# BlackRock Begins Seeding ETH Staking ETF

*Author: Jack Inabinet*
*Published: Feb 17, 2026*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/blackrock-begins-seeding-eth-staking-etf*

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BlackRock – the world's largest asset manager with $14T in [assets under management](https://www.pionline.com/asset-management/pi-blackrock-q4-aum-tops-14-trillion/) – has begun purchasing Ether for its upcoming iShares Staked ETH ETF, an initial fund launch step known as "seeding." 

### What's the Scoop?
- **Commence the Bid:** According to an updated S-1 registration statement [filed](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2099103/000143774926004276/iset20260214_s1a.htm) today, BlackRock (via an affiliate) has purchased 4,000 seed shares of the iShares Staked ETH ETF at $25 per share, seeding the trust with $100,000 of initial capital. The proceeds of this sale will be used to purchase and stake ETH. 
- **ETH Staking ETF: **BlackRock first [filed](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/blackrock-officially-files-for-shares-staked-ether-etf) to create a staked Ethereum ETF in December. The fund – which will trade under the ticker symbol "ETHB" – will stake up to 95% of AUM under normal market circumstances. BlackRock's existing "ETHA" spot ETF [held](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/337614/ishares-ethereum-trust-etf) net assets of $6.5B as of Friday, down sharply from the near $11B it [held](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/blackrock-officially-files-for-shares-staked-ether-etf) when BlackRock initially filed for ETHB.

> NEW: updated filing for BlackRock’s [@iShares](https://twitter.com/iShares?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) staked Ethereum ETF. Ticker [$ETHB](https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETHB&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). Filing includes expense ratio which will be 0.25%. [pic.twitter.com/CW7pKVoJXX](https://t.co/CW7pKVoJXX)— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) [February 17, 2026](https://twitter.com/JSeyff/status/2023790592397099241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)