Interactive Brokers LLC announced Oct. 13 that it has launched Ethereum staking for eligible brokerage clients, enabling customers to earn ETH rewards on their holdings through infrastructure provider zerohash.
The move marks Interactive Brokers’ entry into the crypto rewards market, expanding its existing suite of services that includes stocks, bonds, futures, and digital assets trading. Milan Galik, Chief Executive of Interactive Brokers, said in a statement: “We want clients to earn more from the assets they hold.”
Rewards earned through the staking service are credited in ETH and can compound while holdings remain staked. The product supports Ethereum only at launch. Interactive Brokers compared the staking service to its Stock Yield Enhancement Program, which allows clients to earn income through share lending.
Interactive Brokers has not disclosed the specific staking fee, guaranteed annual yield, or guaranteed withdrawal deadline for the service. The company also did not specify which customers qualify for access or whether the rollout occurred in phases.
Ethereum Staking Market Growth
The launch comes as Ethereum’s staking ecosystem has grown substantially. According to blockchain data, 43.7 million ETH is currently staked on the Ethereum network, representing 35.77% of circulating supply and approximately $110 billion in value at $2,500 per ETH.
Lido, a major staking protocol, reported that Ethereum staking increased 19% from Jan. 1 to June 30, growing from 36.3 million ETH to 43.1 million ETH during that six-month period. Despite a 47% decline in ETH’s dollar value during the same window, institutional and custodial staking services drove much of that growth.
The institutional segment’s share of total staked ETH grew significantly, rising from 25.9% at the beginning of January to 35.3% by June 30. This shift toward institutional platforms occurred even as Lido’s own market share declined from 23.9% to 21.2%, indicating that institutional capital is increasingly flowing to custodial and brokerage staking products.
Validator Queue and Withdrawal Dynamics
The Ethereum network currently has approximately 962,000 ETH awaiting validator exits. According to blockchain data, the estimated wait time before withdrawal processing begins is 17 days, reflecting ongoing demand for staking participation and potential constraints on exit liquidity.
Interactive Brokers’ Fee Structure
Interactive Brokers charges cryptocurrency trading commissions ranging from 0.12% to 0.18%. The company has not disclosed zerohash’s fee structure or how its fees differ from Interactive Brokers’ standard commission rates.
