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Osprey SOL + Staking ETF: A Breakthrough in Yield-Generating Crypto ETFs
Coindesk and others reported on today's launch of the REX-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF, highlighting its pioneering approach as the first U.S. exchange-traded fund to combine crypto exposure with on-chain staking rewards. Trading on the CBOE and structured under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (‘40 Act), the fund offers investors access to Solana (SOL) while earning yield from staking. This is a watershed moment in digital asset finance because staking yield is no longer limited to wallets and validators.
July 2, 2025
5 min read

Coindesk and others reported on today's launch of the REX-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF, highlighting its pioneering approach as the first U.S. exchange-traded fund to combine crypto exposure with on-chain staking rewards. Trading on the CBOE and structured under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (‘40 Act), the fund offers investors access to Solana (SOL) while earning yield from staking. This is a watershed moment in digital asset finance because staking yield is no longer limited to wallets and validators.

Smart Structuring to Unlock Staking

To sidestep the long regulatory bottlenecks of the ‘33 Act spot ETF route, Osprey and REX opted for the more nimble ‘40 Act structure. They created a C-corporation that owns a Cayman-based subsidiary, which in turn acquires and stakes SOL tokens. This clever structuring enabled the ETF to launch faster and earn SEC clearance with a “no further comment” letter.

The result? Institutional-grade exposure to SOL, with staking yield, wrapped inside a regulated, listed fund. It’s a huge step forward in making staking mainstream and accessible via trusted financial rails.

Taxation and Legal Friction

While fast, this C-corp route has its drawbacks. As The Block outlines, C-corporations are subject to corporate tax, meaning some of the staking rewards could be liable for taxation before being realised by shareholders. And while the SEC had no further comment about the fund’s launch, this sparks an intriguing dialogue about the opportunities for innovation in fund compliance with ‘40 Act requirements, especially around asset composition and disclosure.

Ultimately, it's a practical solution that allows for the introduction of staking to the market right now, with exciting opportunities for future enhancements.

More Efficient Staking ETFs Are Coming

Encouragingly, the Osprey ETF may only be the beginning. Bloomberg’s James Seyffart recently noted that grantor trusts, the structure used in today’s spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, may soon be permitted to include staking. If approved by the IRS, this would allow ETF sponsors to pass staking income directly to shareholders without triggering corporate tax obligations.

This would remove the biggest efficiency drag from staking ETFs and enable more streamlined product designs with broader market appeal.

The Legislative Tailwind: CLARITY Act and Beyond

This shift toward efficiency is being propelled by a wave of pending legislation. Chief among them is the CLARITY Act, introduced in May 2025, which aims to:

  • Divide digital asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC

  • Provide clear definitions for digital commodities, investment contracts, and staking activities

  • Codify that non-custodial, protocol-based staking is not a securities offering

Alongside this, other crypto-relevant bills are gaining momentum:

  • The FIT21 Act aims to modernize market oversight for digital assets

  • The GENIUS Act establishes the first federal rules for stablecoins

  • The Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act (DCCPA) brings greater clarity to exchange and custody regulation

  • IRS Revenue Ruling 2023-14 and anticipated follow-up guidance will determine how staking rewards are taxed, especially in ETFs

Of course, not all of these bills will become law, but it is clear that the legislative and regulatory environment is increasingly pro-clarity, pro-infrastructure, and pro-innovation. Osprey is the vanguard, but the next generation of staking ETFs will likely be faster, simpler, and more tax-efficient.

Bottom Line: The Osprey SOL + Staking ETF is an exciting breakthrough. It unlocks staking yield for ETF investors using creative structuring and regulatory navigation. Even better, a suite of legislative and tax changes is lining up to make these kinds of products simpler, leaner, and more mainstream. This is how crypto goes institutional.

In Loving Memory of Meher Roy Chowdhury
It is with profound sadness that Chorus One announces the passing of our co-founder, Meher Roy Chowdhury, who left us on June 22.
June 26, 2025
5 min read

It is with profound sadness that Chorus One announces the passing of our co-founder, Meher Roy Chowdhury, who left us on June 22. Meher was not only a brilliant mind in the world of technology and blockchain, but also a remarkable leader, dear friend, and an inspiring figure to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Chorus One’s story commenced with Meher and Brian meeting in Basel in 2014. Meher’s passion for blockchain and keen insights led to his participation on the Epicentre podcast, where his knowledge and brilliance swiftly impressed all.

