Key Takeaways
- Ether treasury companies are turning to liquid staking and dynamic yield strategies to maintain market competitiveness.
- Kean Gilbert from Lido stresses liquid staking’s role in helping Ether treasuries exceed passive staking product performance.
- Liquid staking enables ETH holders to collect staking rewards while retaining asset flexibility across decentralized finance platforms.
- Ethereum ETFs provide passive exposure, while treasury firms can draw investors through active management approaches.
- Companies like Sharplink Gaming and BTCS Inc. implement liquid staking methods to boost returns from their Ethereum reserves.
Ether treasury companies are exploring liquid staking alongside other dynamic yield approaches to exceed the performance of passive staking offerings. During discussions at ETHCC 2026, Kean Gilbert, who leads institutional relations at Lido, presented this perspective. He highlighted that Ether treasury companies aiming for enhanced returns should evaluate more flexible strategies that go beyond conventional staking rewards.
Liquid Staking Creates Enhanced Opportunities for Ether Reserves
Liquid staking enables Ethereum holders to stake their holdings while receiving transferable tokens in return. These tokens can then be utilized across decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, delivering increased flexibility and yield possibilities. Gilbert observed that approaches like using Ether as collateral for borrowing additional assets could produce stronger returns compared to passive staking alternatives. This methodology could give treasury companies the competitive advantage required to excel in today’s market environment.
While liquid staking presents fresh possibilities, widespread adoption continues to develop. Gilbert explained, “Treasury companies can’t depend exclusively on passive staking for expansion. They must investigate dynamic, active approaches to capture investor interest.” Through implementing these methodologies, companies can present more attractive value offerings, establishing clear differentiation from passive alternatives accessible via Ether ETFs.
Multiple Ethereum-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) currently exist in the marketplace, including the Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF and BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF. These investment vehicles provide investors with Ethereum staking reward exposure through passive investment structures. By April 2026, Grayscale’s ETHE ETF showed a net staking yield of 2.26%, whereas Grayscale’s ETH page displayed 2.56%. Native ETH staking currently delivers approximately 2.72%, based on Staking Rewards data.
Regardless of these numbers, Jimmy Xue, who co-founded and serves as COO of Axis, maintained that Ether treasury operations don’t require beating staking yields from ETFs outright. Xue emphasized that a staked Ether ETF represents a passive investment vehicle. “A DAT trading at a meaningful mNAV premium offers something a passive ETF can’t: the active management of treasury resources,” he explained. Through implementing basis trading and active deployment tactics, Ether treasuries can capitalize on more versatile market opportunities.
Ether Treasury Companies Test Liquid Staking Approaches
Public documentation from various Ether treasury operations shows their commitment to liquid staking methodologies. Sharplink Gaming, as an example, disclosed earning 14,516 ETH in staking rewards by March 2026. From this amount, 33% originated from liquid staking, while the remaining 66% came from native staking. Although experiencing a net loss of $734 million throughout 2025, primarily attributed to market conditions, Sharplink maintains its pursuit of active yield approaches.
Likewise, BTCS Inc., a smaller Ether treasury operation, has implemented liquid staking via Rocket Pool. The company has liquid staked 4,160 ETH, representing $8.8 million in value, based on a July 2025 SEC filing. These cases demonstrate a wider movement among Ether treasury companies leveraging liquid staking to amplify returns and maintain competitiveness within the changing cryptocurrency landscape.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
