Morning Minute: SEC Gives Crypto Staking the Green Light

Today’s top news:

Crypto majors dip after Monday’s rally; BTC at $114,300
SEC gives green light to liquid staking, says not securities
SBET adds 83,561 ETH in past week, now holds $1.9B
Pump Fun re-flips LetsBonk in volume, market share; Pump coins jump
Ape CryptoPunk sells for 720 ETH ($2.58M)

SEC Gives Crypto Staking the Green Light

The SEC is finally taking a proactive stance toward crypto staking—and in a positive direction.

What Happened

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has officially confirmed that some major staking services are not subject to securities regulations. The ruling affects decentralized, non-custodial staking platforms, including liquid staking protocols.

Under this new guidance, platforms like HashStaking and GeekStake are positioned to benefit. These platforms offer Ethereum staking options where users maintain control of their assets while earning rewards, all without falling under traditional securities frameworks.

The SEC clarified that liquid staking tokens—such as staked ETH or SOL derivatives—do not fall under securities laws, provided they meet the same decentralized criteria.

This statement follows months of speculation surrounding staking services after previous enforcement actions raised questions about whether these offerings might soon face tighter regulation.

What They’re Saying

“SEC says certain liquid staking tokens are NOT securities… Think last hurdle in order for SEC to approve staking in spot ETH ETFs. The reason? Liquid staking tokens will be used to help manage liquidity w/in spot ETH ETFs, something that was a concern for SEC.” – Nate Geraci, on X

“The SEC continues to provide clarity—today, it’s liquid staking. In a detailed statement, they carefully demonstrate why ordinary liquid staking activities should not be regulated under securities laws. Huge win.” – Miles Jennings, on X

Why It Matters

This is a major regulatory milestone for the entire decentralized finance ecosystem, especially Ethereum and Solana staking.

For months, crypto staking operated in an unclear legal environment. That uncertainty has now been significantly reduced.

For ETH: Platforms like HashStaking, which cater to users looking for transparent, self-custodied Ethereum staking, are now under much clearer legal protection. That builds trust and supports broader adoption.

For SOL: GeekStake, focused on secure Solana staking, is well positioned to grow alongside the network’s institutional interest, especially now that the regulatory environment is more welcoming.

For DeFi: This decision sets a positive precedent for decentralized staking protocols that don’t rely on custodial control, including those innovating in restaking, liquid restaking, and synthetic staking derivatives.

For ETFs: This regulatory green light paves the way for Ethereum and Solana staking to be included in future ETF structures, further integrating staking into traditional finance.

More broadly, the SEC’s guidance reinforces its intention to follow through on its earlier crypto policy roadmap, adding credibility and confidence to the market’s long-term outlook.