Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF (NYSE: ETHE) changes name and declares $9.4M distribution

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF disclosed two key updates. First, the trust’s name is being changed from “Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF” to “Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF” via a Delaware Certificate of Amendment and a related amendment to the Trust Agreement, both effective at 12:01 a.m. New York City time on January 5, 2026. Shares are expected to keep trading on NYSE Arca under the symbol ETHE, and existing stock certificates remain valid.

Second, the sponsor announced a cash distribution of $9,397,326, to be paid on January 6, 2026, to shareholders of record as of 4:00 p.m. New York City time on January 5, 2026. The distribution reflects net U.S. dollar proceeds from staking consideration earned between October 6 and December 31, 2025, after deducting specified fees and shares owed to the sponsor, custodian and staking provider, and was converted to cash through a liquidity provider by reference to an index price on January 2, 2026.

Insights

ETF & Digital Assets Analyst

Name change to staking focus and $9.4M cash distribution disclosed.

Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF is formally updating its legal name from “Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF” to “Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF” through a Certificate of Amendment and an amendment to its Trust Agreement, both effective at 12:01 a.m. New York City time on January 5, 2026. Trading continues on NYSE Arca under the symbol ETHE, and existing share certificates remain valid, so the change is branding and structural rather than operational for holders.

The filing also details a cash distribution of $9,397,326, payable on January 6, 2026 to shareholders of record at 4:00 p.m. New York City time on January 5, 2026. This amount comes from net staking consideration generated between October 6, 2025 and December 31, 2025, after deducting the sponsor’s staking portion, custodian fees, the staking provider’s share, and the sponsor’s fee. A liquidity provider converted this amount to U.S. dollars using an index price on January 2, 2026, aligning the distribution with the trust’s previously disclosed staking policy.

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 2, 2026

Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware			001-42185	82-6677805
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)			(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
c/o Grayscale Investments Sponsors, LLC 290 Harbor Drive, 4th Floor
Stamford, Connecticut				06902
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 212 668-1427

Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

	☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
	☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
	☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
	☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF Shares		ETHE		NYSE Arca, Inc.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On January 2, 2026, Grayscale Investments Sponsors, LLC (the “Sponsor” and, together with its affiliates as the context may require, “Grayscale”), filed a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust on behalf of Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF (the “Trust”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware for the purpose of changing its name from “Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF” to “Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF” (the “Certificate of Amendment”), with an effective time of 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on January 5, 2026, as previously disclosed.

Additionally, on January 2, 2026, the Sponsor entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment No. 1”) to the Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”), dated as of September 25, 2025, as may be amended from time to time, which changes the name of the Trust, effective as of 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on January 5, 2026.

The Certificate of Amendment is attached as Exhibit A to the Amendment No. 1.

The foregoing description of the Amendment No. 1 and the Certificate of Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment No. 1 and the Certificate of Amendment, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

Shares of the Trust are expected to continue trading on NYSE Arca under the new name, and the trading symbol “ETHE”. Outstanding stock certificates for shares of the Trust are not affected by the name change; they continue to be valid and need not be exchanged.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On January 5, 2026, the Sponsor issued a press release announcing it will make a distribution of $9,397,326 (the “Distribution”), to be paid on January 6, 2026 (the “Payable Date”), to the Trust’s shareholders of record as of 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 5, 2026 (the “Record Date”). Shares are expected to begin trading ex-distribution on the Record Date.

The amount of the Distribution will consist of the net U.S. dollar cash proceeds of the gross Staking Consideration generated under the Staking Arrangements since the commencement of the Trust’s Staking program on October 6, 2025, through December 31, 2025, after reduction for the Sponsor’s Staking Portion, the Custodian’s fee and the Staking Provider’s share of such Staking Consideration, and the Sponsor’s Fee (the “Distribution Rewards Amount”). At 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 2, 2026, the Sponsor engaged a Liquidity Provider of the Trust to convert the Distribution Rewards Amount to U.S. dollars by reference to the Index Price at such time, with the net cash proceeds of such conversion, less fees and expenses, representing the Distribution to be payable on the Payable Date to the shareholders of record as of the Record Date.

The Distribution is being made pursuant to Grayscale’s previously disclosed Staking Policy, which describes the frequency of, and conditions under which the Trust will make such distributions, if any, to the Trust’s beneficiaries.

Future declarations of distributions are subject to approval by the Sponsor, to the Sponsor’s continuing determination that the declarations of distributions are in the best interests of the Trust and its shareholders and to other applicable requirements. Future distributions may be adjusted in the Sponsor’s sole discretion from time to time.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended and supplemented from time to time by the Trust’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Shareholders are advised to consult with their advisors as to the tax consequences of the foregoing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
4.1		Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement
4.2		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust (attached as Exhibit A to Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement)
99.1		Press Release dated January 5, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

			Grayscale Investments Sponsors, LLC, as Sponsor of Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF
Date:	January 5, 2026	By:	/s/ Edward McGee
			Name: Edward McGee Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)*

* The Registrant is a trust and the identified person signing this report is signing in their capacity as an authorized officer of Grayscale Investments Sponsors, LLC, the Sponsor of the Registrant.

FAQ

What name change did Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF (ETHE) announce?

The trust is changing its name from “Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF” to “Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF”. This change is implemented through a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Trust and an amendment to the Trust Agreement, both effective at 12:01 a.m. New York City time on January 5, 2026.

Will the Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF (ETHE) ticker or exchange listing change?

No. Shares of the trust are expected to continue trading on NYSE Arca under the same trading symbol “ETHE”. Outstanding stock certificates are not affected by the name change and remain valid without any need for exchange.

How large is the cash distribution announced by Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF (ETHE)?

The sponsor announced a cash distribution of $9,397,326. This amount represents the net U.S. dollar cash proceeds from staking consideration earned under the trust’s staking arrangements, after deducting the sponsor’s staking portion, the custodian’s fee, the staking provider’s share, and the sponsor’s fee.

When will ETHE shareholders receive the $9,397,326 distribution and who qualifies?

The distribution is scheduled to be paid on January 6, 2026 to shareholders of record as of 4:00 p.m. New York City time on January 5, 2026. Shares are expected to begin trading ex-distribution on the record date.

What period of staking rewards does the ETHE distribution cover?

The distribution reflects staking consideration generated under the trust’s staking arrangements from the commencement of its staking program on October 6, 2025 through December 31, 2025, net of specified fees and portions owed to the sponsor, custodian and staking provider.

How was the ETHE distribution amount converted to U.S. dollars?

At 4:00 p.m. New York City time on January 2, 2026, the sponsor engaged a liquidity provider to convert the distribution rewards amount to U.S. dollars by reference to the Index Price at that time. The net cash proceeds of this conversion, after fees and expenses, constitute the $9,397,326 distribution.

Are future distributions from Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF (ETHE) guaranteed?

No. Future declarations of distributions are subject to approval by the sponsor, its determination that such distributions are in the best interests of the trust and its shareholders, and other applicable requirements. The current distribution is being made under Grayscale’s previously disclosed Staking Policy.