ARK Invest's Cathie Wood has filed for the first exchange-traded fund (ETF) for spot ether (ETH) in the US, marking a turning point for cryptocurrencies. This opens the door to institutional investors and marks the beginning of institutional liquid staking.

- Global demand for ETH spot ETFs is evidenced by the traded product (ETP) markets in Canada and Europe, with a total market size of approximately $33 billion.

- Confirmation of a spot ETH ETF could lead to increased demand from institutional traders who are likely to want to participate in staking.

- Institutions will seek a solution through liquid staking tokens focused on compliance and security that offer liquidity, a diverse set of node operators and operational efficiency.