Northstake Partners with 3iQ to Unlock Institutional ETH Staking Potential

Toronto, Canada – Northstake A/S, a regulated digital asset service provider, is transforming institutional ETH staking with its ETH Validator Marketplace. The platform has secured 3iQ Corp, a Canadian investment fund manager, as its newest market maker, staking 80% of its assets and showcasing the potential for spot ETFs to evolve into total return ETFs. (Cover photo: Jesper Johansen, CEO of Northstake)


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Solving Liquidity Challenges

Northstake’s marketplace addresses one of the industry’s biggest challenges: liquidity for ETH validators. By enabling institutional clients to trade ETH validator nodes quickly and at competitive liquidity premiums, the platform eliminates the inefficiencies often associated with liquid staking derivatives.
“The contingent liquidity problem has held institutions back from fully participating in ETH staking. Our compliant solution not only resolves this but also sets a new benchmark for how institutions can integrate staking into their portfolios.”

Jesper Johansen, CEO of Northstake A/S
3iQ recently completed the first validator trade on the marketplace. With its Ether Staking ETF (TSX: ETHQ), 3iQ aims to maximize returns for its clients by staking its entire ETF assets, facilitated by Northstake’s seamless marketplace.

A Transformative Staking Model

By combining ETH validator trading with participation from leading market makers such as GSR, Nonco, DV Chain, and Keyrock, Northstake’s platform offers institutions unprecedented flexibility. The marketplace allows them to align ETH staking strategies with their broader investment goals, including transitioning spot ETFs into total return products.

“Adding liquidity to our ETF validators unlocks ETH’s full potential for our customers,” said Greg Benhaim, EVP of Products at 3iQ. “Northstake’s innovative approach addresses a critical need for institutional-grade staking solutions.”

With only 28% of ETH supply currently staked, the market presents a significant opportunity. Northstake’s vision is to drive adoption by creating an institutional-grade ETH total return token and offering compliant pathways for ETF issuers to incorporate staking.

Northstake is actively onboarding global ETF providers and market makers, building on its success with partners such as CoinFund, CoinDesk Indices, and 3iQ. This collaboration signals a shift in how institutions approach staking, liquidity, and regulatory compliance.

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About Northstake A/S

Northstake is a Danish-regulated virtual asset service provider offering compliant staking products for institutions. Its ETH Validator Marketplace allows for trading ETH validators with industry-leading market makers, creating new opportunities for institutional investors.

About 3iQ

Founded in 2012, 3iQ is a pioneering digital asset investment fund manager. It offers a range of ETFs, including the Ether Staking ETF (TSX: ETHQ), designed to provide exposure to ETH staking. For more information, visit Northstake or 3iQ.