In 2017, Meher and Brian embarked on a new venture together, founding Chorus One. Reflecting on their time building the company, Brian Crain, CEO of Chorus One stated, “I can confidently say that the best decision I ever made was choosing Meher as my co-founder. His exceptional qualities—brilliance, vision, and unwavering integrity—guided us through both triumphs and challenges. Our partnership was marked by trust and respect, allowing us to navigate disagreements with ease and maintain a strong collaborative spirit.”

Meher Roy Chowdhury & Brian Fabian Crain, Co-Founders of Chorus One.

Tragically, Meher faced a difficult battle with leukaemia, diagnosed in April 2021. His resilience shone through as he fought valiantly against the disease, even achieving remission. However, the cancer returned in early 2024, leading to intense treatments and a prolonged struggle for recovery. 

Meher is survived by his beloved son, Zubin, and his wife, Kiran, whose unwavering support throughout his illness has been a testament to their deep love.

In closing, we express our heartfelt gratitude for the time we shared with Meher. His legacy of compassion, curiosity and integrity will forever influence our work and the lives of those he touched. 

Thank you, Meher, for your brilliance, your kindness, and your friendship. You will be deeply missed by all at Chorus One.

Chorus One gathered for a team retreat in Georgia

Ledger Live Brings Optimized ETH Rewards to Millions with Integration of Chorus One’s MEV Max Vault
Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, and Chorus One, a leading global staking provider and node operator, are deepening their long-standing partnership by bringing Chorus One’s MEV-optimized Ethereum staking solution — the MEV Max Vault (MEV Max) — directly to users of Ledger Live.
June 25, 2025
5 min read

Ledger, the world leader in digital assetsecurity, and Chorus One, a leading global staking provider and node operator, are deepening their long-standing partnership by bringing Chorus One’s MEV-optimized Ethereum staking solution — the MEV Max Vault (MEV Max) — directly to users of Ledger Live. This latest integration represents a continued commitment from both partners to deliver secure, high-performance staking access within one of the most trusted platforms in the industry. Users can now access Chorus One’s optimized ETH staking solutions, all without everleaving the Ledger Live app.

With more than 7 million Ledger devices sold globally and over 20% of the world’s crypto assets secured, the introduction of MEV Max opens the flood gates for a significant portion of the crypto community to begin enhancing their ETH staking experience.

How It Works

With this integration, Ledger Live users can stake ETH directly to Chorus One’s MEV Max via the "Earn" and"Discover" sections — all without leaving the Ledger Live environment. Users will now be able to stake and unstake their ETH using a seamless, embedded interface powered by Chorus One’s intuitive UI.

“It’s now on us to create products and services that are seamless and intuitive,” said Brian Crain, CEO of Chorus One. “What we’re doing with Ledger is a major step toward that vision.”

Upon launch, staking and unstaking will be the primary features available — but this is just the beginning. Chorus One and Ledger are already exploring the introduction of additional features, including the minting of osETH (a liquid staking token used to power re-staking and enable DeFi participation), looped staking, and more — unlocking further potential for ETH holders seeking to optimize their assets.

What is the MEV Max?

MEV Max is a pooled ETH staking solution engineered to maximize rewards through a blend of advanced infrastructure, proprietary research, and custom-built technology.

Key benefits include:

●    Research & Optimization Strategies –Chorus One works closely with Block builders on Ethereum to propose the mostvaluable blocks and returns for stakers.

●    Higher TVL, Higher Performance: A large and growing pool of stakers contributes to more block proposals, increasing both consistency and performance.

●    Chorus-Managed Roadmap: Backed by industry-leading research and engineering, Chorus excels in validator performance, returns, and optimization strategies that ensure MEV Max remains cutting-edge.

Chorus One’s MEV Max is engineered to deliver some of the best yields available in the market — often out performing the existing ETH APYs range of 3.04% to 3.52%. Notably, MEV Max captured two highly profitable blocks this year, garnering 159.9 and 134 ETH respectively. To learn more, click here.  

A Unified Financial Hub for the Next Generation of Crypto Users

The integration of MEV Max into Ledger Live represents more than just an expansion of staking options — it’s a major step toward transforming what has historically been a fragmented ecosystem. By embedding advanced staking solutions directly into a trusted, user-friendly wallet experience, Chorus One and Ledger are streamlining the crypto user journey into a single, unified financial hub. This collaboration brings the power of Ethereum staking, DeFi, and restaking tools to a wider audience, removing complexity and creating intuitive pathways for users to unlock the full potential of blockchain technology.

