BlackRock moves to add staking to Ethereum ETF amid surge in inflows

  • BlackRock seeks to enable staking in its ETHA fund, aiming to boost returns and efficiency for investors.
  • ETH ETFs see $726M in daily inflows, with BlackRock’s ETHA leading at nearly $500M, amid rising demand.
  • SEC openness to staking ETFs grows, following approval of the first Solana staking fund and increasing industry filings.

BlackRock has filed to incorporate staking into its iShares Ethereum Trust (ticker: ETHA), the largest Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) by assets under management.

The move, disclosed in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday, follows growing institutional interest in Ethereum staking products and comes amid record-breaking net inflows into ETH ETFs.

The filing was submitted by Nasdaq under SEC Rule 19b-4, which national securities exchanges follow to propose new fund structures.

BlackRock is the latest asset manager to pursue staking capabilities for its Ethereum fund, joining a competitive field that includes Grayscale, 21Shares, and others with similar proposals already in the pipeline.

BlackRock’s filing outlines that the trust may stake “all or a portion” of its ETH holdings through one or more trusted staking providers.

The proposal specifies that the ether held by the trust will not be pooled with other entities, nor will the trust assume risk on behalf of others from slashing or network forks.

Coinbase, currently acting as custodian and prime execution agent for ETHA, is expected to serve as the fund’s staking partner.

Record ETH inflows signal demand

The filing comes at a moment of surging interest in Ethereum investment products.

On Wednesday, ETH ETFs recorded their highest single-day net inflow since launch, totaling $726.74 million, with BlackRock’s ETHA accounting for $499 million of that sum.

So far in July, ETH ETFs have attracted over $2.27 billion in net inflows, marking the strongest monthly inflow to date, according to data from SoSoValue.

ETHA was approved in July 2024, as part of a group of spot Ethereum ETFs greenlit by the SEC shortly after it approved the first spot Bitcoin ETFs earlier in the year.

ETHA currently holds over $7.9 billion in assets, underscoring BlackRock’s leadership position in Ethereum-based exchange-traded products.

BlackRock’s Head of Digital Assets, Robert Mitchnick, has previously signaled that staking would be the “next phase” for crypto ETFs.

Thursday’s filing appears to make that vision concrete, at a time when regulatory momentum and investor interest are aligning.

Staking ETFs enter regulatory spotlight

BlackRock’s move comes shortly after the SEC approved the REX-Osprey Solana Staking ETF, the first US-based staking ETF, earlier this month.

That product was approved under the more stringent Securities Exchange Act of 1940.

In contrast, BlackRock’s ETHA staking proposal falls under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, under which no staking ETF has yet been approved.

However, SEC officials have indicated growing openness to staking ETFs.

Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart noted on X (formerly Twitter) that “staking is not done,” predicting that approval for Ethereum staking ETFs may arrive as early as Q4 2025.

While BlackRock’s latest filing may not receive a final decision until around April 2026, the broader outlook for staking products appears favorable.

As Ethereum’s price hovers near $3,399—still below its 2021 all-time high of $4,878—the prospect of yield-generating, regulated staking products could further fuel institutional adoption.

With competitors also eyeing staking ETFs for assets like Cronos, Tron, and Injective, BlackRock’s move signals an increasingly diverse crypto ETF landscape taking shape.

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XRP price nears $3.84 all-time high as daily gains hit 11.6%

  • XRP eyes a breakout as regulatory clarity and bullish momentum converge near its 2021 cycle high.
  • Ripple’s stablecoin push and EU expansion pave the way for cross-border compliance and digital finance leadership.
  • Lawsuit winds down, lifting years of regulatory drag and igniting fresh institutional interest.

XRP’s price action is approaching a major breakout moment. After hovering below its 2021 cycle high for months, the token is showing fresh strength.

XRP is now trading at $3.29, up by 11.6% in the past 24 hours.

XRP price
Source: CoinMarketCap

Trading volumes have exceeded $13 billion, and technical momentum is building across major exchanges.

This price movement reflects more than market speculation—XRP’s current rally is supported by a cluster of regulatory, institutional, and technological developments that could reposition Ripple’s token at the centre of digital asset adoption across the US and Europe.

Stablecoin legislation, Ripple charter, and MiCA boost regulatory clarity

The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act passed the House this week after clearing the Senate in June.

Backed by President Donald Trump and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the bill arrives alongside the CLARITY and Anti-CBDC acts.

