Key Takeaways
- Switzerland-based bank PostFinance has announced it has begun offering Ether staking to its 2.7 million customers.
- The move comes as interest in crypto and digital assets grows in Switzerland and beyond.
- In recent years, the SEC has heavily criticized staking in the U.S.
Swiss state-owned bank PostFinance AG has expanded its digital-asset offering by introducing Ether (ETH) staking to its customers.
The bank, whose customers comprise almost a quarter of Switzerland’s population, said the service would offer investments using Ether for a fixed minimum term of twelve weeks.
It comes as America continues to hold a strict stance against staking, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing enforcement actions against every staking product in the country.
PostFinance Approves Staking
PostFinance said on Jan. 16 that it would be offering its 2.7 million customers access to Ether staking.
The Switzerland-based bank said it was “the first systemically important bank to offer crypto staking.”
The move comes as interest in crypto and digital assets continues to grow in Switzerland and beyond.
Ethereum staking grew heavily in 2024, with 25% of the total token supply relating to staked ETH by February.
Despite seeing a slight decline in staking rewards towards the end of last year, there is still a clear enthusiasm for the market.
SEC Disapproval
In recent years, the SEC has been strongly critical of crypto staking, raising concerns that it may constitute an unregistered securities offering.
Staking, a process where users lock up crypto to support blockchain networks and earn rewards, has been under scrutiny due to its potential to meet the criteria of an “investment contract” under the Howey Test.
The SEC has filed complaints about every staking offering in the U.S. so far, including issuing multi-million dollar fines to Kraken and Consensys.
“When a company or platform offers you these kinds of returns—whether they call their services ‘lending,’ ‘earn,’ ‘rewards,’ ‘APY,’ or ‘staking’—that relationship should come with the protections of the federal securities laws.,” SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a video critiquing staking.
Could Donald Trump Make Way For U.S. Staking?
With Donald Trump being sworn into office on Jan. 20, the crypto industry anticipates a significant shift in regulatory approach, which could expand to crypto staking.
A pivotal move in this direction is Trump’s nomination of Paul Atkins, a known cryptocurrency advocate, as the new chair of the SEC.
Atkins’ appointment is expected to lead to a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, contrasting with the previous administration’s stringent oversight under Gensler.
Trump is also reportedly set to sign a day-one executive order designating crypto as a national priority, meaning agencies such as the SEC would be forced to work in favor of digital assets.
This change could result in a reevaluation of existing policies on crypto staking and foster further innovation within the industry.
Although the upcoming administration’s pro-crypto stance will likely result in a flurry of relaxed regulations, the exact impact on crypto staking will depend on currently unknown regulatory decisions.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
