Fidelity, a global asset management giant, has thrown its hat into the Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) ring, submitting a registration statement for the Fidelity Ethereum Fund.

This fund, if approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will be listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange, joining the ranks of other major players like VanEck, 21Shares, ARK Invest, Hashdex, Grayscale, BlackRock, and Invesco Galaxy. The SEC, however, has yet to greenlight any of these applications, prolonging the wait for institutional investors eyeing the crypto market.

Fidelity, already entrenched in the crypto space with Bitcoin custody and trading services, seeks to expand its offerings with the Ethereum ETF. Interestingly, Fidelity had previously ventured into the ETF realm with a Bitcoin application in 2021, which remains pending approval despite refiles and adjustments.

Fidelity’s Ether ETF filing comes a day after BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, applied for a spot Ether ETF—the iShares Ethereum Trust—with the SEC. The involvement of such financial behemoths underscores a growing interest in Ethereum ETFs, reflecting an increasing demand for exposure to the leading smart contract platform.

The filing of BlackRock's Ethereum ETF coincided with a surge in Ethereum's price, witnessing a 12.8% spike on November 9th, reaching a local high of $2,131. The recent developments signal the market's responsiveness to institutional interest in Ethereum.

Staked Ethereum Surges to $20 Billion

Beyond price fluctuations, Ethereum continues to stand out as a powerhouse in the blockchain arena, boasting a dynamic ecosystem of decentralized applications (DApps), decentralized finance (DeFi), and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

A pivotal aspect of Ethereum's evolution is its transition to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, which enables users to stake their ETH and earn rewards for network security. However, the staking process involves locking up ETH for an unspecified period, impacting liquidity and usability.

To address this challenge, the Ethereum ecosystem has witnessed the rise of liquid staking tokens (LSTs), representing a claim on staked ETH that can be freely traded or utilized in other DApps. As of November 2023, the liquid staking market within Ethereum has swelled to $20 billion, with Lido's stETH securing over 90% market share, as per data analytics platform IntoTheBlock.

Liquid staking tokens emerge as a strategic solution, enabling investors to engage with the Ethereum network without compromising liquidity or incurring opportunity costs. Moreover, they present a potential catalyst for increased demand for ETH as more users embrace staking to receive LSTs in return.

As financial giants like Fidelity and BlackRock set their sights on Ethereum ETFs, the crypto landscape witnessed not only a financial endorsement but also an evolving approach to liquidity challenges through innovative solutions like liquid staking tokens. As these developments unfold, the crypto community anticipates a paradigm shift in how institutional players engage with the dynamic Ethereum ecosystem.

Ethereum’s Roller Coaster Ride

After the highs of the BlackRock ETF filing passed over, Ethereum recorded a mild correction last week, which saw the smart contract cryptocurrency slump to the $1,915 support mark. Fortunately for Ether bulls, this support level appears to have provided the floor the cryptocurrency needed, stabilizing it under the $2,000 mark.

That said, as we begin the new week, we expect to see a bullish resurgence that should push the price to the $2,025–$2,050 area. This rebound is expected, especially as the cryptocurrency completely eases out of overheated conditions on the daily chart. However, traders must keep an eye on the $1,915 support, as a breach of the floor could spell a return to the sub-$1,800 mark for Ether.

ETH Statistics Data

ETH Current Price: $1,975

ETH Market Cap: $237.2B

ETH Circulating Supply: 120.2M

ETH Total Supply: 120.2M

ETH Market Ranking: #2

Feeling confident? Trade your ideas on ETH now.

Disclaimer

This article should not be taken as financial advice. It is essential to conduct research before making any investment decisions.