Ripple, which launched its dollar-backed RLUSD stablecoin in December, filed for a US national bank charter and Federal Reserve master account on 2 July.

These moves would allow it to custody RLUSD reserves directly with the Fed, increasing transparency and regulatory compliance.

In parallel, Ripple is preparing to scale its European operations. The company confirmed it will seek an EU electronic money institution licence under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

Ripple’s stated aim is to become MiCA-compliant and expand its footprint in the European stablecoin market.

Together, these developments offer a pathway to regulatory legitimacy across major jurisdictions, significantly strengthening XRP’s long-term position.

Ripple lawsuit nearly resolved as penalty remains at $125 million

A separate catalyst for XRP’s momentum is the near-resolution of Ripple’s long-running court case with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

On 26 June, Judge Analisa Torres rejected a joint motion by Ripple and the SEC that sought to reduce a civil penalty from $125 million to $50 million and eliminate the permanent injunction.

She ruled that the parties failed to show “exceptional circumstances” needed to revise her judgment.

However, the very next day, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced on X that the company would drop its cross-appeal, expressing optimism that the SEC would do the same.

While the penalty of $125 million remains in place, this development has been interpreted as the beginning of the end of the litigation.

The regulatory overhang that has constrained XRP for years may now be lifting.

ETFs and acquisitions signal renewed institutional push

With legal uncertainties easing, fund managers are moving quickly. On 15 July, ProShares launched leveraged futures funds for Solana and XRP, while spot ETFs await SEC clearance.

One week earlier, the SEC issued new disclosure guidance aimed at expediting crypto ETF approvals.

Trump Media & Technology Group has gone a step further, filing for a “blue-chip” basket ETF that would include bitcoin, ether, solana, and XRP, indicating growing bipartisan pressure to accelerate ETF listings.

At the same time, Ripple is actively expanding its infrastructure.

It has acquired prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and is developing an on-ledger lending protocol set to launch in Q3.

Chief technology officer David Schwartz told DL News in late June that multiple acquisitions are underway.

These efforts are aimed at deepening XRP liquidity, bolstering its use cases, and increasing investor confidence.

Price trajectory and technical signals

According to crypto strategist Pentoshi, XRP has traded in a “very clean” structure over the past seven months, with limited overhead resistance.

“It arguably has little resistance from here because it never spent time trading here on the verge of price discovery,” he wrote on X. Relative strength index (RSI) readings across major trading platforms have returned to “buy” territory, reinforcing bullish sentiment.

At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $3.29. While it has not yet breached its all-time high of $3.84 set in January 2018, the convergence of regulatory clarity, ETF interest, and Ripple’s strategic positioning marks a pivotal phase.

The coming weeks could determine whether XRP can reclaim its former peak and establish new price territory in this cycle.

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ADA price jumps as Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson responds to scam allegations

  • Cardano (ADA) has jumped 39% in July amid bullish technical patterns.
  • Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has denied scam claims.
  • A break above $0.80 could push ADA toward $1 and beyond.

Cardano (ADA) has surged in value following a mix of bullish technical patterns and a heated public exchange involving its outspoken founder, Charles Hoskinson.

The price of ADA currently sits at around $0.75, climbing over 39% in July alone and catching the attention of traders and analysts alike.

Despite the distraction caused by the scam allegations levelled against Input Output (IOG), Cardano’s strong price action and favourable chart structures suggest that its bullish trend remains intact.

Hoskinson hits back at online scam claims

A person named Robin Engraf emailed Hoskinson, accusing Gabriel Martin, allegedly from Input Output (IOG), of embezzling funds during a supposed “trade withdrawal.”

Engraf claimed to have months of chat logs and bank records, urging US authorities to act.

In response, Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano and IOG, has responded to the email publicly, dismissing the accusation as not only baseless but also a reflection of broader gullibility in crypto communities.

In a stern statement, Hoskinson has criticised the trend of blaming public figures for falling victim to scams, calling out what he described as “carelessness and stupidity.”

He emphasised that such incidents are not new and have been occurring for nearly a decade, largely due to impersonators and false promises of extraordinary returns.

Hoskinson didn’t hold back as he argued that people often refuse to take responsibility after being deceived by schemes that promise easy profits.

He noted that victims of scams frequently turn their frustrations toward legitimate figures and companies, despite having no evidence of wrongdoing on their part.

While Hoskinson’s remarks sparked debate online, they also served as a reminder of the ongoing risks tied to impersonation fraud in the cryptocurrency space.

