSK). SSK will be the first publicly listed cryptocurrency staking ETF in the United States.

This fund provides investors with an opportunity to invest in Solana (SOL) while generating staking rewards, and it started trading on July 2 at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe) at $25.47 per unit.

Unlike existing Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) spot ETFs, SSK is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which requires a qualified custodian, rather than the fund issuer, to hold the underlying assets. Currently, Anchorage Digital, the only federally regulated bank authorized for both the custody and staking of digital assets, fulfills this role.

"Staking is the next chapter of cryptocurrency ETFs," said Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of Anchorage Digital, in a release. "The launch of the cryptocurrency staking ETF is a win for consumers and an important step toward full access to the cryptocurrency ecosystem."

This ETF provides investors with an indirect investment opportunity in Solana, while also participating in the blockchain's staking mechanism to contribute to the enhancement of network security and generate additional revenue. Staking is a mechanism through which holders of specific cryptocurrencies earn rewards by locking their tokens in the network, which traditionally required technical knowledge and direct interaction with cryptocurrency protocols.

Rex Shares and Osprey aim to make this process accessible to a broader range of investors through traditional brokerage accounts by packaging staking into an ETF.

SOL has risen by about 2.2% in the past 24 hours, hovering around $155.

The launch of SSK comes as the cryptocurrency ETF market continues to evolve beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, with issuers seeking new ways to introduce blockchain-based products on regulated exchanges. The introduction of Staking ETFs marks a new phase for the industry, as this investment product combines revenue generation and exposure to cryptocurrencies within SEC-regulated investment vehicles.