CTA - Maximize Your ETH Rewards Today!

About Chorus One:

Chorus One is one of the largest institutional staking providers globally, operating infrastructure for over 60 Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks, including Ethereum, Cosmos, Solana, Avalanche, Near, and others. Since 2018, we’ve been at the forefront of the PoS industry, offering easy-to-use, enterprise-grade staking solutions, conducting industry-leading research, and investing in innovative protocols through Chorus One Ventures. As an ISO 27001 certified provider, Chorus One also offers slashing and double-signing insurance to its institutional clients. For more information, visit chorus.one or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter),and Telegram.

About Ledger:

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2024, Ledger is the world leader in digital asset security for consumers and enterprises. Ledger offers connected devices and platforms, with more than 7M devices soldto consumers in 180 countries and 10+ languages. Over 20% of the world’s crypto assets are secured by Ledger. Ledger Donjon, its elite internal security team, plays a crucial role in protecting users in an increasingly complex Web3 world. Ledger Live enables secure self-custody and seamless access to crypto services including trading, DeFi, and staking.

Ledger Live Enhances ETH Rewards With Integration of Chorus One’s MEV Max Vault
Chorus One and Ledger are taking Ethereum staking to the next level. With the latest integration of Chorus One’s MEV Max Vault, millions of Ledger Live users now have direct access to a performance-optimized ETH staking experience — without ever leaving their Ledger app.
June 25, 2025
5 min read

Chorus One and Ledger are taking Ethereum staking to the next level. With the latest integration of Chorus One’s MEV Max Vault, millions of Ledger Live users now have direct access to a performance-optimized ETH staking experience — without ever leaving their Ledger app.

TL;DR

✅ Stake ETH directly in Ledger Live via Chorus One’s MEV Max Vault
✅ Seamless, secure access — no external platforms required
✅ Enjoy MEV-optimized rewards through Chorus One’s advanced infrastructure
✅ Future roadmap includes osETH liquid staking, looped staking, and more

A New Era of Ethereum Staking

Ledger — the world’s leading digital asset security company — and Chorus One — a global staking powerhouse — are deepening their partnership to embed smarter ETH staking directly into Ledger Live. This means users can now stake and unstake ETH with Chorus One’s MEV Max Vault through the “Earn” and “Discover” tabs in Ledger Live, bringing unprecedented convenience and performance into a single interface.

With over 7 million Ledger devices sold globally and 20%+ of the world’s crypto assets secured by Ledger, this collaboration opens a gateway for a massive portion of the crypto community to take their staking to the next level.

“It’s now on us to create products and services that are seamless and intuitive,” said Brian Crain, CEO of Chorus One. “What we’re doing with Ledger is a major step toward that vision.”

What Is the MEV Max Vault?

The MEV Max Vault is Chorus One’s pooled ETH staking solution, purpose-built to maximize validator rewards through cutting-edge infrastructure and research-driven engineering.

  • Research & Optimization Strategies – Chorus One works closely with Block builders on Ethereum to propose the most valuable blocks and returns for stakers.
  • Scale = Performance – A high TVL means more proposed blocks and greater consistency in earnings.
  • Roadmap Leadership – Chorus One is actively pioneering new staking primitives like LRTs (Liquid Restaking Tokens), AVVs (Automated Validator Vaults), and more.

In real-world performance, MEV Max often outpaces the average Ethereum staking APY (typically between 3.04%–3.52%). Notably, MEV Max captured two highly profitable blocks this year, garnering 159.9 and 134 ETH respectively. To learn more, click here.   

What’s Coming Next?

At launch, users can stake and unstake directly in Ledger Live. But Chorus One and Ledger have much more in store:

  • osETH minting — a liquid staking token used to power re-staking and enable DeFi participation
  • Looped staking — Enabling compounding and strategy automation
  • Restaking features — Driving even more opportunities to earn

These tools will bring advanced staking mechanics into everyday use — all from within the comfort of Ledger Live.

A Unified Financial Hub for Web3

This integration is more than another staking feature, it’s a major leap toward simplifying and unifying the blockchain experience.

By embedding smart staking tools into Ledger’s secure interface, Chorus One and Ledger are shaping a unified financial hub for the next generation of crypto users. The days of toggling between apps and interfaces are fading. Now, staking, restaking, and DeFi can all live under one roof — trusted, seamless, and high-performing.

Maximize Your ETH Rewards Today

Access MEV Max directly through Ledger Live and put your ETH to work with the performance and security you deserve.

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