His message, though controversial, aligned with years of warnings about avoiding offers that seem too good to be true.

Current Cardano price action signals a bullish momentum

Even as this public spat unfolded, ADA’s market performance has continued to impress.

The cryptocurrency recently broke out of a long-standing downtrend around $0.63 and has since climbed steadily, forming a series of higher lows and testing resistance at $0.78.

According to market analysts, ADA is currently forming a symmetrical triangle pattern on the 4-hour chart, often a bullish continuation signal.

If the price pushes decisively above $0.80, it could open the path toward $0.84 and potentially even the psychological $1.00 mark.

Technical indicators also appear to support this view, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) climbing above 70 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) maintaining a bullish crossover on both daily and weekly timeframes.

On-chain volume has also increased during price rallies, further supporting the case for sustained upward momentum.

Trader sentiment has tilted strongly bullish

Alongside strong technicals, trader positioning continues to lean bullish.

According to TapTools, over 70% of open positions on Hyperliquid and Binance are long on ADA, suggesting that the broader market expects further gains in the near term.

This confidence has been building as ADA remains above key support levels, particularly the $0.73 mark.

ADA’s price range over the last 24 hours has fluctuated between $0.7151 and $0.7536, with current levels testing the $0.78 resistance zone.

If bulls manage to flip this zone into support, analysts expect a smooth move toward higher targets in the coming weeks.

Despite the lingering distraction caused by the scam allegations, traders appear more focused on ADA’s improving fundamentals and technical posture.

Hoskinson’s blunt response may have sparked debate, but it has not shaken the conviction among ADA supporters.

The long-term ADA price outlook is optimistic

With its market cap standing at over $27 billion and a circulating supply exceeding 36 billion tokens, ADA continues to rank among the top 15 cryptocurrencies.

Analysts like StonkChris see potential for ADA to revisit the $2 level later this year, especially if broader market sentiment continues to shift risk-on.

The recent launch of Reeve, an open-source middleware platform by the Cardano Foundation, adds another layer of optimism.

The initiative aims to bridge blockchain with traditional ERP systems, reinforcing ADA’s use case in enterprise environments.

In the short term, all eyes are on ADA’s ability to hold key support levels and break through resistance with conviction.

As technicals align with market sentiment, ADA may be setting up for one of its most important moves of the year.

While controversy continues to swirl around its founder, Cardano’s price action remains strong, reminding the market that, in crypto, fundamentals often speak louder than headlines.

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Chainlink price forecast amid US asset tokenization push with Blockchain Association partnership

  • Chainlink (LINK) eyes a breakout with $17.5 as a key resistance level.
  • Chainlink partners to promote tokenisation across US states.
  • Technicals and sentiment support a bullish price outlook.

Chainlink (LINK) is once again making headlines, this time for a pivotal partnership with the Blockchain Association aimed at promoting asset tokenisation across the United States.

As the crypto market eyes broader institutional adoption, this development is expected to strengthen Chainlink’s utility and market position, while also giving a potential boost to its token price.

The strategic alliance introduces the “Tokenized in America” initiative, a nationwide effort to expand the use of blockchain technology in representing real-world assets (RWAs) on-chain.

The partnership boosts Chainlink’s visibility

The partnership between Chainlink (LINK) and the Blockchain Association goes beyond policy advocacy and dives into real-world blockchain applications at the state level.

It aims to educate policymakers while tracking tokenisation progress across the country.

Chainlink’s decentralised oracle networks are at the heart of this initiative, providing trusted data feeds that are critical for bridging on-chain and off-chain information.

This capability is essential when governments or institutions seek to tokenise assets such as real estate, stablecoins, or treasury instruments.

As part of the initiative, Chainlink’s Proof of Reserve (PoR) system is expected to enhance transparency by offering cryptographic validation of collateral backing digital assets.

This added trust mechanism could attract state agencies and financial institutions that require secure and verifiable asset representation.

Chainlink price analysis

On the technical front, Chainlink’s price action has aligned with the optimism surrounding its recent policy-driven visibility.

Currently trading above $16, Chainlink (LINK) has gained significant ground in recent days, climbing more than 18% in just a week.

Notably, $16 has acted as a tough resistance level, proving to be a critical zone for traders, with several analysts pointing to a sustained break above it as the gateway to further gains.

Holding above this level could push LINK toward the next target zone, which ranges between $17.50 and $18.20.

Momentum indicators support the bullish outlook, with the Aroon Up indicator registering at 85% and the Accumulation/Distribution line reflecting steady buying pressure.

These metrics suggest that buyers are firmly in control, and any minor retracements are likely to be met with accumulation rather than panic selling.

Chainlink (LINK) price outlook

According to market analysis, Chainlink (LINK) must remain above $16.42 to sustain its current momentum.

A close above this level increases the probability of retesting the first major resistance at $17.95, which could then unlock a path to $19.11 and potentially $20.82 if bullish momentum persists.

Conversely, failure to maintain support above $16.42 could see the price slide toward $15.35, a key lower support that many traders are watching closely.

Analysts like Matthew Dixon also warn of a potential retest in the $14.50–$15 range before a fresh rally can be confirmed.

Nevertheless, sentiment remains largely positive, as reflected in Chainlink’s Fear and Greed Index, which continues to signal bullish market behaviour.

A breakout above $17.5, often described as the trigger level, may accelerate the move toward $22, according to some technical forecasts.

The long-term vision aligns with the tokenisation trend

Chainlink’s ongoing involvement in the tokenisation of RWAs places it at the centre of a massive transformation in the financial system.

As institutions like Franklin Templeton, Superstate, and Securitize move assets on-chain, the need for secure, interoperable infrastructure becomes urgent.

With its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), Chainlink is poised to connect blockchain platforms across states and institutions, enabling secure asset transfers and data communication between disparate systems.

The “Tokenized in America” initiative acts as both a policy tool and a technological showcase, potentially setting the stage for Chainlink (LINK) to become a national standard in public-sector blockchain use cases.

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UNI outlook as Uniswap president and COO steps down after four years

  • Mary-Catherine Lader announced her departure after four transformative years.
  • Uniswap total value locked steadies above $5.5B as DeFi sector matures.
  • UNI has gained 12% the past twelve months to trade at $9.04.

Uniswap Labs’ president and chief operating officer, Mary Catherine Lader, took it to X to confirm his departure after spending four years with the DeFi platform.

While she remains as an advisor as the project prepares for a successor, attention has shifted to how Uniswap has fared since Lader joined in 2021.

A new chapter for Uniswap

Lader leaves after four years of shaping Uniswap into a household name within the blockchain sector.

Her departure means crucial transitions into the blockchain’s leadership and strategic direction.

Lader joined the Uniswap team in 2021 after his role as BlackRock’s managing director.

She was among the executives who left traditional finance to explore the cryptocurrency industry.

The COO has monitored key operations, including Uniswap’s extension to several blockchains and the Uniswap mobile wallet launch.

Also, Lader oversaw the termination of the Securities and Exchange Commission case.

Most importantly, she was the president during the Uniswap v4 rollout.

She helped transform Uniswap from a developer-centric project into a massive blockchain organization, overseeing internal developments across human resources, customer support, finance, and regulation.

Thus, the Uniswap team will likely feel Larder’s absence as the COO.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has appreciated her leadership at Uniswap Labs, while some industry players urge Lader to join their projects.

Meanwhile, the transition signals a strategic decision not influenced by the network’s instability.

While leadership changes aren’t uncommon in traditional companies as teams evolve, such shifts are somewhat rare in crypto, especially among early team members and founders.

That’s why Mary’s departure attracted attention.

However, she is leaving with excitement, which bodes well for Uniswap’s future as a DeFi giant.

The development confirms a maturing industry.

Early builders and founders can now move on with new challenges or launch new projects, similar to traditional setups.

Unswap has displayed stability under Lader

The blockchain’s total value locked has soared from $1.64 billion in December 2020 to $5.54 billion today.

Also, the native coin UNI has performed relatively well. It has gained 12% on its yearly chart, showcasing resilience despite macro challenges.

The platform boasts over $75 billion in monthly DEX volume, according to DeFiLlama.

UNI trades at $9.04 after gaining 17% and 14% in the past month and week.

Technical indicators highlight bullish presence.

The 1D Moving Average Convergence Divergence displays green histograms above the signal line.

Also, the daily chart’s Relative Strength Index at 65 suggests further gains before overbought conditions.

Moreover, the Chaikin Money Flow has climbed steadily since July 4.

That confirms money entering the UNI ecosystem as investors anticipate substantial rallies.

These signals match the prevailing broad market sentiments.

Analysts forecast impending altcoin rallies as Bitcoin dominance cools after BTC’s latest rally to $123K.

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